System and method for compact, adaptive optical sensor for obtaining areal images

1. An imaging system, comprising:

an electronic controller;

a digital micromirror array including a beam steering subsystem forming a portion thereof and being configured to image a scene, the digital micromirror including a plurality of micromirror elements responsive to control signals generated by the electronic controller, the control signals being used by the beam steering subsystem to electronically aim the micromirror elements in a desired direction to image a desired area, and for receiving and reflecting light emanating from the desired area;

an aperture control system configured to receive light reflected from the digital micromirror array and to pass a predetermined subportion of the received light therethrough; and

a detector responsive to the predetermined subportion of the received light.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the beam steering subsystem of the digital micromirror array includes an integrated beam steering subsystem.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein a position of each of the micromirror elements is independently controllable using mirror tilt signals generated by the beam steering subsystem.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aperture control system comprises an electronically controlled, dynamic field stop subsystem.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aperture control system comprises a micro electromechanical mechanical shutter system.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the aperture control system comprises a variable controlled transmissive media.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a beamsplitter configured to receive the predetermined subportion of the received light and to pass a portion of the predetermined subportion of the received light to the detector.

8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising an additional detector disposed to receive the predetermined subportion of the received light and to pass a different portion of the predetermined subportion of the received light to the additional detector.

9. The system of claim 1 , further comprising an electronic output subsystem for collecting data generated by the detector.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the electronic output subsystem comprises a display device.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the display device comprises at least one of: a liquid crystal display device, a light emitting diode display device and a cathode ray tube display device.

12. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lens for assisting in focusing the light reflected from the digital micromirror array prior to the reflected light reaching the aperture control system.

13. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a compressive sensing subsystem operably associated with the electronic controller for controlling acquisition and processing of image information collected from the desired area, to reduce a time required to image the desired area.

14. An imaging system, comprising:

an electronic controller;

a digital micromirror array responsive to scanning control signals from the electronic controller and configured to image a scene, the digital micromirror including a beam steering circuit forming a portion thereof, and a plurality of independently controllable micromirror elements responsive to micromirror tilt control signals generated by the beam steering circuit, which control the micromirror elements to electronically aim the micromirror elements in a desired direction to image a desired area, and to receive and reflect light emanating from the desired area;

an electronically controlled dynamic field stop system responsive to the electronic controller and configured to receive light reflected from the digital micromirror array and to present an aperture of a predetermined dimension to enable passing of only a predetermined subportion of the received light therethrough; and

a detector responsive to the predetermined subportion of light.

15. The system of claim 14 , further comprising a beamsplitter responsive to the predetermined subportion of the received light, for passing only a subportion of the predetermined subportion of light to the detector.

16. The system of claim 15 , further comprising an additional detector disposed downstream of the beamsplitter, for detecting a different subportion of the predetermined subportion of light passing through the beamsplitter.

17. The system of claim 14 , further comprising an electronic output subsystem for collecting an output from the detector, the electronic output subsystem including at least one of:

a liquid crystal display device;

a light emitting diode display device;

a cathode ray tube display device; and

a data collecting device.

18. A method for imaging a scene, comprising:

providing an electronic controller;

using a digital micromirror array including a beam steering subsystem forming a portion thereof and a plurality of tiltable micromirror elements responsive to control signals generated by the electronic controller, wherein the control signals used by the beam steering subsystem help to electronically aim the micromirror elements in a desired direction to image the scene so as to receive and reflect light emanating from the scene;

using an aperture control system configured to receive light reflected from the digital micromirror array and to pass a predetermined subportion of the received light therethrough; and

using a detector responsive to the predetermined subportion of light to detect information about the scene from the predetermined subportion of light.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein using an aperture control system comprises using an electronically controlled dynamic field stop.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising using a beam splitter to receive the predetermined subportion of the received light, and to further limit passage of only a subportion of the predetermined subportion of the received light to the detector.