University of Central Florida Research Foundation Inc

Lockheed Martin Corporation

Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Raytheon Missile Systems

Glenn D Boreman

David Shelton

Kevin Robert Coffey

Edward Dein

Brian Lail

Wilson Caba

Andrew Peter Warren

Vu Huynh Lam

Guy Zummo

Michael A Gritz

Francisco Javier Gonzalez

Christos Christodoulou

James Ginn

Daniel E Mullally

Nathan Bluzer

Gene D Tener

Aristide Dogariu

Edit L Braunstein

Andrew H Hawkins

Thomas E Haberfelde

James L Porter

Jeff Tharp

Peter Martin Krenz

Mohamed AbdelRahman

Christophe Fumeaux

Julian Codreanu

Jeffrey D'Archangel

Jeffrey Tharp

Iulian Cordreanu

Infrared metamaterial arrays containing Au elements immersed in a medium of benzocyclobutene (BCB) were fabricated and selectively etched to produce small square flakes with edge dimensions of approximately 20 &#x3bc;m. Two unit-cell designs were fabricated: one employed crossed-dipole elements while the other utilized square-loop elements.

Metamaterial composition comprising frequency-selective-surface resonant element disposed on/in a dielectric flake, methods, and applications

A tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus, such as but not limited to a tunable Fresnel zone lens apparatus, includes a plurality of symmetric repeating structures (i.e., typically concentric rings) located over a substrate and comprising a material susceptible to a transparent to opaque transition for a designated radiation wavelength. The tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus also includes a means for separately effecting the transparent to opaque transition for each of the plurality of symmetric repeating structures to provide a plurality of transparent zones each comprising a variable first sub-plurality of adjacent transparent symmetric repeating structures alternating and interposed between a plurality of opaque zones each comprising a variable second sub-plurality of adjacent opaque symmetric repeating structures. Also included are a method for fabricating the tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus and a method for operating the tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus.

Tunable optical diffraction grating apparatus and related methods

A resistor, fabricating method, and thermal sensor material for resistors that incorporate high Temperature Coefficient of Resistance (TCR) values and low resistivity for better sensitivity in infrared imaging applications are disclosed. Amorphous oxide thin films, preferably oxides of vanadium (VO), were deposited on thermally grown silicon dioxide by direct current (DC) magnetron co-sputtering of noble metals (gold and platinum) in a controlled argon/oxygen atmosphere. The ideal conditions for preparing an amorphous vanadium oxide/noble metal thin film are identified. TCR and resistivity results showed that the additions of gold (Au) and platinum (Pt) into VOreduced the resistivity. However, only gold (Au) was found to improve TCR value. Reducing the amount of oxygen in the thin film, further improved the ratio between TCR and resistivity. Infrared detection and imaging devices can be greatly improved with a 'drop-in' amorphous vanadium oxide/noble metal thin film of the present invention.

Nanocomposite semiconducting material with reduced resistivity

An array of two or more tunable electro-optical reflecting elements where the phase response of one or more elements may be adjusted by a variety of approaches including, but not limited to: a liquid crystal superstrate, schottky contact(s), ultra-violet radiation pulses, and illumination of photoconductive substrates. Methods and apparatus for direct and/or adaptive control of phase response via the above approaches are also discussed.

Dynamic reflectarray technology for electro-optical sensors

An identification system and associated method for identifying objects includes at least one tag having encoded information attached to the surface of an object to be identified, wherein the tag includes a first FSS-based elliptical polarization filter which provides the encoding. A remotely located receiver including a second FSS-based elliptical polarization filter and a linear polarizer optically coupled to the second filter is operable for differentially attenuating the first and second orthogonal polarization states allowing a determination whether the intensity pattern corresponds to the encoded information.

Elliptical polarizers, tags and identification systems using frequency selective surfaces

An optical combination includes a substrate, a linear polarizer on the substrate, and a first frequency selective surface (FSS) based elliptical polarization filter on the linear polarizer. The first FSS comprises at least one periodic pattern of spaced apart electrically conductive lines having a sub-wavelength line-to-line spacing orientated along a first axis. The pattern is operable to impose a phase differential for one orthogonal linear polarization state relative to the other linear polarization state for electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength between 400 nm and 1 mm, such as 1 &#x3bc;m to 12 &#x3bc;m. An identification system and associated method for identifying objects includes at least one tag having encoded information attached to the surface of an object to be identified, wherein the tag includes a first FSS-based elliptical polarization filter which provides the encoding. A remotely located receiver including a second FSS-based elliptical polarization filter and a linear polarizer optically coupled to the second filter is operable for differentially attenuating the first and second orthogonal polarization states allowing a determination whether the intensity pattern corresponds to the encoded information.

An integrated sub-millimeter and infrared reflectarray includes a reflective surface, a dielectric layer disposed on the reflective surface, and a subwavelength element array and a subwavelength element array electromagnetically coupled to the reflective surface. The subwavelength element array includes (i) electrically conductive subwavelength elements on the dielectric layer, (ii) wherein the dielectric layer comprises a plurality of dielectric subwavelength elements, or (iii) the dielectric layer includes a plurality of embedded dielectric subwavelength elements. The array includes at least one of a plurality of substantially different inter-element spacings and a plurality of substantially different dimensions for the elements.

Sub-millimeter and infrared reflectarray

Hybrid microantennas and improved sensor structures incorporating hybrid microantenna embodiments are described herein. A hybrid long-wave infrared (LWIR) microantenna includes four inner pie-shaped arms in which the four inner pie-shaped arms are in a double bow-tie configuration and a plurality of outer pie-shaped arms in which a subset of the outer pie-shaped arms is connected to the four inner pie-shaped arms and the pie-shaped arms are sensitive to electric fields and absorb radiation.

Ultra-sensitive silicon sensor, long-wave infrared microantenna

An antenna-coupled dual-band focal plane array for detecting radiation in the infrared and millimeter-wave bands. The dual-band focal plane array includes a millimeter antenna-coupled pixel incorporating an array of infrared antenna-coupled pixels in a two-dimensional focal plane array format for detecting infrared and millimeter-wave radiation. The configuration allows for a single aperture system capable of operating in both the infrared and millimeter bands. The system further includes electronics for sampling the millimeter antenna-coupled pixel and the array of infrared antenna-coupled pixels for course spatial sampling of the millimeter pixel and fine spatial sampling of the infrared pixels. Application areas can include collision avoidance, bad-weather driving, and maritime navigational aids.

Infrared/millimeter-wave focal plane array

Adjacent pixels of an infrared focal plane array (IR FPA) can be configured to have different spectral or polarization responses by adjustment of the lengths or orientations of the antenna arms which couple radiation into the sensors. The manufacturing costs of such an antenna-coupled IR FPA would be much less than integration of spectral or polarization filters onto each pixel, or fabrication of adjacent pixels with materials of different bandgaps. The antenna-coupled pixels can be made smaller than usual pixels, allowing this diversity of spectral or polarization information on the FPA without losing spatial resolution. The infrared (IR) sensors can be tunnel diodes, schottky diodes, photovoltaics, photoconductors, bolometers, and pyroelectrics. Application areas can include military and civilian remote sensing, automotive driving aids, industrial sensing, medical imaging, and general surveillance.

Multispectral multipolarization antenna-coupled infrared focal plane array

A small array of antenna-coupled infrared bolometer detectors is connected in parallel. This small array is suitable as an individual area-receiving pixel of an infrared focal plane array. These pixels will have better coupling efficiency to extended sources than are possible with individual antenna-coupled sensors, which have a spatial response on the order of one wavelength in dimension. This pixel can be used to provide the advantages of antenna-coupled IR sensors (e.g., fast response, wavelength tuning, and polarization tuning) while increasing the collection efficiency of the sensors to non-laser sources. When integrated into focal plane arrays, these detectors can be used in remote-sensing systems to facilitate enhanced image recognition, feature extraction and image-clutter removal. A preferred version of the pixel forming the focal plane array antenna has a plurality of two parallel longitudinal metal antenna arms extending outward and opposite from an infrared (IR) bolometer sensor to separate parallel contact pads connected in turn to a means for receiving the output from said antenna. Application areas can include earth-resource mapping, pollution monitoring, and general surveillance.

Area receiver with antenna-coupled infrared sensors

A tuned antenna-coupled infrared detector is made possible by application of a bias voltage in the range of a few hundred millivolts. The use of first and second antenna arms connected to the detector makes possible polarization tuning which eliminates the need for bulk-optical polarization filters. An alternative tuned detector is one in which the antenna is frequency tuned by a capacitative device to make the detector particularly responsive to 8 um to 12 um infrared radiation. When integrated into focal plane arrays, these detectors can be used in remote-sensing systems to facilitate enhanced image recognition, feature extraction and image-clutter removal. One preferred version of the polarization tuned antenna has longitudinal metal antenna arms extending outward from an infrared(IR) sensor in a spiral pattern, with polarization tuning devices connected between the antenna arms, and a voltage for controlling the polarization tuning devices, wherein the polarization tuning devices enable real-time control of current distribution in the arms. For the frequency tuned sensors, the embodiment is preferably a microstrip antenna coupled to a bolometer wherein the sensor has a tunable response accomplished by use of a single substrate voltage on a separate capacitative device. The infrared(IR) sensors can be tunnel diodes, schottky diodes, photovoltaics, photoconductors, bolometers and pyroelectrics. Application areas can include earth-resource mapping, pollution monitoring, and general surveillance.

Wavelength-tunable coupled antenna uncooled infrared (IR) sensor

An antenna-coupled infrared detector with polarization tuning over approximately 90 degrees by application of a bias voltage in the range of a few hundred millivolts. This mechanism of polarization tuning eliminates the need for bulk-optical polarization filters. When integrated into focal plane arrays, these detectors can be used in remote-sensing systems to facilitate enhanced image recognition, feature extraction and image-clutter removal. A preferred version of the antenna has longitudinal metal antenna arms extending outward from an infrared(IR) sensor in a spiral pattern, polarization tuning devices connected between the antenna arms, and a voltage for controlling the polarization tuning devices, wherein the polarization tuning devices enable real-time control of current distribution in the arms. The infrared(IR) sensors can be tunnel diodes, schottky diodes, photovoltaics, photoconductors, and pyroelectrics. Application areas can include earth-resource mapping, pollution monitoring, and general surveillance.

Growing community of inventors

Geneva, FL, United States of America

Glenn D Boreman