Digital adaptive optics encoder module

A digital adaptive optics encoder module, comprising:

• a telescope for receiving target light;
• an input mounting flange attached to the telescope;
• a collimating lens, wherein the collimating lens is capable of expanding the target light to fill a plurality of primary apertures;
• a bandpass filter, having a bandwidth ranging from about 40 nm to about 100 nm, for receiving the expanded target light and outputting bandpass light;
• digital adaptive optic elements for receiving bandpass light, wherein the digital adaptive optic elements include:
• i) the plurality of primary apertures for receiving the bandpass light;
• ii) an optical spreader for spreading apart the light passing through the primary apertures by at least a factor of two times a baseline separation of the primary apertures, wherein the optical spreader includes a plurality of actuators for modifying path lengths within the digital adaptive optic elements through the primary apertures to a detector;
• iii) a focusing optic for focusing the light from the optical spreader at the detector;
• and
• iv) the detector for detecting an image of the target from the focusing optic;
• a refocusing lens, wherein the refocusing lens is capable of refocusing an output from the digital adaptive optic elements onto a sensor plane;
• an output mounting flange, wherein the output mounting flange is a mount capable of attaching to an output connection;
• and
• a housing, wherein the housing encloses the collimating lens, the bandpass filter, the digital adaptive optic encoder elements, and the refocusing lens.

A digital adaptive optics encoder module, comprising:

• an input mounting flange, wherein the input mounting flange is a mount capable of attaching to a telescope;
• a first relay lens, wherein the first relay lens adjusts a scale of an input aperture diameter by demagnifying the target to fill an input aperture of the digital adaptive optic elements;
• a collimating lens, wherein the collimating lens is capable of expanding light from the first relay lens to fill a plurality of primary apertures;
• a bandpass filter for receiving light from the collimating lens having a bandwidth ranging from about 40 nm to about 100 nm;
• digital adaptive optic elements for receiving light from the bandpass filter, wherein the digital adaptive optic elements include:
• i) the plurality of primary apertures for receiving light from the target;
• ii) an optical spreader for spreading apart the light passing through the primary apertures by at least a factor of two times a baseline separation of the primary apertures, wherein the optical spreader includes a plurality of actuators for modifying path lengths within the digital adaptive optic elements through the primary apertures to a detector;
• iii) a focusing optic for focusing the light from the optical spreader at the detector;
• and
• iv) the detector for detecting an image of the target with the light from the focusing optic;
• a refocusing lens, wherein the refocusing lens is capable of refocusing an output from the digital adaptive optic elements onto a sensor plane;
• a second relay lens for receiving light from the refocusing lens, wherein the second relay lens matches or exceeds the input aperture diameter of the digital adaptive optics encoder module;
• an output mount flange, wherein the output mounting flange is a mount capable of attaching to an output connection;
• and
• a housing, wherein the housing encloses the first relay lens, the collimating lens, the bandpass filter, the digital adaptive optic encoder elements, the refocusing lens, and the second relay lens.