A high-speed MWIR uncooled multi-aperture snapshot spectral imager for IR surveillance and monitoring

This work describes the development of a modular, compact and cost effective snapshot multi-spectral imaging camera in the short and mid-wavelength infrared (S/MWIR) range. The solution combines an array of six uncooled PbSe focal plane arrays (FPAs) with a multi-aperture optical arrangement, and it is endowed with embedded processing capabilities to perform computational imaging. The spectral imager performance allows high-speed multi-spectral video acquisition at a maximum rate of 1000 frames per second. With this approach, the aim is to provide a versatile and easily customizable device for different applications. To demonstrate the performance of the camera, high temperature measurements of a blackbody were carried out. Taking advantage of the spectrally resolved measurements, a procedure for increasing the dynamic range and sensitivity of the sensor is proposed. Combining the response from 4 detectors in different MWIR narrow bands, an increase of 60% in the dynamic range is obtained.