Patent ID: 6563582
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: G01J,G02B

Abstract:
Apparatus for obtaining data concerning the characteristics of objects within a field of view comprising:(a) means for directing electromagnetic waves from object points onto a plurality of assemblies wherein each said assembly responds only to said waves originating from a respective object point with each said assembly including: (b) a first quarter-wave retarder of thin planar structure, a first half-wave retarder of thin planar structure, a first linear polarizer, wherein said first quarter-wave retarder, said first half-wave retarder, and said first linear polarizer are oriented to transmit only the right-hand circularly polarized component of said electromagnetic waves over a range of wavelength values of said electromagnetic waves, (c) a first means to detect said waves transmitted through said first quarter-wave retarder, said first half-wave retarder, and said first linear polarizer, (d) a second quarter-wave retarder of thin planar structure, a second half-wave retarder of thin planar structure, a second linear polarizer, wherein said second quarter-wave retarder, said second half-wave retarder, and said second linear polarizer are oriented to transmit only the left-hand circularly polarized component of said electromagnetic waves over a range of wavelength values of said electromagnetic waves, (e) a second means to detect said waves transmitted through said second quarter-wave retarder, said second half-wave retarder, and said second linear polarizer, (f) means for combining signals from said first detection means and said second detection means to yield output signals corresponding to at least one of first Stokes parameter I and fourth Stokes parameter V.