# US 2014/0152839 A1 · Multi-spectral imaging with diffractive optics > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152839 A1 - Document ID: US20140152839A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/092,722 - Filed: 2013-11-27 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: University of Utah Research Foundation - Applicants: University of Utah Research Foundation - Inventors: Rajesh Menon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152839A1 ## CPC - G01J 3/18: using diffraction elements, e.g. grating (gratings per se G02B) - G01J 3/2823: {Imaging spectrometer} - G01J 3/36: Investigating two or more bands of a spectrum by separate detectors - G02B 27/4205: {having a diffractive optical element [DOE] contributing to image formation, e.g. whereby modulation transfer function MTF or optical aberrations are relevant} - G02B 27/4294: {in multispectral systems, e.g. UV and visible} - H04N 23/11: for generating image signals from visible and infrared light wavelengths - H04N 23/13: with multiple sensors - G01J 2003/1876: {Polychromator} - G01J 2003/2826: {Multispectral imaging, e.g. filter imaging} - G01J: MEASUREMENT OF INTENSITY, VELOCITY, SPECTRAL CONTENT, POLARISATION, PHASE OR PULSE CHARACTERISTICS OF INFRARED, VISIBLE OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT; COLORIMETRY; RADIATION PYROMETRY (light sources F21, H01J, H01K, H05B; investigating properties of materials by optical means G01N) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A multi-spectral imaging (MSI) device can include an imaging plane and a diffractive optic. The imaging plane can include at least two groups of pixels an array of pixels for sensing at least two spectral bands. The at least two spectral bands can include a first spectral band and a second spectral band. The diffractive optic can be configured for diffracting an electromagnetic wave into the at least two spectral bands and focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto the group of pixels for the spectral band to generate an image. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A multi-spectral imaging (MSI) device, comprising: an imaging plane with at least two groups of pixels in an array of pixels for sensing at least two spectral bands, wherein the at least two spectral bands include a first spectral band and a second spectral band; and a diffractive optic for diffracting an electromagnetic wave into the at least two spectral bands and focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto the group of pixels for the spectral band to generate image. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, further comprising a single shared-input aperture. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein the first spectral band is an infrared spectral band including at least one of near infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR), and intervening bands. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein the second spectral band includes at least one of ultra violet (UV), visible light, near infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), or long-wave infrared (LWIR). ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optic focuses the first spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a first sensor, and the diffractive optic focuses the second spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a second sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein an aperture of the diffractive optic redirects incoming light from a plurality of plane waves, wherein each plane wave has a different incident angle, and the imaging plane has a plurality of addressable pixels, wherein each addressable pixel is based on the incident angle of a plane wave and a spectral band. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein the group of pixels for the first spectral band and the group of pixels for second spectral band use different discrete sensor arrays on the imaging plane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein the pixels for the first spectral band and the pixels for second spectral band use adjacent sensor pixels on the imaging plane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein the imaging plane is used to generate a separate first spectral band image and at least a second spectral band image, wherein each image is a representation of a three dimensional (3D) or two dimensional (2D) object. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The MSI device of claim 1, wherein the diffractive optic includes an array of pixelated cells on a substrate, where each cell has an aberration with a varying height from neighboring cells. ### Claim 11 A method for multi-spectral imaging (MSI) using a diffractive optic, comprising: diffracting an electromagnetic wave into at least two spectral bands, wherein the at least two spectral bands include a first spectral band and a second spectral band; focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto a group of pixels on an imaging plane for the spectral band; generating a first image from the group of pixels used to sense the first spectral band; and generating a second image from the group of pixels used to sense the second spectral band. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first spectral band is an infrared spectral band including at least one of near infrared (NIR), short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), long-wave infrared (LWIR), and intervening bands. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the second spectral band includes at least one of ultra violet (UV), visible light, and intervening bands. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein focusing each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave further comprises: focusing the first spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a first sensor, and focusing the second spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a second sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the group of pixels for the first spectral band and the group of pixels for second spectral band use different discrete sensor arrays on the imaging plane. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the pixels for the first spectral band and the pixels for second spectral band use adjacent sensor pixels on the imaging plane. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the first image and the second image represents a three dimensional (3D) or two dimensional (2D) object. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein diffracting the electromagnetic wave into at least two spectral bands further comprises: collimating incoming light from a plurality of plane waves, wherein each plane wave has a different incident angle, and the imaging plane has a plurality of addressable pixels, wherein each addressable pixel is based on the incident angle of a plane wave and a spectral band. ### Claim 19 A multi-spectral imaging (MSI) device, having computer circuitry configured to: diffract an electromagnetic wave into at least two spectral bands, wherein the at least two spectral bands include a first spectral band and a second spectral band; focus each spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave onto a group of pixels on an imaging plane for the spectral band; generate a first image from the group of pixels used to sense the first spectral band; and generate a second image from the group of pixels used to sense the second spectral band. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computer circuitry of claim 19, wherein the computer circuitry is further configured to: focus the first spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a first sensor, and focus the second spectral band component of the electromagnetic wave on to addressable pixels of a second sensor.