Multi-spectral foveated imaging system

The development of sensors that are smaller, lighter weight and require less bandwidth is critical for the success of space-based and airborne imaging systems. One solution to this problem is foveated imaging, wherein a liquid crystal spatial light modulator is used to selectively enhance resolution in a wide field-of-view imaging system. Selective enhancement decreases the bulk and complexity of the optical train, while simultaneously reducing data transmission and processing requirements. This enhancement is done modulo 2π, as such it is inherently a monochromatic correction. In this paper, we propose to overcome that limitation by introducing a switchable polarization interference filter, obtaining near diffraction limited performance over the instantaneous field-of-view (IFOV) at the wavelength(s) of interest.