SBIR Phase I: Waveguide Optical Gyroscope

本小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目建议使用先进的材料和微加工技术来生产微光电系统（MOEMs）陀螺仪。该创新使用自组装硅量子点纳米复合材料和独特的极化等离子体聚合物来生产微光子结构，适用于构建光纤陀螺仪（FOG）的固态等效物。通常，在MEMS或微光机电系统（MOEM）中，尺寸的减小通常伴随着精度的降低。所提出的技术以紧凑、低成本的MOEM格式提供高水平的FOG精度。我们建议使用线性自组装量子限制硅纳米复合材料和非线性，稳定的极化聚合物，包括螺旋波导阵列，以产生显着的光路长度在一个紧凑的形式，构建光学陀螺仪的光子部分。这种紧凑的螺旋波导结构具有较长的光路长度，可用于光纤陀螺和生物光子学等应用中光纤线圈的替代。纳米复合材料允许沉积具有变化的平面折射率（VIPIR）的薄膜，其实现了要微型构造的常规光纤陀螺仪的性能水平，用于测量速率或旋转角度的微制造陀螺仪可以用作低-具有微机械加速度计的成本微型伴侣以提供用于惯性导航目的或在其它领域中的航向信息，包括用于行驶稳定和翻转检测的汽车应用;消费电子应用，例如摄像机稳定、机器人应用;以及广泛的军事应用。目前光纤陀螺仪的市场估计为2亿美元，每年增长7%。其他陀螺仪类型代表了目前每年超过10亿美元的市场，是MEMS传感器类别中增长最快的类别之一。我们相信，所提出的技术可以将光纤陀螺仪的精度带到更广泛的商业陀螺仪市场，并显着增加这两个市场的规模。我们相信，在五到十年的时间内，这项技术有可能获得至少10%的市场份额。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I Project proposes to use advanced materials and microfabrication techniques to produce a micro-opticalelectrical system (MOEMs) gyroscope. The innovation uses both self-assembled silicon quantum dot nano-composites and a unique poled plasma polymer to produce micro-photonic structures suitable for construction of a solid-state equivalent of a fiber optic gyroscope (FOG). Typically, in a MEMs or micro-optical-electrical-mechanical system (MOEMs), a reduction in size is often accompanied by a reduction in precision. The proposed technology provides the high levels of FOG precision in the compact, low cost MOEMs format. We propose to construct the photonic portion of an optical gyroscope using linear self assembled quantum confined silicon nanocomposites and non linear, stable poled polymers including spiral waveguide arrays to produce significant optical path lengths in a compact form. The compact spiral waveguide structures, which possess long optical path length, can be used for replacement of the optical fiber coil in a FOG and other applications such as biophotonics. The nano-composite materials permit deposition of thin films with varying in plane index of refraction (VIPIR) that achieve performance levels of conventional fiber optic gyros to be constructed in miniature, on chip waveguide optical gyros.Microfabricated gyroscopes for measuring rate or angle of rotation can be used either as a low-cost miniature companion with micromachined accelerometers to provide heading information for inertial navigation purposes or in other areas, including automotive applications for ride stabilization and rollover detection; consumer electronic applications, such as video-camera stabilization, robotics applications; and a wide range of military applications. Current market for fiber gyroscopes is estimated to be $200 million and growing by 7% a year. Other gyroscope type represents a current market of well over $1 billion per year and is one of the fastest growing of the MEMs sensor categories. We believe the proposed technology can bring fiber gyroscope precision to the broader commercial gyroscope market and significantly increase both market sizes. We believe it is possible to attain a minimum of 10% market share with the proposed technology in the five to ten year time frame.