Micro-lens Array Hyperspectral 3-D Sensor

We propose to design and model a unique spectral imaging sensor that will be capable of simultaneously imaging sixteen color bands at video rates. The approach will utilize recent developments in micro-optics to create a sixteen-channel spectral imagerbased on a single focal plane array. The resulting spectral imager will operate in the visible band, incorporate a 4x4 micro-lens array, and use a 512'512 staring imager to capture one 128'128'16 spectral data cube during each integration time. The newsensor will have no moving parts and a small physical form factor. The design and development of this sensor represents a unique opportunity in hyperspectral sensing and imaging.This effort will benefit the development of algorithms for exploiting time-evolving spectral signatures. This spectral imager will be able to sample the data at rates in excess of 200 hyperspectral cubes per second with moderate spectral sampling. Thesensor can be configured so that the spectral resolution varies independently of the sampling, allowing the sensitivity of the sensor to be optimized around phenomenologically important spectral regions. The proposed sensor combines staring imaging technology with recent developments in micro-lens technology from telecommunications to advance the state of the art in hyperspectral imaging. The ability of the new sensor concept to rapidly acquirehyperspectral data cubes should provide an unprecedented opportunity to investigate algorithms for dynamic event classification based on temporal spectral signatures, countering CC&D, and evaluating surfaces. In addition, the small physical size of thesensor will demonstrate the possibility of portable hyperspectral imaging.Potential applications for defense purposes include buried mine detection, real-time bomb damage assessment, target tracking, and missile threat warning. In addition, we anticipate possible applications in medical diagnostics and medical imaging.