Narrow-Band Butcher Block Patterned Filter Assemblies

ABSTRACT:Advances in the monitoring and practice of optical thin film filter deposition over the past fifteen years have improved both the quality and yield of high performance filters. However, the need to deposit many heterogeneous spectral filters onto the same optical substrate still presents a major yield/cost challenge. We propose to solve this challenge through the construction of Butcher Block Patterned Filter Assemblies constructed from separate filter stripes using precision machining processes. As a result, the economics of filter production are greatly improved, resulting in higher performing, more cost-effective proximity filter arrays.BENEFIT:The Butcher Block construction of patterned filters greatly increases the yield and decreases the cost of Patterned Filter Assemblies. In addition, improvements in the throughput of narrowband filters will improve sensor performance for multiple applications.