US 6,288,781 B1 · Imaging spectrometer

Abstract

An imaging spectrometer to form a spectrally resolved image of an object, the spectrometer comprising three curved reflecting surfaces, an optical path between the object and the image comprising reflections from the three curved reflecting surfaces. The spectrometer further comprises dispersing elements each with a curved surface in the optical path. One dispersing element is located in the optical path between the object and a first of the curved reflecting surfaces; another dispersing element is located in the optical path between the image and a third of the curved reflecting surfaces. The majority of the spectrometer's dispersive power may be provided by optical elements in the optical paths between the object and the first of the curved reflecting surfaces and between the image and the third of the curved reflecting surfaces.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An imaging spectrometer to form a spectrally resolved image of an object slit, light traveling from the object slit to the image along an optical path, the spectrometer comprising:

first, second and third curved reflecting surfaces;
and
at least two dispersing elements, each with at least one curved surface, the spectrometer being configured such that the optical path leads:
from the object slit, through the curved surface of one of the dispersing elements to the first curved reflecting surface;
from the first curved reflecting surface to the second curved reflecting surface;
from the second curved reflecting surface to the third curved reflecting surface;
and
from the third curved reflecting surface, through the curved surface of another of the dispersing elements, to the image.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Imaging spectrometer

Life of this patent

Imaging spectrometer

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14