Mixed-material multispectral staring array sensor
A multispectral staring array comprises, amongst other things, at least two sensors where each sensor is adapted to detect an image in a different predetermined spectral sensitivity; a first lens to focus capture spectral bands; a spectral filter between the lens and the sensors to subdivide the incident spectral bands; and a second lens to direct and focus the subdivided incident spectral bands on each of the sensors.
1. A multispectral staring array comprising:
at least two sensors, each sensor adapted to detect an image in a different predetermined spectral sensitivity, and positioned on an image plane wherein the image planes are neither coplanar with nor parallel to each other;
a first lens to capture incident spectral bands;
a spectral filter between the first lens and the at least two sensors wherein the spectral filter is configured to subdivide the incident spectral bands; and
a second lens configured to direct and focus the subdivided incident spectral bands on each of the at least two sensors.
2. The array of claim 1 where the at least two sensors are on a single chip.
3. The array of claim 1 where the seconds lens is a microlens array.
4. The array of claim 3 where the spectral filter is between the first lens and the microlens array.
5. The array of claim 3 further comprising a light pipe between the microlens array and each of the at least two sensors.
6. The array of claim 3 further comprising a fixed mirror to direct light from the microlens array to each of the at least two sensors.
7. The array of claim 1 further comprising an actuating mirror between the first lens and the spectral filter.
8. The array of claim 1 further comprising a deformable mirror between the first lens and the spectral filter.
9. The array of claim 1 wherein the predetermined spectral sensitivity is maximized in at least one of visible and near infrared (VNIR), ultraviolet (UV), and infrared (IR).
10. The array of claim 1 wherein the incident spectral bands are contiguous.