Optomechanical relay system and method for rapid filter switching

A method for filtering light, comprising:

• providing a filter array having a plurality of filter elements;
• receiving light encompassing a first field of view at an entrance pupil;
• steering the received light encompassing the first field of view at a first angle relative to the filter array and towards a selected first one of the filter elements via a first relay optics element during a first period of time to produce first filtered light, wherein at least a first portion of the first relay optics element is disposed along an optical path between the entrance pupil and the selected first one of the filter elements;
• steering the first filtered light encompassing the first field of view to an exit pupil;
• steering the received light encompassing the first field of view at a second angle relative to the filter array and towards a selected second one of the filter elements via the first relay optics element during a second period of time to produce second filtered light, wherein at least a second portion of the first relay optics element is disposed along an optical path between the entrance pupil and the selected second one of the filter elements;
• and
• steering the second filtered light encompassing the first field of view to the exit pupil.

An optical system, comprising:

• an imaging optical system, wherein the imaging optical system collects light within a first field of view from an object space;
• an optical filter system, including:
• an entrance pupil, wherein light collected by the imaging optical system is received by the optical filter system at the entrance pupil;
• a first steering element;
• relay optics, wherein the relay optics include a first relay optics element;
• a fixed pattern filter array, wherein the fixed pattern filter array includes at least a first filter element and a second filter element;
• a second steering element;
• an exit pupil;
• and
• a control system, wherein the first steering element is operable to direct the light received at the entrance pupil to a selected first one of the filter elements included in the fixed pattern filter array via a first portion of the first relay optics element in response to a first signal from the control system, wherein the first steering element is operable to direct the light received at the entrance pupil to a selected second one of the filter elements included in the fixed pattern filter array via a second portion of the first relay optics element in response to a second signal from the control system, wherein the second steering element is operable to direct light that is reflected from or passed by the selected one of the filter elements to the exit pupil as filtered light, and wherein the filtered light encompasses the first field of view;
• and
• an image sensor system, including:
• an image sensor, wherein the filtered light encompassing the first field of view is incident on the image sensor.