Patent ID: 7342658

Claim:
An imaging apparatus for obtaining spectral image data from an object comprising: a) a light source for directing light toward the object; b) an input optics section for gathering light to obtain a multispectral image bearing light; c) a programmable spectral filter that conditions the multispectral image bearing light according to a predetermined spectral transmission function, wherein the programmable spectral filter comprises: i) a wavelength distributing element for distributing spectral components of the multispectral image bearing light to provide an input spatially distributed image bearing light; ii) at least one spatial light modulator in the path of the input spatially distributed image-bearing light, the at least one spatial light modulator comprising a plurality of addressable areas, at least one addressable area modulating a corresponding spectral band of the spatially distributed image bearing light according to the spectral transmission function to provide one or more output modulated spectral bands of image-bearing light such that the input spatially distributed image-bearing light and the output modulated spectral bands are substantially parallel to each other and travel in opposite directions when in close proximity to the spatial light modulator, and wherein the spectral transmission function provides a continuously variable transmission; iii) a wavelength recombining element in the path of the output modulated spectral bands of image-bearing light, wherein the wavelength recombining element recombines the one or more modulated spectral bands of image-bearing light to form a conditioned multispectral image bearing light; d) a detector array in the path of the conditioned multispectral image bearing light and providing a corresponding output signal; and, e) a control logic processor in communication with the spatial light modulator for modulating addressable areas of the spatial light modulator to provide the spectral transmission function thereby.