Real time high speed high resolution hyper-spectral imaging

A method for real time dividing a collimated object emission beam of electromagnetic radiation emitted by objects in a scene or a sample, and, determining and piezoelectrically changing the magnitude of an optical path difference of the divided collimated object emission beam thereof, by an optical interferometer, comprising the steps of:

• (a) receiving and dividing the collimated object emission beam by the optical interferometer, for forming the divided collimated object emission beam having the optical path difference, wherein the optical interferometer includes:
• (i) a beam splitter, onto which the collimated object emission beam is incident, and by which the collimated object emission beam is divided into two beams,
• (ii) a fixed mirror operatively positioned relative to said beam splitter,
• (iii) a movable mirror operatively positioned relative to said fixed mirror and to said beam splitter, and wherein said fixed mirror and said movable mirror each receives and reflects one of said two beams, such that a difference exists in lengths of optical path traveled by said two beams exiting the optical interferometer, thereby forming the optical path difference,
• (iv) a piezoelectric motor, operatively connected to said movable mirror,
• (v) a distance change feedback sensor, operatively connected to said movable mirror,
• (vi) a piezoelectric motor controller, operatively connected to said piezoelectric motor and to said distance change feedback sensor, and
• (vii) an optical interferometer mount, as a mount of said beam splitter, said fixed mirror, said movable mirror, said piezoelectric motor, and said distance change feedback sensor, wherein said optical interferometer mount includes:
• (1) a fixed mount section,
• (2) a movable mount section,
• (3) a mounting location of said beam splitter on said fixed mount section,
• (4) a mounting location of said fixed mirror on said fixed mount section,
• (5) a mounting location of said movable mirror on said movable mount section,
• (6) a mounting location of said piezoelectric motor inside of said fixed mount section, and
• (7) a mounting location of said distance change feedback sensor on said fixed mount section;
• (b) displacing said movable mirror along an axis of the divided collimated object emission beam by said piezoelectric motor;
• (c) sensing and measuring change in distance of said movable mirror along said axis by said distance change feedback sensor;
• and
• (d) actuating and controlling said piezoelectric motor by said piezoelectric motor controller.

A system for real time hyper-spectral imaging, comprising:

• (a) an electromagnetic radiation collimating element, for collimating electromagnetic radiation emitted by objects in a scene or a sample, for forming a collimated object emission beam;
• (b) an optical interferometer, for receiving and dividing said collimated object emission beam, for forming a divided collimated object emission beam having an optical path difference, and for generating an interference image exiting said optical interferometer, said optical interferometer includes:
• (i) a beam splitter, onto which said collimated object emission beam is incident, and by which said collimated object emission beam is divided into two beams,
• (ii) a fixed mirror operatively positioned relative to said beam splitter,
• (iii) a movable mirror operatively positioned relative to said fixed mirror and to said beam splitter, and wherein said fixed mirror and said movable mirror each receives and reflects one of said two beams, such that a difference exists in lengths of optical path traveled by said two beams exiting said optical interferometer, thereby forming said optical path difference,
• (iv) a piezoelectric motor, operatively connected to said movable mirror,
• (v) a distance change feedback sensor, operatively connected to said movable mirror,
• (vi) a piezoelectric motor controller, operatively connected to said piezoelectric motor and to said distance change feedback sensor, and
• (vii) an optical interferometer mount, as a mount of said beam splitter, said fixed mirror, said movable mirror, said piezoelectric motor, and said distance change feedback sensor, wherein said optical interferometer mount includes:
• (1) a fixed mount section,
• (2) a movable mount section,
• (3) a mounting location of said beam splitter on said fixed mount section,
• (4) a mounting location of said fixed mirror on said fixed mount section,
• (5) a mounting location of said movable mirror on said movable mount section,
• (6) a mounting location of said piezoelectric motor inside of said fixed mount section, and
• (7) a mounting location of said distance change feedback sensor on said fixed mount section;
• wherein said optical interferometer determines and piezoelectrically changes magnitude of said optical path difference of said divided collimated object emission beam, for generating at least one said interference image for each said magnitude of said optical path difference, by the steps of:
• (i) displacing said movable mirror along an axis of said divided collimated object emission beam by said piezoelectric motor,
• (ii) sensing and measuring change in distance of said movable mirror along said axis by said distance change feedback sensor, and
• (iii) actuating and controlling said piezoelectric motor by said piezoelectric motor controller;
• (c) camera optics, for focusing each said generated interference image associated with a corresponding said magnitude of optical path difference;
• and
• (d) a detector, for recording each said generated interference image, for forming a plurality of recorded interference images.

An optical interferometer for real time dividing a collimated object emission beam of electromagnetic radiation emitted by objects in a scene or a sample, and, determining and piezoelectrically changing the magnitude of an optical path difference of the divided collimated object emission beam thereof, comprising:

• (a) a beam splitter, onto which the collimated object emission beam is incident, and by which the collimated object emission beam is divided into two beams;
• (b) a fixed mirror operatively positioned relative to said beam splitter;
• (c) a movable mirror operatively positioned relative to said fixed mirror and to said beam splitter, and wherein said fixed mirror and said movable mirror each receives and reflects one of said two beams, such that a difference exists in lengths of optical path traveled by said two beams exiting the optical interferometer, thereby forming the optical path difference;
• (d) a piezoelectric motor, operatively connected to said movable mirror, for displacing said movable mirror along an axis of the divided collimated object emission beam;
• (e) a distance change feedback sensor, operatively connected to said movable mirror, for sensing and measuring change in distance of said movable mirror along said axis;
• (f) a piezoelectric motor controller, operatively connected to said piezoelectric motor and to said distance change feedback sensor, for actuating and controlling said piezoelectric motor;
• and
• (g) an optical interferometer mount, as a mount of said beam splitter, said fixed mirror, said movable mirror, said piezoelectric motor, and said distance change feedback sensor, wherein said optical interferometer mount includes:
• (i) a fixed mount section,
• (ii) a movable mount section,
• (iii) a mounting location of said beam splitter on said fixed mount section,
• (iv) a mounting location of said fixed mirror on said fixed mount section,
• (v) a mounting location of said movable mirror on said movable mount section,
• (vi) a mounting location of said piezoelectric motor inside of said fixed mount section, and
• (vii) a mounting location of said distance change feedback sensor on said fixed mount section.