Spectral imaging based on micro-narrow multi-strip filter arrays

Spectral imaging technology based on on-chip spectroscopy can serve numerous aerospace, industrial, and consumer electronics applications. With each application requiring a different set and number of spectral bands, the absence of scalable and high-cost custom spectroscopy solutions has prevented the widespread adoption of multispectral imaging (MSI). Although lithography and hard-mask steps continue to mature, it is still an expensive, cumbersome, and inflexible solution. In this paper, we demonstrate a compact, highly customizable imaging spectrometer scheme (licensed patent), which maintains high efficiencies (~85%), narrow bandwidth (~30 nm), and high average optical density (~OD2) across the visible to near-infrared spectrum. Spectral imaging experiments are conducted, and accurate reconstruction of sparse spectral image data is demonstrated. These results prove the scheme can achieve the expected target imaging and spectral measurement accuracy.