The MOEMS Fabry-Perot interferometer (MFPI) based hyperspectral cameras have the advantage of being low cost and highly compact, but the performance characteristics determine if particular device can be used in given application. This paper describes the performance test results of exceptionally compact cubic-inch sized VNIR hyperspectral camera. This camera prototype was developed in a project supported by European Space Agency (ESA) and its long-term goal of this project was to develop reliable, compact and lightweight hyperspectral camera for space exploration vehicles, such as drones, landers and rovers. The camera operates in 650 nm - 950 nm range and the field of view is ca. 12.5° × 10° with image size of 640 × 480 pixels. The prototype was tested for operation in space environment. This involved test in a thermal vacuum chamber as well as a vibration test. The MFPI, developed by VTT, was also separately tested in near vacuum to evaluate its actuation speed and resonance characteristics. In addition to environmental tests, the camera completed wavelength and temperature calibration. The data acquisition speed and spectral characteristics were also determined. The results of these tests and other procedures are presented in this paper.
Recently developed tunable MEMS Fabry- Perot interferometers based on Ag thin-film mirrors[1] have enabled building highly miniaturized spectral imagers covering almost the complete VNIR wavelength range. The level of miniaturization required by modern smartphone industry has created extremely compact, high performance electronics and camera technologies and by utilizing these technologies together with the novel MEMS FPI’s, it is possible to create extremely compact spectral imagers while still achieving good performance. This paper presents a spectral imager design that can be fit inside an envelope of 1 cubic inch (25.4 × 25.4 × 25.4 mm3 ) and it will be capable of recording images at freely selectable wavelengths within the range of ca. 650 nm - 950 nm. The imager field of view is ca. 12.5° × 10° and the image size is 640 × 512 pixels. Nominally the imager will be focused from ca. 0.5 m to infinity, but with additional optics it is possible to use the imager as a microscope. The compact size of the imager allows the easy integration to almost any available platform, including small drones, nanosatellites or planetary rovers, where small size is essential. It is also possible to integrate the imager to handheld devices, so the potential field of applications will be extensive.
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