Imaging & Optics » Sensors and Detection
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Novel Polymers for Mid-and Long-Wave Infrared Imaging
ua19-032 – Title: Novel Polymers for Mid- and Long-Wave Infrared Imaging Invention: New polymer compositions that are transmissive for mid-wave infrared (3-5 microns) and long-wave infrared (8-12 microns) sensing and imaging. Background: Infrared imaging conventionally uses expensive inorganic transmissive materials for lenses, such as chalcogenide glass and amorphous germanium, which require... Read More
Rotationally Shift Invariant and Multi-Layered Microlens Array
ua18-192 – Title: Rotationally Shift Invariant and Multi-Layered Microlens Array Invention: This invention describes a nontraditional use of the Gabor Superlens and is a configuration of multiple microlens array structures. The rotationally shift invariant and multiple microlens array system provides full-field of view imaging wherein all of the incoming light (i.e., light from all directions), in... Read More
Stochastic Bag Generator (Sbg)
ua18-177 – Title: Stochastic Bag Generator (SBG) Invention: This technology is a method of modeling the response of a luggage inspection device based on a variety of contents and packing styles. The method is used to calibrate inspection instruments' responses, and predict successful inspection. This allows for better inspection machine design, decreases the number of bags pulled for secondary... Read More
Rotationally Shift Invariant Optical System
ua18-207 – Title: Rotationally Shift Invariant Optical System Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have designed a highly sophisticated LiDAR system that uses a novel optical phased array transmitter in conjunction with a novel spherically shift-invariant (SSI) receiver system to provide depth information over a large 2D scene in a single snapshot. The field of view of the receiver... Read More
Method for Detection of Defects in Semiconductors Using a Novel Multiphoton Microscope
ua18-096 – Title: Method For Detection Of Defects In Semiconductors Invention: This is a system that uses a multi-photon microscope to scan and detect defects in thin films of semiconducting materials including polymers and crystals. The novel detection technique identifies areas exhibiting anomalies for further inspection with 2 micron resolution. Background: Conventional methods of... Read More
Calibration Method for Photon Counting Detectors
ua18-137 – Title: Calibration Method for Photon Counting Detectors Invention: This technology is a calibration method that could be a game changer for adoption of photon counting-based imagery. It solves long-standing challenges in the calibration of detectors used in medical imaging devices and is also useful for security screenings and other imaging photon counting detectors. The present method is... Read More
Field Steering ASLM
ua18-078 – Title: Field Steering ASLM Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed an apparatus and means of using DMDs and DLP chips in more than just a binary manner. The novel apparatus and means produces a spatial light modulator that also acts as an angular light modulator. One set of embodiments allows an entire field of an image to be steered for illumination or... Read More
Calibration Technique for Smartphone Spectroradiometer
ua18-009 – Title: Calibration Technique for Smart Phone Spectroradiometer Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a technique for providing an absolute radiance calibration for a hand-held spectroradiometer that connects to a smart phone. The technique was designed with art museums in mind, but is also extremely useful for cell phone cameras that utilize a hardware... Read More
Space Deployable Spectrometer With Large Collection Area
ua17-171 – Title: Space Deployable Telescope and Spectrometer with Large Collection Area Invention: This invention is a highly scalable optical design that will allow the construction of deployable space telescopes with collecting areas that are an order of magnitude greater than the current state-of-the-art and with greatly reduced production and launch costs. The design includes a novel... Read More
Angular Spatial Light Modulator (Aslm)
ua17-156 – Title: The Angular Spatial Light Modulator (ASLM) Background: The invention is an Angular Spatial Light Modulator (ASLM) using a novel arrangement of illumination and digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs). The invention can simultaneously modulate spatial and angular content of light with a potential total bandwidth of 1Tera pixel-angle per second (1G in space and 1K in angle). ... Read More
Single-Chip Streak Camera and Illumination System
ua17-178 – Title: Single-Chip Streak Camera and Illumination System Invention: The invention uses an Angular Spatial Light Modulator (ASLM) in a projection mode, to create a streak camera. With a novel arrangement of illumination and digital micro-mirror devices (DMDs), an “image per angle” system can be created. Angularly sequential images abut one another such that the viewer sees a single... Read More
Time of Flight Sensor and Camera
ua17-166 – Title: Time-of-Flight Sensor and Camera Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a time-of-flight system that can be used for real-time 3D imaging of indoor and outdoor objects. A novel arrangement of components takes advantage of a high frequency modulator to provide high-resolution depth information at high speed. The source can be continuous wave or... Read More
Digital Micromirror Device Based Beam Steering
ua17-157 – Title: SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR BEAM STEERING USING A MICROMIRROR DEVICE Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have designed a beam steering system that works over a large range of wavelengths, with a relatively large field of view, high scan rate, and large beam size, while minimizing the number of moving parts. The invention includes a novel architecture for the... Read More
Long-Range Hyper-Temporal Acoustic Imaging
ua17-151 – Title: Range hyper-temporal acoustic imaging Invention: The invention is an apparatus for remotely sensing an object using polarization characteristics of light received from the object to determine acoustic information regarding the object. Background: Current methods of free-space optical communication are limited by the atmospheric degradation of operational distance,... Read More
Differential Target Antenna Coupling (Dtac) Data Corrections
ua17-053 – Title: Differential Target Antenna Coupling (DTAC) Data Corrections Invention: This technology notably enhances the Differential Target Antenna Coupling (DTAC) technology (UA10-041) by orders of magnitude in the measured DTAC response accuracy, allowing for better depth of investigation, improved target location, and improved target characteristics. Background: Current... Read More
Wavelength Diversity Detection for Holographic Data Storage System
ua16-029 – Title: New Technique to Reduce the Noise in Recording on Optical Discs Invention: The technology is a method to reduce noise in third generation technology optical discs that record up to 8TB of information. A technique responsible for the increase in the signal-to-noise ratio uses a wide spectrum laser to sense noise and respond in a way that enhances the signal. Background: Optical... Read More
Improved Resolution in Imaging via Spatial Shifting
ua16-214 – Title: Improved Resolution in Imaging via Spatial Shifting Invention: Inventors at the University of Arizona have developed a method to reduce aliasing of high frequency information from objects being imaged with optical fibers or a detector array system. This is accomplished by collecting multiple images through modification of the fiber bundle. The novel means of collection and the... Read More
A Gamma-Ray Photon Counting Detector Based on Side-Readout of Monolithic Scintillator Layers
ua17-054 – Title: A Gamma-ray Photon Counting Detector Based on Side-readout of Monolithic Scintillator Layers Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a gamma-ray photon counting device that works similarly to PET, but with a novel architecture that improves the accuracy in determining the location of the biological targets, and is less costly to manufacture. The novel... Read More
Diffraction Based MOEMS Scanner for LADAR Application
ua14-131 – Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a method of beam-steering polychromatic light by controlling the angular divergence characteristics of the beam through a pre-correction element. The result is a collimated polychromatic beam exiting the device. Background: Mechanical beam steering devices for LIDAR use heavy and power-hungry gimbals and optical components... Read More
Polarization Plenoptic Imaging System and Application to 3D Reconstruction
ua16-180 – UA16-180 Title: Polarization Plenoptic Imaging System and Applications to 3D Reconstruction Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have designed a polarization plenoptic camera that can record position, angle, wavelength, polarization and time, all in a single shot. Because of the novel application of polarizers, it can separate reflected light from transmitted light... Read More
RINO App
ua15-168 – Title: Non-contact and Real-time Dynamic Displacement Monitoring using Smartphone Technologies (RINO App) Invention: A new smartphone application, developed for iOS, for the application of dynamic displacement measurements as one of the available approaches for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM). Background: Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) aims to give, at every moment during the life of... Read More
Tunability of the Phase in Quantum-Like Mechanical Elastic Systems
ua16-149 – Title: Approach to Tuning Phononic Crystals Invention: This technology is an approach that gives the user the ability to tune phononic crystals and acoustic metamaterials to have specific quantum computing properties. Background: Metamaterials, artificially fabricated materials in which small structures can be arranged within a material in order, can give said material new... Read More
Dmd-Based Optical Scanning Device
ua16-003 – Title: DMD-based Optical Scanning Device Invention: Researchers at the University of Arizona have created a wide field-of-view optical device using a Digital Micro Mirror Device (DMD) as a scanner. The low-cost, fast-scanning device leverages off-the-shelf optical components to create a novel optical design, which employs tilted mirrors and retro-reflectors to extend the FOV while... Read More
Non-Regularized Direct Superresolusion for Realistic Image Reconstruction
ua15-201 – Summary: Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed a super-resolution (SR) technique that creates sharper images from low-quality or small cameras without fabricating the details. The novel technique applies motion to multiple images and then uses a non-regularized algorithm that directly solves a fully-characterized multi-shift imaging system to grant realistic restorations... Read More
Millimeter-Wave Reflect-Array for Compressive Threat Detection in Security Screening Applications
ua15-155 – Millimeter Wave Compressive Sensing for Standoff Security Scanning Using Reconfigurable Reflect Array involves using a reconfigurable reflect array to realize task specific compressive sensing for standoff security screening of threats including guns, knives, explosives, liquids and gels, etc. The need to modernize and improve passenger security screening has been a topic of... Read More
The Infrared Retina
ua07-104 – Invention: This invention proposes an infrared retina that exploits the continuous spectral tunability of mid-infrared quantum-dot based sensors. The detectors sense information over different spectrally overlapping bands, similar to the cones in the human eye. The resulting spectral diversity can be exploited in an array format with either fixed spatial functionality, as is done in the... Read More
Micro-Scale Concentrated Photovoltaic Module
ua15-129 – The technology is a thin photovoltaic module that concentrates direct and diffuse sunlight onto each individual solar cell, which increases the efficiency. The concentrator lenses are designed to reduce tracking requirements, making these solar panels ideal for spaces requiring small footprints, such as buildings in dense urban areas. The design also includes a clever means of reducing... Read More
SHG Imaging Technique for Assessing Hybrid EO Polymer/Silicon Photonic Integrated Circuits
ua13-034 – Summary: Scientists at the University of Arizona have developed a system for assessing the efficiency of the EO polymer poling process by using multi-photon imaging in the second harmonic generation mode (SHG), permitting imaging and assessment of waveguide devices, including poled polymer devices, prior to, during, and after fabrication. This system provides depth and lateral spatial... Read More
Fiber-Based Bidirectional Optical Parametric Oscillator for Precision Sensing
ua15-120 – Researchers at the University of Arizona have developed an all-fiber, synchronously pumped, bidirectional optical parametric oscillator (OPO) for precision sensing applications. The all-fiber design removes the need for free-space alignment and adjustment. The design overcomes the limitations of existing laser gyros by increasing the sensing area for better measurement sensitivity,... Read More
Optical Device for In-Line and Real-Time Monitoring of Microalgae
ua15-095 – Invention: Current methods of measuring biological variables such as cell mass concentration, cell size, cell morphology, population composition, pigments, and liquid content are currently either prohibitively expensive, too laborious, or destructive to be employed for real-time monitoring and control. Existing sensors for each individual application are mostly designed for environmental... Read More
Color Imaging Based on Computational Imaging and Narrow Band Absorption Color Filter Array
ua14-013 – Researchers at the University of Arizona have created a novel color filter array (CFA) that allows much more light to reach a detector than conventional CFAs. The novel arrangement of filters with respect to wavelength cutoffs allows for crisp digital imaging with half the ambient light level required by currently known CFAs. The advantage is especially beneficial for digital cameras,... Read More
Rapid and Reagentless Detection of Microbial Contamination Within Meat Utilizing Smartphone-Based Biosensor
ua14-066 – This technology detects and quantifies microbial contamination, without the use of any microbeads, antibodies, or laboratory instrumentation. This technology requires only a smartphone, the appropriate software, and an NIR LED. Development of rapid, non-destructive, and inexpensive sensing technologies for detection of microbial contamination of food products remain in high demand to... Read More
Video Image Based Bed Load Analyzer
ua14-133 – This instrument enables the automation and accurate measurement of bed load transport rate using modern innovations in digital images, processing, and wireless technologies. Its novelty allows for analysis of sediment transport without collecting actual samples. Current methodology measures bed load sediment by grabbing samples of river bottoms physically, either by mechanical scoops... Read More
System and Method for Determining 3-Dimensional Location of Defects in a Uniaxial Crystal
ua11-148 – An optical inspection system that utilizes polarimetry, pecialized illumination and imaging techniques to avoid the inaccuracies caused by image doubling, ray splitting, and defects shadowing each other. This novel inspection system greatly improves the accuracy in identifying the location of defects within boules of birefringent material. Polarization control provides even greater... Read More