US 2010/0301218 A1 · SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR THERMAL SPECTRAL GENERATION, PROJECTION AND CORRELATION

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating, projecting or correlating thermal spectra use digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs) to controllably modulate input radiation such as long wave infrared light. An optical system for creating an output spectrum based upon an input light suitably includes a grating configured receive the input light and to spread the input light by wavelength into an input spectrum. A digital micro-mirror device (DMD) is configured to receive the input spectrum and to controllably activate mirrors in the DMD corresponding to selected wavelengths of the input light. Portions of the input light having selected wavelengths can be extracted from remaining portions of the input light for the output spectrum. By selecting and activating only certain mirrors on the DMD, particular wavelengths of light in infrared or other spectra can be optically switched for any number of subsequent applications, including spectral projection, simulation of solar or other spectra, detection of chemical substances, or the like.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An optical system for creating an output spectrum based upon an input light, the system comprising:

spreading optics configured receive the input light and to spread the input light by wavelength into an input spectrum;
and
a digital micro-mirror device configured to receive the input spectrum and to controllably activate a plurality of mirrors corresponding to a plurality of selected wavelengths of the input light and to thereby extract only portions of the input light having the selected wavelengths from remaining portions of the input light for the output spectrum.

An optical system for projecting a programmable thermal spectrum, the optical system comprising:

a light source configured to provide an input light;
a grating configured to spread the input light by wavelength into an input spectrum, wherein the input spectrum lies at least partially within the infrared spectrum;
a first digital micro-mirror device comprising a first substrate and a first array of micro-machined mirrors arranged on the first substrate, wherein the first array of micro-machined mirrors is configured to receive the input spectrum and to reflect a selected portion of the input spectrum in response to a first control signal such that only those portions of the input spectrum having the selected wavelengths are extracted from remaining portions of the input light;
a spatial integrator configured to receive the extracted portions of the input spectrum and to integrate the extracted portions to create the programmable thermal spectrum;
and
a second digital micro-mirror device comprising a second substrate and a second array of micro-machined mirrors arranged on the second substrate, wherein the second array of micro-machined mirrors is configured to receive the programmable thermal spectrum and to reflect only a selected spatial portion of the programmable thermal spectrum in response to a second control signal;
and
projection optics configured to project the selected spatial portion of the programmable thermal spectrum.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for thermal spectral generation, projection and correlation

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for thermal spectral generation, projection and correlation

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20