Real-scene dispersion sensor detecting two wavelengths and determining time delay

Claim 2

An optical dispersion sensor comprising: an aperture near the image plane of a scanning optical system for receiving light from a scene; a first light detecting system for receiving the light from the aperture and detecting light of a first wavelength band in the light from the aperture, said first light detecting system generating signals corresponding to the detected light of the first wavelength band; a second light detecting system for receiving the light from the aperture and detecting light of a second wavelength band in the light from the aperture, said second light detecting system generating signals corresponding to the detected light of the second wavelength band; and a processing circuit for receiving the signals from the first and second light detecting systems and sensing the time delay between the signals.

Claim 3

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 1 wherein the aperture is an approximately circular pinhole.

Claim 4

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 1 wherein the aperture is a single slit.

Claim 5

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 1 wherein the aperture is a pair of approximately orthogonal slits.

Claim 6

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 1 wherein the light detecting systems include a spectrometer.

Claim 7

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 1 wherein the light detecting systems comprise a dichroic beam splitter, said dichroic beam splitter directing light of the first wavelength band to an optical detector in the first light detecting system and directing light of the second wavelength band to an optical detector in the second light detecting system.

Claim 8

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 6 wherein: the first light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit only light of the first wavelength band; and the second light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit only light of the second wavelength band.

Claim 9

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 1 further comprising a partially transmitting mirror, said partially transmitting mirror directing some of the light from the aperture to the first light detecting system and directing some of the light from the aperture to the second light detecting system.

Claim 10

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 8 wherein: the first light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit only light of the first wavelength band; and the second light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit only light of the second wavelength band.

Claim 11

The optical dispersion sensor of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second light detecting systems comprises an array of pixels.

Claim 12

An optical system with compensation for atmospheric dispersive effects comprising: an input opening for allowing light from a scene into the system; an adjustable dispersive element coupled to the input opening for receiving the light from the scene and introducing spectral dispersion into the light, the amount of said spectral dispersion being adjustable; an aperture near an image plane of the optical system for receiving light from the adjustable dispersive element; a first light detecting system for receiving light from the aperture and detecting light of a first wavelength band in the light, said first light detecting system generating signals corresponding to the detected light of the first wavelength band; a second light detecting system for receiving the light from the aperture and detecting light of a second wavelength band in the light, said second light detecting system generating signals corresponding to the detected light of the second wavelength band; a processing circuit for receiving the signals from the first and second light detecting systems and sensing the relative time delay between the signals; and a control circuit for adjusting the spectral dispersion introduced by the adjustable dispersive element until the relative time delay sensed by the processing circuit is approximately zero.

Claim 13

An optical system with compensation for atmospheric dispersive effects comprising: an input opening for allowing light from a scene into the system; an adjustable dispersive element coupled to the input opening for receiving the light from the scene and introducing spectral dispersion into the light, the amount of said spectral dispersion being adjustable; an aperture near an image plane of the optical system for receiving light from the adjustable dispersive element; a first light detecting system for receiving light from the aperture and detecting light of a first wavelength band in the light, said first light detecting system generating signals corresponding to the detected light of the first wavelength band; a second light detecting system for receiving the light from the aperture and detecting light of a second wavelength band in the light, said second light detecting system generating signals corresponding to the detected light of the second wavelength band; a processing circuit for receiving the signals from the first and second light detecting systems and sensing the relative time delay between the signals; and a control circuit for adjusting the spectral dispersion introduced by the adjustable dispersive element until the relative time delay sensed by the processing circuit is approximately zero.

Claim 14

The optical system of claim 11 wherein the adjustable dispersive element is a Risley prism.

Claim 15

The optical system of claim 11 wherein the aperture is an approximately circular pinhole.

Claim 16

The optical system of claim 11 wherein the aperture is a single slit.

Claim 17

The optical system of claim 11 wherein the aperture is a pair of approximately orthogonal slits.

Claim 18

The optical system of claim 11 wherein the light detecting systems include a spectrometer.

Claim 19

The optical system of claim 11 wherein the light detecting systems comprise a dichroic beam splitter, said dichroic beam splitter directing light of the first wavelength band to an optical detector in the first light detecting system and directing light of the second wavelength band to an optical detector in the second light detecting system.

Claim 20

The optical system of claim 17 wherein: the first light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit light of the first wavelength band; and the second light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit light of the second wavelength band.

Claim 21

The optical system of claim 11 further comprising a partially transmitting mirror, said partially transmitting mirror directing some of the light from the aperture to the first light detecting system and directing some of the light from the aperture to the second light detecting system.

Claim 22

The optical system of claim 19 wherein: the first light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit light of the first wavelength band; and the second light detecting system comprises an optical filter adapted to transmit light of the second wavelength band.

Claim 23

The optical system of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second light detecting systems comprises an array of pixels.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22 wherein the aperture is an approximately circular pinhole.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22 wherein the aperture is a single slit.

Claim 28

The method of claim 22 wherein the aperture is a pair of approximately orthogonal slits.

Claim 29

The method of claim 22 wherein the light detecting systems include a spectrometer.

Claim 30

The method of claim 22 wherein each of the detecting steps comprises: splitting the light from the aperture with a dichroic beam splitter; directing some of the light from the dichroic beam splitter toward the first light detecting system; and directing some of the light from the dichroic beam splitter toward the second light detecting system.

Claim 31

The method of claim 27 wherein: the step of detecting light of a first wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the first wavelength band is transmitted to the first light detecting system; and the step of detecting light of a second wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the second wavelength band is transmitted to the second light detecting system.

Claim 32

The method of claim 22 wherein each of the detecting steps comprises: splitting the light from the aperture with a partially transmitting mirror; directing some of the light from the partially transmitting mirror toward the first light detecting system; and directing some of the light from the partially transmitting mirror toward the second light detecting system.

Claim 33

The method of claim 29 wherein: the step of detecting light of a first wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the first wavelength band is transmitted to the first light detecting system; and the step of detecting light of a second wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the second wavelength band is transmitted to the second light detecting system.

Claim 34

The method of claim 22 wherein each of the detecting steps comprises receiving light with an array of pixels.

Claim 37

The method of claim 32 wherein the adjustable dispersive element is a Risley prism.

Claim 38

The method of claim 32 wherein the aperture is an approximately circular pinhole.

Claim 39

The method of claim 32 wherein the aperture is a single slit.

Claim 40

The method of claim 32 wherein the aperture is a pair of approximately orthogonal slits.

Claim 41

The method of claim 32 wherein the optical system comprises a spectrometer.

Claim 42

The method of claim 32 wherein each of the detecting steps comprises: splitting the light from the aperture with a dichroic beam splitter; directing some of the light from the dichroic beam splitter toward the first light detecting system; and directing some of the light from the dichroic beam splitter toward the second light detecting system.

Claim 43

The method of claim 38 wherein: the step of detecting light of a first wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the first wavelength band is transmitted to the first light detecting system; and the step of detecting light of a second wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the second wavelength band is transmitted to the second light detecting system.

Claim 44

The method of claim 32 wherein each of the detecting steps comprises: splitting the light from the aperture with a partially transmitting mirror; directing some of the light from the partially transmitting mirror toward the first light detecting system; and directing some of the light from the partially transmitting mirror toward the second light detecting system.

Claim 45

The method of claim 40 wherein: the step of detecting light of a first wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the first wavelength band is transmitted to the first light detecting system; and the step of detecting light of a second wavelength band further comprises filtering the light such that only light of the second wavelength band is transmitted to the second light detecting system.

Claim 46

The method of claim 32 wherein each of the detecting steps comprises receiving light with an array of pixels.