US 5,379,065 AGranted

Programmable hyperspectral image mapper with on-array processing

AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

InventorJames A. Cutts

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Abstract

A hyperspectral imager includes a focal plane having an array of spaced image recording pixels receiving light from a scene moving relative to the focal plane in a longitudinal direction, the recording pixels being transportable at a controllable rate in the focal plane in the longitudinal direction, an electronic shutter for adjusting an exposure time of the focal plane, whereby recording pixels in an active area of the focal plane are removed therefrom and stored upon expiration of the exposure time, an electronic spectral filter for selecting a spectral band of light received by the focal plane from the scene during each exposure time and an electronic controller connected to the focal plane, to the electronic shutter and to the electronic spectral filter for controlling (a) the controllable rate at which the recording is transported in the longitudinal direction, (b) the exposure time and (c) the spectral band so as to record a selected portion of the scene through M spectral bands with a respective exposure time t.sub.q for each respective spectral band q.

Claims33

Dependent claims

AA hyperspectral imager, comprising:

focal plane means comprising an array of spaced pixel recording means for receiving light from a scene moving relative to said focal plane means in a longitudinal direction, said pixel recording means being transportable at a controllable rate in said focal plane means in said longitudinal direction by rate-controllable transport means;
controllable electronic shutter means for adjusting an exposure time tq of said focal plane means, whereby pixel recording means in an active area of said focal plane means are removed therefrom and signal charges accumulated therein are stored upon expiration of said exposure time;
controllable electronic spectral filter means for selecting a spectral band q of light received by said focal plane means from said scene for each exposure time tq;
and
electronic controller means connected to said transport means, to said electronic shutter means and to said electronic spectral filter means for controlling (a) said controllable rate at which said recording means is transported in said longitudinal direction, (b) said exposure time tq and (c) said spectral band q so as to record in respective ones of said pixel recording means a selected portion of said scene through M spectral bands with a respective exposure time tq for each respective spectral band q, wherein M is a positive integer.

2 more elements

A method of operating hyperspectral imaging apparatus, said apparatus comprising focal plane means comprising an array of pixel recording means for receiving light from a scene moving relative to said focal plane means in a longitudinal direction, said pixel recording means being transportable at a controllable rate in said focal plane means in said longitudinal direction by rate-controllable transport means, said method comprising:

selecting an exposure time tq of said focal plane means, and removing pixel recording means exposed to a scene in an active area of said focal plane means from said active area and storing signals charges accumulated therein upon expiration of said exposure time tq;
selecting a spectral band q of light received by said focal plane means from said scene for each exposure time tq;
and
recording a selected portion of said scene in respective groups of said pixel recording means through respective M spectral bands with a respective exposure time tq for each respective spectral band q, wherein M is a positive integer.

1 more element

In an imager comprising focal plane means comprising an array of spaced pixel recording means for receiving light from a scene moving relative to said focal plane means in a longitudinal direction, said pixel recording means being transportable at a controllable rate in said focal plane means in said longitudinal direction by rate-controllable transport means;

hyperspectral imaging apparatus comprising:
controllable electronic shutter means for adjusting an exposure time tq of said focal plane means, whereby pixel recording means in an active area of said focal plane means are removed therefrom and signal charges accumulated therein are stored upon expiration of said exposure time tq;
controllable electronic spectral filter means for selecting a spectral band q of light received by said focal plane means from said scene for each exposure time tq;
and
electronic controller means connected to said transport means, to said electronic shutter means and to said electronic spectral filter means for controlling (a) said controllable rate at which said recording means is transported in said longitudinal direction, (b) said exposure time tq and (c) said spectral band q so as to record a selected portion of said scene in respective pixel recording means through M spectral bands with a respective exposure time tq for each respective spectral band q, wherein M is a positive integer.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.