With recent developments in multispectral detector technology, the interest in common aperture, common focal plane multispectral imaging systems is increasing. Such systems are particularly desirable for military applications, where increased levels of target discrimination and identification are required in cost-effective, rugged, lightweight systems. During the optical design of dual waveband or multispectral systems, the options for material selection are limited. This selection becomes even more restrictive for military applications, where material resilience, thermal properties, and color correction must be considered. We discuss the design challenges that lightweight multispectral common aperture systems present, along with some potential design solutions. Consideration is given to material selection for optimum color correction, as well as material resilience and thermal correction. This discussion is supported using design examples currently in development at Qioptiq.
KEYWORDS: Diffraction, Modulation transfer functions, Chemical elements, Long wavelength infrared, Diamond, Short wave infrared radiation, Modulation, Sensors, Colorimetry, Defense technologies
With the recent developments in multi-spectral detector technology the interest in common aperture, common focal plane
multi-spectral imaging systems is increasing. Such systems are particularly desirable for military applications where
increased levels of target discrimination and identification are required in cost-effective, rugged, lightweight systems.
During the optical design of dual waveband or multi-spectral systems, the options for material selection are limited. This
selection becomes even more restrictive for military applications as material resilience and thermal properties must be
considered in addition to colour correction.
In this paper we discuss the design challenges that lightweight multi-spectral common aperture systems present along
with some potential design solutions. Consideration will be given to material selection for optimum colour correction as
well as material resilience and thermal correction. This discussion is supported using design examples that are currently
in development at Qioptiq.
Conference Committee Involvement (10)
Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR X
13 April 2025 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR IX
22 April 2024 | National Harbor, Maryland, United States
Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR VIII
1 May 2023 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR VII
3 April 2022 | Orlando, Florida, United States
Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR VI
12 April 2021 | Online Only, Florida, United States
Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR V
27 April 2020 | Online Only, California, United States
Advanced Optics for Imaging Applications: UV through LWIR IV
14 April 2019 | Baltimore, MD, United States
Advanced Optics for Defense Applications: UV through LWIR III
15 April 2018 | Orlando, FL, United States
Advanced Optics for Defense Applications: UV through LWIR II
9 April 2017 | Anaheim, CA, United States
Advanced Optics for Defense Applications: UV through LWIR
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.