Interferometer array imaging system using photonic integrated circuit cards
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsAlan L. Duncan, Richard L. Kendrick, David M. Stubbs
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Abstract
An imaging system can include of a plurality of pairs of lenslets and a respective plurality of two-dimensional arrays of photonic waveguides arranged in a respective plurality of photonic integrated circuits. Each waveguide can collect light in an airy-disk-size bin to cover a full field of view of the lenslet. Light from each pair of respective waveguides from each pair of lenslets can be demultiplexed into wavelength bins and combined with appropriate phase shifts to enable a measurement of the complex visibility. The complex visibilities from all of the measurements then can be processed to form an image.
Claims20
An optical imaging system, comprising:
- a plurality of lenslet assemblies positioned to surround a central aperture of the system, the plurality of lenslet assemblies being arranged to form a ring around the central aperture and a series of rows extending radially from the ring to form a lenslet array, each lenslet assembly being configured to receive broadband light and focus the light onto a focus point;
- a plurality of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) cards extending radially from the central aperture of the system, each PIC card having an edge positioned adjacent to a corresponding row of lenslet assemblies of the lenslet array, each PIC card having a plurality of waveguides, each waveguide comprising a proximal end disposed at the focus point of a respective lenslet assembly, each waveguide defining an optical path for propagation of the light;
- and
- a plurality of detectors disposed along the optical path and configured to receive and measure the light.
An optical imaging system, comprising:
- a housing having a longitudinal axis and a central aperture extending through the housing;
- a plurality of lenslet assemblies supported on the housing, the plurality of lenslet assemblies being arranged to form a ring around the aperture and a series of rows extending radially from the ring to form a lenslet array, the plurality of lenslet assemblies each being aligned along respective optical axes being oriented parallel relative to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of lenslet assemblies being configured to receive broadband light and to focus the light toward a focal plane;
- a plurality of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) cards extending radially from the central aperture, each PIC card having an edge positioned adjacent to a corresponding row of lenslet assemblies of the lenslet array, each PIC card having a plurality of waveguides, each waveguide having a distal end positioned at the focal plane and configured to receive the light from a respective lenslet assembly;
- and
- a plurality of detectors disposed along the optical axes for receiving and measuring the light.
A method of optical imaging, comprising:
- collecting broadband light using a plurality of lenslet assemblies, the plurality of lenslet assemblies being positioned about a central aperture, the lenslet assemblies being arranged to form a ring around the aperture and a series of rows extending radially from the ring to form a lenslet array;
- focusing the light of each lenslet assembly onto a respective focal point such that the light is directed into a plurality of waveguides disposed in a plurality of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) cards extending radially from the central aperture, each PIC card having an edge positioned adjacent to a corresponding row of lenslet assemblies of the lenslet array;
- dividing the broadband light propagated through each waveguide into a plurality of spectral bins using an arrayed waveguide grating;
- combining the light from a pair of lenslet assemblies;
- interfering the light from the pair of lenslet assemblies;
- and
- directing the light onto a plurality of detectors to measure the light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.