Patent ID: 6813018
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
A hyperspectral imager, comprising: a) a diffraction grating having an entrance slit formed at an entrance slit location therein, said entrance slit having a long dimension oriented in a y-direction, said entrance slit for transmitting the radiation from a slice of an incoming scene image, wherein said slit has a curved shape; b) a collecting reflecting element for receiving said transmitted radiation of the incoming scene image and reflecting said transmitted radiation to a diffractive surface of said diffraction grating, grooves on said diffractive surface being substantially parallel to said y-direction; c) a reimaging system for receiving radiation diffracted by said diffractive surface, said reimaging system for producing a spectral image of said entrance slit at a focal surface, wherein said spectral image provides a spectrum of radiation propagating through said entrance slit into the hyperspectral imager, such that the spectrum of radiation from a first region in the y-direction can be distinguished from the spectra of radiation from other regions in the y-direction.