Ms. Michele Hinnrichs Profile

Michele Hinnrichs

CEO at Pacific Advanced Technology Inc

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Area of Expertise:

infrared technology , imaging spectroscopy , hyperspectral imaging

Websites:

Company Website

Profile Summary

Ms. Hinnrichs founded of Pacific Advanced Technology in 1988 and has been involved with the development and commercialization of state of the art infrared sensor system for over 30 years. One commercial product that is a direct result of defense funded R&D is the Sherlock gas imaging and analysis infrared imaging spectrometer. This product is currently being used by the oil, gas, chemical and power industry for fugitive leak detection, quantification, as well as remote emission monitoring and analysis. To better serve the commercial market Pacific Advanced Technology formed a wholly owned subsidiary called Gas Imaging Technology to market the Sherlock in the commercial arena.

Prior to founding Pacific Advanced Technology in 1988 Ms Hinnrichs worked as a physicist at Hughes Aircraft Company from 1977 to 1982 where she was a member of a team of scientist and engineers that developed the very first infrared imaging camera based on CCD and focal plane array technology. It is this same technology that went on to be used in the visible camera systems that can now be found in cell phones. Ms Hinnrichs later joined the Rockwell Science Center from 1982 to 1986 where her principal work was in the field of infrared detector material science. This background gave Ms. Hinnrichs the necessary understanding of the sensor technology that constitutes the heart of the Sherlock imaging spectrometer. In 1987 she joined the advanced programs group of Loral Corporation, Electro-optics Systems Division in Pasadena, California where she was responsible for the business development of all Loral infrared imaging programs.

Ms. Hinnrichs received her B.S. and M.S. in physics from California State University at Northridge. She has published and presented numerous technical papers on the subject of infrared technology and electro-optics. Ms. Hinnrichs also holds four patents for the technology that was developed leading up to the Sherlock imaging spectrometer.

Publications (18)

Proceedings Article | 5 September 2017 Paper

Paper

Imaging spectroscopy using embedded diffractive optical arrays

Michele Hinnrichs, Bradford Hinnrichs

Proceedings Volume 10402, 104020G (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2272420

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Infrared spectroscopy, Optical arrays, Infrared imaging, Spectroscopy, Diffractive optical elements, Imaging spectroscopy, Infrared sensors, Sensors, Image processing

Read Abstract +

Pacific Advanced Technology (PAT) has developed an infrared hyperspectral camera based on diffractive optic arrays. This approach to hyperspectral imaging has been demonstrated in all three infrared bands SWIR, MWIR and LWIR. The hyperspectral optical system has been integrated into the cold-shield of the sensor enabling the small size and weight of this infrared hyperspectral sensor. This new and innovative approach to an infrared hyperspectral imaging spectrometer uses micro-optics that are made up of an area array of diffractive optical elements where each element is tuned to image a different spectral region on a common focal plane array. The lenslet array is embedded in the cold-shield of the sensor and actuated with a miniature piezo-electric motor. This approach enables rapid infrared spectral imaging with multiple spectral images collected and processed simultaneously each frame of the camera. This paper will present our optical mechanical design approach which results in an infrared hyper-spectral imaging system that is small enough for a payload on a small satellite, mini-UAV, commercial quadcopter or man portable. Also, an application of how this spectral imaging technology can easily be used to quantify the mass and volume flow rates of hydrocarbon gases. The diffractive optical elements used in the lenslet array are blazed gratings where each lenslet is tuned for a different spectral bandpass. The lenslets are configured in an area array placed a few millimeters above the focal plane and embedded in the cold-shield to reduce the background signal normally associated with the optics. The detector array is divided into sub-images covered by each lenslet. We have developed various systems using a different number of lenslets in the area array. Depending on the size of the focal plane and the diameter of the lenslet array will determine the number of simultaneous different spectral images collected each frame of the camera. A 2 x 2 lenslet array will image four different spectral images of the scene each frame and when coupled with a 512 x 512 focal plane array will give spatial resolution of 256 x 256 pixel each spectral image. Another system that we developed uses a 4 x 4 lenslet array on a 1024 x 1024 pixel element focal plane array which gives 16 spectral images of 256 x 256 pixel resolution each frame. This system spans the SWIR and MWIR bands with a single optical array and focal plane array.

Proceedings Article | 9 May 2017 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Infrared hyperspectral imaging miniaturized for UAV applications

Michele Hinnrichs, Bradford Hinnrichs, Earl McCutchen

Proceedings Volume 10177, 101770H (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2262125

KEYWORDS: Image processing, Infrared cameras, Cameras, Image enhancement, Infrared imaging, Infrared radiation, Hyperspectral imaging, Unmanned aerial vehicles, Mid-IR, Long wavelength infrared, Staring arrays, Sensors, Spectroscopy, Optical components

Read Abstract +

Pacific Advanced Technology (PAT) has developed an infrared hyperspectral camera, both MWIR and LWIR, small enough to serve as a payload on a miniature unmanned aerial vehicles. The optical system has been integrated into the cold-shield of the sensor enabling the small size and weight of the sensor. This new and innovative approach to infrared hyperspectral imaging spectrometer uses micro-optics and will be explained in this paper. The micro-optics are made up of an area array of diffractive optical elements where each element is tuned to image a different spectral region on a common focal plane array. The lenslet array is embedded in the cold-shield of the sensor and actuated with a miniature piezo-electric motor. This approach enables rapid infrared spectral imaging with multiple spectral images collected and processed simultaneously each frame of the camera. This paper will present our optical mechanical design approach which results in an infrared hyper-spectral imaging system that is small enough for a payload on a mini-UAV or commercial quadcopter. Also, an example of how this technology can easily be used to quantify a hydrocarbon gas leak’s volume and mass flowrates. The diffractive optical elements used in the lenslet array are blazed gratings where each lenslet is tuned for a different spectral bandpass. The lenslets are configured in an area array placed a few millimeters above the focal plane and embedded in the cold-shield to reduce the background signal normally associated with the optics. We have developed various systems using a different number of lenslets in the area array. Depending on the size of the focal plane and the diameter of the lenslet array will determine the spatial resolution. A 2 x 2 lenslet array will image four different spectral images of the scene each frame and when coupled with a 512 x 512 focal plane array will give spatial resolution of 256 x 256 pixel each spectral image. Another system that we developed uses a 4 x 4 lenslet array on a 1024 x 1024 pixel element focal plane array which gives 16 spectral images of 256 x 256 pixel resolution each frame.

Proceedings Article | 3 May 2017 Presentation + Paper

Presentation + Paper

Miniature infrared hyperspectral imaging sensor for airborne applications

Michele Hinnrichs, Bradford Hinnrichs, Earl McCutchen

Proceedings Volume 10210, 102100N (2017) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2257474

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Spectroscopy, Mid-IR, Hyperspectral imaging, Image processing, Infrared imaging, Infrared radiation, Cameras, Image enhancement, Infrared sensors, Hyperspectral systems, Image sensors, Sensors, Infrared cameras

Read Abstract +

Pacific Advanced Technology (PAT) has developed an infrared hyperspectral camera, both MWIR and LWIR, small enough to serve as a payload on a miniature unmanned aerial vehicles. The optical system has been integrated into the cold-shield of the sensor enabling the small size and weight of the sensor.

This new and innovative approach to infrared hyperspectral imaging spectrometer uses micro-optics and will be explained in this paper. The micro-optics are made up of an area array of diffractive optical elements where each element is tuned to image a different spectral region on a common focal plane array. The lenslet array is embedded in the cold-shield of the sensor and actuated with a miniature piezo-electric motor. This approach enables rapid infrared spectral imaging with multiple spectral images collected and processed simultaneously each frame of the camera.

This paper will present our optical mechanical design approach which results in an infrared hyper-spectral imaging system that is small enough for a payload on a mini-UAV or commercial quadcopter.

The diffractive optical elements used in the lenslet array are blazed gratings where each lenslet is tuned for a different spectral bandpass. The lenslets are configured in an area array placed a few millimeters above the focal plane and embedded in the cold-shield to reduce the background signal normally associated with the optics.

We have developed various systems using a different number of lenslets in the area array. Depending on the size of the focal plane and the diameter of the lenslet array will determine the spatial resolution. A 2 x 2 lenslet array will image four different spectral images of the scene each frame and when coupled with a 512 x 512 focal plane array will give spatial resolution of 256 x 256 pixel each spectral image. Another system that we developed uses a 4 x 4 lenslet array on a 1024 x 1024 pixel element focal plane array which gives 16 spectral images of 256 x 256 pixel resolution each frame.

Proceedings Article | 7 March 2014 Paper

Paper

Next generation miniature simultaneous multi-hyperspectral imaging systems

Michele Hinnrichs, Neelam Gupta

Proceedings Volume 8977, 89770D (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2035244

KEYWORDS: Mirrors, Fabry–Perot interferometers, Gold, Tunable filters, Microopto electromechanical systems, Hyperspectral imaging, Staring arrays, Spectral resolution, Cameras, Signal detection

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 13 March 2013 Paper

Paper

Simultaneous multispectral imaging using lenslet arrays

Michele Hinnrichs, James Jensen

Proceedings Volume 8616, 861615 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2000585

KEYWORDS: Multispectral imaging, Diffraction, Optical filters, Cameras, Imaging arrays, Hyperspectral imaging, Microopto electromechanical systems, Lens design, Optical arrays, Spectral resolution

Read Abstract +

There is a need for small compact multispectral and hyperspectral imaging systems that simultaneously images in many spectral bands across the infrared spectral region from short to long-wave infrared. This is a challenge for conventional optics and usually requires large, costly and complex optical systems. However, with the advances in materials and photolithographic technology, Micro-Optical-Electrical-Machine-Systems (MOEMS) can meet these goals. In this paper Pacific Advanced Technology and ECBC will present the work that we are doing under a SBIR contract to the US Army using a MOEMS based diffractive optical lenslet array to perform simultaneous multispectral and hyperspectral imaging with relatively high spatial resolution. Under this program we will develop a proof of concept system that demonstrates how a diffractive optical (DO) lenslet array can image 1024 x 1024 pixels in 16 colors every frame of the camera. Each color image has a spatial resolution of 256 x 256 pixels with an IFOV of 1.7 mrads and FOV of 25 degrees. The purpose of this work is to simultaneously image multiple colors each frame and reduce the temporal changes between colors that are apparent in sequential multispectral imaging. Translating the lenslet array will collect hyperspectral image data cubes as will be explained later in this paper. Because the optics is integrated with the detector the entire multispectral/hyperspectral system can be contained in a miniature package. The spectral images are collected simultaneously allowing high resolution spectral-spatial-temporal information each frame of the camera. Thus enabling the implementation of spectral-temporal-spatial algorithms in real-time with high sensitivity for the detection of weak signals in a high background clutter environment with low sensitivity to camera motion. Using MOEMS actuation the DO lenslet array is translated along the optical axis to complete the full hyperspectral data cube in just a few frames of the camera, i.e. less than 1 second. In addition to numerous defense and security applications the same technology can be applied to biomedical cellular and molecular imaging.

Proceedings Article | 5 May 2012 Paper

Paper

Micro-optics for simultaneous multi-spectral imaging applied to chemical/biological and IED detection

Michele Hinnrichs

Proceedings Volume 8358, 83581X (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.921337

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Chemical elements, Imaging spectroscopy, Long wavelength infrared, Multispectral imaging, Cameras, Biological detection systems, Toxic industrial chemicals, Spectroscopy, Spectral resolution

Read Abstract +

Proceedings Article | 21 May 2011 Paper

Paper

Simultaneous multispectral framing infrared camera using an embedded diffractive optical lenslet array

Michele Hinnrichs

Proceedings Volume 8012, 80120B (2011) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.886310

KEYWORDS: Staring arrays, Imaging spectroscopy, Imaging systems, Long wavelength infrared, Optical arrays, Diffraction, Sensors, Optical components, Spectroscopy, Short wave infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 16 April 2008 Paper

Paper

Comparison of QWIP to HgCdTe detectors for gas imaging

Michele Hinnrichs, Neelam Gupta

Proceedings Volume 6940, 69401Q (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.779322

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Quantum well infrared photodetectors, Mercury cadmium telluride, Detector arrays, Imaging spectroscopy, Absorption, Spectrometers, Imaging systems, Aerosols, Image sensors

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Proceedings Article | 30 August 2004 Paper

Paper

Handheld hyperspectral imager system for chemical/biological and environmental applications

Michele Hinnrichs, Bob Piatek

Proceedings Volume 5406, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.540729

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Spectroscopy, Video, Imaging systems, Spectral imaging cameras, Image processing, Human-machine interfaces, Infrared spectroscopy, Infrared imaging, Standards development

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Proceedings Article | 13 August 2004 Paper

Paper

Handheld hyperspectral imager for standoff detection of chemical and biological aerosols

Michele Hinnrichs, James Jensen, Gerard McAnally

Proceedings Volume 5416, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.540731

KEYWORDS: Mid-IR, Cameras, Absorption, Imaging systems, Aerosols, Biological detection systems, Standoff detection, Long wavelength infrared, Clouds, Signal to noise ratio

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Proceedings Article | 4 March 2004 Paper

Paper

Hand-held hyperspectral imager for chemical/biological and environmental applications

Michele Hinnrichs, Bob Piatek

Proceedings Volume 5270, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.511851

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Video, Spectroscopy, Image processing, LCDs, Human-machine interfaces, Spectral imaging cameras, Imaging systems, Infrared spectroscopy, Field programmable gate arrays

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Proceedings Article | 27 February 2004 Paper

Paper

Handheld hyperspectral imager for standoff detection of chemical and biological aerosols

Michele Hinnrichs, James Jensen, Gerard McAnally

Proceedings Volume 5268, (2004) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.519163

KEYWORDS: Mid-IR, Cameras, Absorption, Imaging systems, Long wavelength infrared, Aerosols, Standoff detection, Biological detection systems, Clouds, Signal to noise ratio

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Proceedings Article | 7 February 2002 Paper

Paper

Infrared hyperspectral tunable filter imaging spectrometer for remote leak detection, chemical speciation, and stack/vent analysis applications

Michele Hinnrichs

Proceedings Volume 4574, (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.455152

KEYWORDS: Spectroscopy, Sensors, Cameras, Methane, Remote sensing, Infrared imaging, Infrared radiation, Infrared spectroscopy, Chemical analysis, Carbon monoxide

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Proceedings Article | 15 November 2000 Paper

Paper

Infrared hyperspectral imaging sensor for gas detection

Michele Hinnrichs

Proceedings Volume 4132, (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.406604

KEYWORDS: Methane, Image processing, Imaging systems, Digital signal processing, Carbon monoxide, Spectroscopy, Signal processing, Absorption, Infrared sensors, Infrared radiation

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Proceedings Article | 21 December 1999 Paper

Paper

Imaging spectrometer for fugitive gas leak detection

Michele Hinnrichs

Proceedings Volume 3853, (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.372849

KEYWORDS: Spectroscopy, Image processing, Infrared imaging, Image enhancement, Infrared spectroscopy, Acquisition tracking and pointing, Sensors, Digital signal processing, Cameras, Visible radiation

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Proceedings Article | 10 February 1999 Paper

Paper

Remote sensing for gas plume monitoring using state-of-the-art infrared hyperspectral imaging

Michele Hinnrichs

Proceedings Volume 3534, (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339016

KEYWORDS: Black bodies, Sensors, Imaging systems, Spectroscopy, Image processing, Infrared radiation, Hyperspectral imaging, Temperature metrology, Infrared imaging, Infrared cameras

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Proceedings Article | 31 October 1997 Paper

Paper

New approach to imaging spectroscopy using diffractive optics

Michele Hinnrichs, Mark Massie

Proceedings Volume 3118, (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.278933

KEYWORDS: Cameras, Image processing, Imaging systems, Deconvolution, Point spread functions, Spectroscopy, Mid-IR, Spectral resolution, Sensors, Imaging spectroscopy

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Proceedings Article | 12 June 1995 Paper

Paper

Image multispectral sensing: a new and innovative instrument for hyperspectral imaging using dispersive techniques

Michele Hinnrichs, Mark Massie

Proceedings Volume 2480, (1995) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.210911

KEYWORDS: Prototyping, Sensors, Infrared imaging, Acquisition tracking and pointing, Imaging systems, Infrared radiation, Missiles, Hyperspectral imaging, Hyperspectral systems, Combustion

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Showing 5 of 18 publications

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