Patent ID: 7199876

Claim:
A hyperspectral imager comprising: a first optical sub-system; at least one slit element; said first optical sub-system being capable of imaging, onto said at least one slit element, electromagnetic radiation emanating from a source; a second optical sub-system; said second optical sub-system being capable of substantially collimating, at a center plane, electromagnetic radiation emanating from said at least one slit element; at least one reflective dispersive element located substantially at the center plane; said second optical sub-system also being capable of imaging, onto an image surface, the electromagnetic radiation reflected from said at least one reflective dispersive element; at least one detecting element located substantially at the image surface; said at least one detecting element being capable of detecting dispersed electromagnetic radiation reflected from said at least one reflective dispersive element; a first sub-housing; at least one optical component from said first optical sub-system being positioned within said first sub-housing; said first sub-housing defining a first interior longitudinal axis; an optical axis of said at least one of optical component from said first optical sub-system being substantially coincident with said first interior longitudinal axis; and, a second sub-housing; said at least one slit element and at least one optical component from said second optical sub-system being positioned within said second sub-housing; said second sub-housing defining a second interior longitudinal axis; an optical axis of said at least one of optical components from said second optical sub-system being substantially coincident with said second interior longitudinal axis; said second sub-housing being attached to said first sub-housing; said second interior longitudinal axis being substantially coincident with said first interior longitudinal axis; a third sub-housing; at least another optical component from said second optical sub-system and said at least one reflective dispersive element being positioned within said third sub-housing; said third sub-housing defining a third interior longitudinal axis; an optical axis of said at least another optical component from said second optical sub-system being substantially coincident with said third interior longitudinal axis; said second sub-housing being attached to said third sub-housing; said second interior longitudinal axis being substantially coincident with said third interior longitudinal axis.