Laser counter-measure using fourier transform imaging spectrometers

1. A system for imaging an object of interest comprising:

an optical detector for providing an output signal, in response to detecting the object of interest,

a spectrometer, disposed between the object of interest and the optical detector, for providing interferograms of the object of interest to the optical detector, and

a processor for processing the output signal from the optical detector,

wherein the spectrometer is configured to provide interferograms of an interfering signal, and

the processor is configured to reduce a level of the interfering signal, based on the interferograms of the object of interest and the interfering signal.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein

an image collecting optical device is disposed between the spectrometer and the object of interest,

the image collecting optical device is configured to collect optical energy of the target of interest and the interfering signal, and to provide the collected optical energy to the spectrometer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein

the processor includes a Fourier transform module for converting the output signal provided by the optical detector into a spectral band of data.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein

the processor includes a peak detector and notching module for detecting and notching a region of the spectral band of data, the region including the interfering signal.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein

the peak detector and notching module is configured to detect an amplitude level in the spectral band of data that is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and

the peak detector and notching module is configured to notch the region of the spectral band of data, after the peak detector detects the amplitude level exceeding the predetermined threshold value.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein

the processor includes a spectral recombination module for integrating the spectral band of data into a single panchromatic intensity.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the interfering signal is an optical laser beam.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the laser beam is at least one of a CW laser signal and a pulsed laser signal.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein

the spectrometer includes a beam splitter for splitting an optical beam into two beams, and

the beam splitter is one of a compensating type and an uncompensating type.

10. In an imaging system providing an image of a target of interest, a method of reducing interference from a laser beam including the steps of:

(a) receiving optical energy from the target of interest and the laser beam;

(b) forming an interferogram of spectral energy, at each spatial position of an image, based on the optical energy received in step (a);

(c) detecting the interferogram of spectral energy, at each of the spatial positions, to provide a corresponding spectral band of intensity values;

(d) selecting an intensity level in the spectral band, detected in step (c), that is greater than a predetermined value, and reducing the selected intensity level; and

(e) forming an image of the target of interest, after reducing the selected intensity level of step (d).

11. The method of claim 10 wherein

step (b) includes forming an interferogram of spectral energy at each spatial position of a focal plane array (FPA), and

step (e) includes forming the image at each of the spatial positions of the FPA.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein

after detecting the interferogram of spectral energy, Fourier-transforming the interferogram into the spectral band of intensity values.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein

step (d) includes peak detecting the intensity level in the spectral band, and

notching out the detected intensity level in the spectral band.

14. The method of claim 13 including

interpolating between values of the spectral band disposed at opposite ends of the notched intensity level.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein

step (a) includes collecting optical energy of the target of interest and the laser beam, and

step (b) includes receiving the collected optical energy to form the interferogram.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein

step (a) includes receiving optical energy from the target of interest having a spectral band of approximately 8.0 to 12.5 microns and the laser beam having a wavelength of approximately 10.6 microns.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein

step (a) includes receiving the optical energy from the laser beam that is at least 10 times greater than optical energy received from the target of interest, at corresponding wavelengths.

18. The method of claim 10 wherein

step (b) includes forming the interferogram of spectral energy based on the received optical energy from the target of interest, and

spreading the received optical energy from the laser beam across the interferogram.

19. A method of providing counter-measures against an interfering optical source, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving first energy from a desired optical source and second energy from an interfering optical source;

(b) constructing an interferogram from the first energy and second energy;

(c) detecting the second energy based on the constructed interferogram; and

(d) separating the detected second energy from the first energy.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein

step (d) includes performing an inverse Fourier transform on the constructed interferogram to obtain a spectral region of the second energy, and

removing the spectral region of the second energy using a notch filter.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein

after removing the second energy, interpolating across the spectral region to reconstruct spectral intensities of the first energy, and

outputting the reconstructed spectral intensities of the first energy, as a desired signal output.

22. The method of claim 19 wherein

step (a) includes receiving the first energy from a target of interest and receiving the second energy from an interfering laser beam.

23. The method of claim 19 including

after constructing the interferogram from the first energy and second energy, removing at least one sample in the interferogram due to the second energy using a first notch filter,

performing an inverse Fourier transform on the constructed interferogram after removal of the at least one sample of the second energy, and

removing a spectral region of the second energy using a second notch filter.