Recording a spectrally resolved image by reading out several partial arrays in a plurality of interferometer scans

1. A method for acquisition of a spectrally resolved, two-dimensional image by means of Fourier transform (FT) spectroscopy or Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, the method comprising the steps of:

a) feeding light to an interferometer, thereby splitting the light into two partial beams;

b) changing an optical path difference between the two partial beams, thereby traversing an identical range several times;

c) detecting the light with a two-dimensional array detector;

d1) reading out a first subset of detector elements of the array detector during at least one first pass of the optical path difference between the two partial beams over the identical range as generated in step b);

d2) reading out a second subset of detector elements of the array detector during at least one second pass of the optical path difference between the two partial beams over the identical range as generated in step b), wherein the second subset of detector elements differs from the first subset of detector elements and the at least one second pass is executed subsequent to the at least one first pass; and

e) Fourier transforming and combining signals of read-out detector elements from the first and second subsets and from the at least one first and second passes to form the spectrally resolved image.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subsets each form a respective cohesive or rectangular sub-array of detector elements of the array detector.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the spectrally resolved image is combined using signals from non-overlapping sub-arrays of detector elements of the array detector.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical path difference is changed by means of one or more moving reflectors and the or each moving reflector is moved within the multiple passes over an identical distance.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein, in successive passes, the change in the path difference is effected with an opposite sign.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spectrally resolved image is acquired from a scene which does not change noticeably over a duration of one pass, yet does change noticeably over a duration of all passes of the acquisition.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spectrally resolved image is combined from signals of at least two subsets of the detector elements from at least two passes and a union of the at least two subsets does not correspond to a quantity of all existing detector elements of the array detector.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein for each of the subsets, the signals of the detector elements of the subset are read out in two or more passes of the optical path difference, wherein the read-out is effected at different optical path differences in the two or more passes.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein, for each of the subsets, the signals of the detector elements of the subset are read out in two or more passes of the optical path difference, wherein an averaging, summation or median calculation of signals that are measured in the two or more passes, at identical optical path differences, is carried out.

10. An FT or FTIR spectrometer, the spectrometer comprising:

an interferometer having an optical path device for changing an optical path difference between two partial beams of light supplied to said interferometer;

a two-dimensional array detector;

an electronic control unit, said electronic control device structured to control said optical path device in order to traverse an identical range of said optical path difference several times, said electronic control unit further structured to read out detector elements of said two-dimensional array detector, wherein said electronic control unit is programmed for acquisition of an individual, spectrally resolved, two-dimensional image in response to multiple passes of optical path difference changes through said identical range, thereby reading out a first subset of detector elements of said array detector during at least one first pass of said optical path difference between said two partial beams over said identical range and reading out a second subset of detector elements of said array detector during at least one second pass of said optical path difference between said two partial beams over said identical range, wherein said second subset of detector elements differs from said first subset of detector elements and said at least one second pass is executed subsequent to said at least one first pass; and

a computing unit structured to Fourier transform signals read-out from said first and second subsets of detector elements and obtained during said at least one first and second passes, said computing unit also structured to combine said signals into a spectrally resolved image.

11. The FT spectrometer of claim 10 , wherein said computing unit is integrated in said electronic control unit.

12. The FT spectrometer of claim 10 , wherein said computing unit is separate from said electronic control unit.

13. The FT spectrometer of claim 10 , wherein said optical path device comprises a reflector moved by a motor.

14. The FT spectrometer of claim 10 , wherein for acquisition of the spectrally resolved image, said electronic control unit is programmed to read out each subset of detector elements in two or more passes of said optical path difference, wherein in said two or more passes, read-out is effected at different optical path differences.

15. The FT spectrometer of claim 10 , wherein, for acquisition of the spectrally resolved image, said electronic control unit is programmed to read out each subset in two or more passes of said optical path difference, wherein an averaging, summation or median calculation of signals that are measured in said two or more passes, at identical optical path differences, is carried out.