High-Dynamic Range Multi-Band Miniaturized Spectral Sensor

Spectral imaging is a critical surveillance technique for recognition of underwater objects such as submarines because they leave unique spectral signatures as greenish chemiluminescent trails. These are created by small ocean animals (e.g., fish, eels, squid, worms) under stress, and may remain for up to 1-to-2 hours. The uniqueness of these signatures is evidenced by massive information volumes containing their spectral signatures. For a 10-bit dynamic range, this can exceed 103 to 103 power. To provide high-dynamic range spectral signature recognition, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes a high-dynamic-range Multi-Band miniaturized Spectral (MBS) sensor system. POC's unique transmission diffraction grating technology will provide sensitive detection, high SNR (>45 dB, optical) spectral images with resolution within the 0.1 - 10 = spectral range, for - 1000 multi-spectral channels, decomposed over 10 spectral bands, located within the spectral signature range of interest. The proposed spectral sensing hardware is retrofittable to, and cooperates within general multi-spectral fusion schemes such as: conventional imaging and night vision, SONAR, and RADAR. It is integrated within compact optoelectronic (OE) board packaging, and is supported by POC's Genetic Algorithm global optimization software.