Spin scan tomographic imager

Abstract

A novel imaging device based on tomographic reconstruction is presented. The imager is based on rotating an image of the scene onto a linear detector array, and then reconstructing a 2-dimensional image from the detector array signal using tomographic reconstruction techniques. Similar in many ways to the conical scan tomographic scanning (TOSCA) imager, the spin scan TOSCA imager features several improvements compared to its predecessors, mainly because the linear array covers the whole scene and hence in principle can collect 100% of the incoming photons. In addition to presenting the theory behind the device and its sensitivity to noise, non-uniformity and errors, an experimental uncooled mid-wave infrared imager demonstrator is also presented, together with images of test targets, both the final result as well as the incremental steps in the imaging reconstruction process.