Bio-Inspired Dynamically Tunable Polymer-Based Filters for Multi-Spectral Infrared Imaging
Abstract
The objective of this collaborative research undertaken by UCSB and Raytheon Vision Systems, Inc. was to translate the unique, enabling principles recently learned from UCSB's analyses of the molecular mechanisms driving dynamically tunable reflectance in cephalopod skin to the development of a high-gain, dynamically tunable, polymer-based IR filter. Based on a revolutionary but simple new "bio-inspired" design, our prototype devices are lightweight and silent; they require low power and are manufacturable at low-cost. The filters we are developing are comprised of two lightweight polymers in a nanostructured film that synergistically interact in response to an applied electric field to change both their refractive index and thickness, thus providing an exponential change in wavelength transmission in response to small changes in voltage. In contrast, present mechanical systems for tuning in the IR are heavy, slow, power-hungry and costly. Even next generation MEMS-driven Fabry-Perot filters are mechanically vulnerable, expensive and bulky in comparison to the thin-film polymer system we are developing for direct deposition on the focal plane array. Results of this first year's seedling effort, culminating in an electrically switchable, lightweight polymer-based shutter and aperture for IR detectors, are described in our publication (Holt et al., 2010).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA558497
Entities
People
- Daniel E Morse
Organizations
- University of California Regents