Multi-band homodyne encoder

A homodyne encoder for encoding light sampled from an object with a respective plurality of primary apertures for each of at least one spectral band, the homodyne encoder comprising:

• an optical spreader for spreading apart the light from the respective plurality of primary apertures for each of said at least one spectral band to a respective plurality of secondary apertures for each of said at least one spectral band, the optical spreader arranged to spread, for each particular spectral band of said at least one spectral band, the light from each one of the primary apertures for the each particular spectral band to a respective one of the secondary apertures for the each particular spectral band;
• a focusing optic including an array of lenses for focusing the light from the secondary apertures for all of said at least one spectral band into a plurality of composite images including a respective composite image of the object for each of the lenses in the array, wherein, for the each particular spectral band of said at least one spectral band, every pairing of two of the primary apertures for the each particular spectral band contributes distinct spatial frequencies to each of the plurality of composite images of the object;
• and
• a plurality of sensors, which include a respective sensor for each one of the lenses in the array, the respective sensor including a two-dimensional array of pixels for detecting the respective composite image for said one of the lenses in the array.

A method for encoding light sampled from an object with a respective plurality of primary apertures for each of a plurality of spectral bands in a multi-band homodyne encoder, comprising:

• receiving the light from the object at the primary apertures for all of the plurality of spectral bands;
• spreading apart the light from the respective plurality of primary apertures for each of the plurality of spectral bands to a respective plurality of secondary apertures for each of the plurality of spectral bands;
• focusing the light from the plurality of secondary apertures for all of the plurality of spectral bands into at least one composite image of the object, wherein, for each spectral band of the plurality of spectral bands, every pairing of two of the primary apertures for the each spectral band contributes distinct spatial frequencies to said at least one composite image of the object;
• detecting said at least one composite image of the object with the light from the focusing;
• separating the distinct spatial frequencies for each pairing of the two of the primary apertures for each of the plurality of spectral bands from said at least one composite image of the detecting;
• determining a wavefront shape of the light as received from the object for each of the plurality of spectral bands, the wavefront shape for each of the plurality of spectral bands specifying a distortion from a heterogeneous medium between the object and the multi-band homodyne encoder;
• and
• in response to the wavefront shape for each of the plurality of spectral bands,
• compensating for the distortion to enhance said at least one composite image of the object for each of the plurality of spectral bands.