You are here

Novel Non-mechanical Liquid Crystal based Foveated Imaging System

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Contract: N10PC20065
Agency Tracking Number: 09SB3-0118
Amount: $98,960.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: SB093-008
Solicitation Number: 2009.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2010
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2010-03-22
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2010-10-04
Small Business Information
450 Courtney Way, Unit 107
Lafayette, CO 80026
United States
DUNS: 602673188
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 HUGH MASTERSON
 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
 (303) 604-0077
 HUGH@BNONLINEAR.COM
Business Contact
 MARK TANNER
Title: VICE PRESIDENT
Phone: (303) 604-0077
Email: MTANNER@BNONLINEAR.COM
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

A novel foveated imaging technology is proposed, suitable for integration into an urban surveillance system. The proposed technology has no moving parts has low power requirements and requires a single imaging camera. The technology exploits the beam steering capabilities of liquid crystal polarization gratings (LCPGs) which diffract light only into the m=±1 orders according to the handedness of incident circular polarization which is controlled by switchable halfwave plates. The LCPGs steer the high field angles into the axial direction of a lens train where a high resolution image is produced. Field angles simultaneously steered into off-axis directions produce a blurred image region due to lens aberrations. A second LCPG stack and lenses re-image and re-steer the object field to the image plane reversing grating dispersion and image shift. The result is a static image field with a moveable foveated region. The technology is suitable for wide angle imaging as the lens aberrations do not have to be corrected for high angles. The system is integrated with a hemispherical mirror to capture a 360°X20° field of regard. A 10x foveated region zoom is provided by additional small diameter axial lenses. Polarization independent operation is possible using a two arm system.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

US Flag An Official Website of the United States Government