JOURACA_SP_2017

Microprism Array Based
Spectral Prism Technique
Dallas Guffey
This study involves the study of feasibility
of using a microprism lens array (MLA) as
the spectral separator for usage in multi-/
hyper-spectral imaging systems. MLA usage
makes the system more compact and
less power hungry compared to the current
methods. For a white light ray hitting a triangle
prism, the average difference between
exiting rays of the main colors in the visible
wavelength spectrum was calculated to be
0.00179 degrees. Using the exit angle, photodetector
dimension (5.5 x 5.5 microns),
and trigonometric equations it was calculated
that a distance of 17.92 cm is needed to
accurately read the different wavelengths.
Original plan to use MLA from commercial
vendors was not achieved due to their unavailability,
and so we focused on designing
the MLA in the software and light propagation
inside it. Trace Pro and Autodesk software
were used to design the MLA and
LightTools software for simulation of the
images to study the light propagation inside
the MLA. Due to the delay in obtaining the
student licenses for the LightTools software,
the research took longer than expected and
the research did not go as far as the initial
plan proposed. This research project gave a
jump start towards attacking the problem of
using a MLA for spectral separation, and
over the course of this research project
many obstacles were overcome, all the
while making tremendous progress. I
learned a great amount of things in the electromagnetic
and optics field of study, and
how research in graduate school is done.
Department of Electrical and
Computer Engineering
Electrical and Computer
Engineering
Mentor: Dr. Ravi Gollapalli
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