An imaging device and method are provided. Light from an object is provided as a plurality of sets of light beams to a phase difference array having a plurality of elements. The phase difference array is configured to provide different optical paths for light included within at least some of a plurality of sets of light beams. The light from the phase difference array is received at an imaging element array. The imaging element array includes a plurality of imaging elements. Information obtained from hyperspectral imaging data based on output signals of the imaging element array can be displayed.

A waveguide spectrometer includes at least one substrate layer with at least one waveguide. Each waveguide extends from an inlet face proceeding partly through the substrate layer to a reflecting element. A multiplicity of photo detectors is arranged on a front side of the substrate layer, while the photo detectors are electrically connected to an electronic read out system. The spectrometer can be made lightweight and easier to produce by forming the waveguides as surface waveguides, each showing a longitudinal opening with a width to the front side of the substrate layer between the inlet face and the reflecting element. The photo detectors are in print distributed at the front side on top of the substrate layer at least partly overlapping the longitudinal opening along an overall length of sampled region and the electrical connection of the photo detectors with the electronic read out system is achieved by a multiplicity of printed electrical conductors.

We disclose an on-chip photonic spectroscopy system capable of dramatically improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), dynamic range, and reconstruction quality of Fourier transform spectrometers. Secondly, we disclose a system of components that makes up a complete on-chip RF spectrum analyzer with low-cost and high-performance.

The present application relates to a system for performing time-resolved interferometric spectroscopy of incoming light. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more optical elements, a photo-detector, a capacitance detector, and one or more processors. Upon application of a varying input signal to the one or more optical elements, a change to an optical characteristic is caused resulting in a changing interference pattern produced by the incoming light incident on the one or more optical elements. During the application of the varying input signal, the photo-detector may detect an intensity of light output from the one or more optical elements and the capacitance detector may detect a capacitance of the one or more optical elements.

Ultra-miniature spatial heterodyne spectrometers (SHSs) are presented. Ultra-miniature SHSs in accordance with the invention, comprise a beam-splitter and gratings configured to generate a fringe pattern for spectroscopic detection. Many embodiments include input optics and a sensor and are configured in a way to omit collimating optics and imaging optics from the SHS. Compared to conventional SHSs known in the art, the present invention enables fewer parts, significantly smaller and lighter SHSs, are more efficient and robust, and require less maintenance. Many embodiments are field-deployable, in that such embodiments can be deployed for hand held use in real-world or remote activities outside of research or diagnostic facilities.

A photonic integrated circuit for use in hyperspectral spectroscopy. The photonic integrated circuit comprising: a multi-spectral laser source, configured to produce a multi-spectral optical signal; a modulator, the modulator configured to split the multi-spectral optical signal into a first component and a second component, and apply an up-chirp modulation profile to the first component and a down-chirp modulation profile to the second component; a first transmitter and receiver module, configured to transmit the modulated first component and receive reflections of the first component; and a second transmitter and receiver module, configured to transmit the modulated second component and receive reflections of the second component.

A spatial Fourier transform spectrometer is disclosed. The Fourier transform spectrometer includes a Fabry-Perot interferometer with first and second optical surfaces. The gap between the first and second optical surfaces spatially varies in a direction that is orthogonal to the optical axis of the Fourier transform spectrometer. The Fabry-Perot interferometer creates an interference pattern from input light. An image of the interference pattern is captured by a detector, which is communicatively coupled to a processor. The processor is configured to process the interference pattern image to determine information about the spectral content of the input light.

An optical interference device 100 is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the optical interference device 100 comprises a phase shifter array 108 for receiving a collimated beam of light. The phase shifter array 108 includes an array of cells 128 for producing optical light channels from respective rays of the collimated beam of light, with at least some of the optical light channels having varying phase shifts. The optical interference device 100 further includes a focusing lens 110 having a focal distance and arranged to simultaneously produce, from the optical light channels, a focused beam of light in its focal plane and an image downstream the phase shifter array 108 for detection by an optical detector 116. The optical interference device 100 also includes an optical spatial filter 112 arranged at the focal distance of the focusing lens 110 and arranged to filter the focused beam of light to produce a spatially distributed interference light pattern in zero.sup.th order for detection by the optical detector 116. A method for producing a spatially distributed interference light pattern is also disclosed.

The present application provides a spectral phase interference device and system for addressing the problem of low stability and compactness with prior art spectral phase interference devices. In the device or system provided in the present application, the optical element for generating the pulse pair to be measured consists of only a birefringent crystal and the adjustment of two-step phase shift is also completed by only a broadband quarter-wave plate. Therefore, wide application of optical elements such as pulse stretchers, retarders, optical splitters and mirrors as in prior art devices is avoided, thereby significantly simplifying the overall device's structure and resulting in enhanced stability and compactness at the same time.

An optical device includes a liquid-crystal variable retarder. An exit-pupil expander is optically coupled to the liquid-crystal variable retarder, the exit-pupil expander includes: at least one optical input feature that receives reference light from a reference light source; and one or more optical coupling elements coupled to receive the reference light from the reference light source and expand the reference light to one or more spatially-separated regions of the liquid-crystal variable retarder.