Patent ID: 7767951

Claim:
An image acquisition system comprising: a pixelated optical transducer absorbing electromagnetic radiation in a first range of wavelengths; the electromagnetic radiation being received from an input source of electromagnetic radiation; each pixel in said pixellated optical transducer being substantially thermally isolated from each other pixel in said pixellated optical transducer; another source of electromagnetic radiation in a second range of wavelengths, said second range of wavelengths being a range of visible wavelengths; said pixellated optical transducer comprising at least one layer of material capable of absorbing the portion of electromagnetic radiation from the input source; said at least one layer of material being disposed on a support; said support being capable of allowing transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the second range of wavelengths; alteration in optical thickness of said at least one layer of material resulting from absorbing the portion of electromagnetic radiation from the input source; an image being obtained from alteration in optical thickness of said at least one layer of material, said alteration resulting from absorbing the portion of electromagnetic radiation from the input source; said pixelated optical transducer being also causing, when the electromagnetic radiation from said another source interacts with said pixelated optical transducer after absorption of a portion of electromagnetic radiation from the input source, a variation in phase of electromagnetic radiation in the second range of wavelengths emanating from the optical transducer; said pixelated optical transducer receiving electromagnetic radiation in the first range of wavelengths at least one surface and of receiving electromagnetic radiation in the second range of wavelengths at least another surface; an optical system receiving electromagnetic radiation emanating from said another source, providing a portion of the received electromagnetic radiation emanating from said another source to said optical transducer, and of receiving a portion of the electromagnetic radiation in the second range of wavelengths emanating from the optical transducer; and said optical system and said pixelated optical transducer providing an image for visual observation; said image being generated by providing a corresponding relationship between at least some sub-ranges from said first range of wavelengths and at least some other sub-ranges from said range of visible wavelengths.