Arrays of QWIPs With Spatial Separation of Multiple Colors

Focal-plane arrays of quantum-well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) featuring adjacent pixels sensitive to different colors have been proposed. An array of this type would make it possible to image the same scene in multiple wavelength bands simultaneously on the same focal plane, without need for moving parts or for complex optics to split light into wavelength bands and make the light in each band impinge on a separate detector array optimized for that band. Hence, these arrays would make it possible to develop a new generation of spectral imagers that would be smaller, lighter, and less costly, relative to spectral imagers now or previously in use.