Methods and systems for distinguishing multiple wavelengths of radiation in a detection system

A method for providing multi-wavelength images from light from a, the method comprising:

• receiving light of a predetermined wavelength range from a scene;
• splitting the received light into a first component having a first wavelength range and a second component having a second wavelength range;
• directing the first component in a first direction toward a first location and directing the second component in a second direction toward a second location, wherein the first and second locations are spaced from one another;
• transmitting the first and second components through at least one light guide toward first and second locations;
• detecting the first component at the first location;
• and
• detecting the second component at the second location.

A system for constructing a real-time scene imaging system, the method comprising:

• determining a pixel size for the system based upon components to be used in the system;
• providing a pair of sensors within the pixel size, the sensors being spaced horizontally from one another within an image facing plane, the sensors being configured to detect radiation in different wavelength bands;
• and
• providing an optic to receive radiation from a scene, wherein the optic is configured to receive radiation from the scene and transmit a first wavelength range of the radiation toward one of the sensors and a second wavelength range of the radiation toward the other sensor.

An imaging system for providing a real-time image representation of a scene, comprising:

• a plurality of detection locations arranged into a two-dimensional array, wherein each detection location includes a first detector and a second detector positioned adjacent to each other;
• an optical element associated with each detection location and configured to receive light, separate the light into first and second wavelength ranges, and focus the light in the first range toward the first detector of the detection location and the light in the second range toward the second detector of the detection location, so that the detectors at the detection locations provide a real-time multi-wavelength representation of at least a portion of a scene;
• and
• at least one light directing element associated with each detection location and configured to direct the light toward the detectors.