SBIR Phase I: Computational Low-cost Arrayed Infrared (CLAIR) Cameras

这个小企业创新研究（SBIR）第一阶段项目将研究红外（IR）成像仪的透镜和光机械设计、制造工艺和图像信号处理的革命性方法，目标是降低成本、尺寸和重量。到目前为止，传感器的高成本使得红外成像仪只能在以性能而不是成本为驱动因素的市场中使用，这使得昂贵而笨重的光学元件占据主导地位。新的工艺改进大大减小了长波红外（LWIR）微热计传感器的尺寸和成本，使光学成为重量、尺寸和成本降低的限制因素。研究目标是研究红外成像的计算成像、集成热化、无焦组装和阵列透镜制造；论证透镜阵列结构的可行性；并测试了原型机在恶劣条件下的自适应计算成像性能和有效性。该研究将通过成本模型驱动的完整光机械LWIR成像仪的设计、信号处理和制造过程进行。该设计将通过与行业合作伙伴的安排实施和测试。预期的结果是，LWIR成像的体积减少了2倍，重量减少了5倍，制造、组装和测试模型的成本降低了3倍。该项目的更广泛的影响/商业潜力是将红外成像仪的销售扩展到成本敏感的商业应用中。目前，红外成像仪的目标是用于昂贵的军事应用，但在安全、安保和工业市场中，对低成本系统的需求很大，因为热成像可以在可见光谱上提供增强的观察。热成像仪可以在雾、烟和光线不足的情况下提供能见度，从而可以在汽车碰撞检测和国土安全救援和响应所需的恶劣条件下进行成像。安全应用需要在无光条件下识别人类，仅热成像仪就能满足需求。在工业应用中，LWIR热成像可以通过识别热泄漏来提高能源效率，并可以预测即将发生的过程故障。对社会的影响与商业机会一样无处不在，并构成了紧急搜索效率，城市街道安全和能源节约的提高。劳动力成本已经在推动目前的劳动密集型红外透镜的海外制造，损害了美国的科学创新。拟议的创新消除了劳动密集型组件，使美国成为这个新兴市场的主导制造商，同时加强了并行工艺开发、计算成像、材料特性创新和红外传感器性能方面的科学。

This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project will research a revolutionary approach to the lens and opto-mechanical design, fabrication process, and image signal processing of infrared (IR) imagers with the goal of reducing cost, size, and weight. To date, the high cost of sensors has made IR imagers accessible only in markets where performance -not cost - is the driving factor, allowing expensive and bulky optics to reign. New process improvements are significantly reducing the size and cost of long wave infrared (LWIR) microbolometer sensors, making optics the limiting factor for weight, size, and cost reduction. The research objectives are to investigate computational imaging, integrated athermalization, focus-free assembly, and arrayed lens fabrication for IR imaging; demonstrate feasibility of lens array construction; and test prototype performance and effectiveness of adaptive computational imaging in adverse conditions. The research will be conducted through the cost-model driven design of the complete opto-mechanical LWIR imager, signal processing, and fabrication process. The design will be implemented and tested through arrangements with industry partners. The anticipated result is demonstration of LWIR imaging with 2X reduction in volume, 5X reduction in weight, and a fabrication, assembly, and test model demonstrating a 3X reduction in cost.The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is to extend the sale of IR imagers into cost-sensitive commercial applications. Currently, IR imagers are targeted for expensive military applications, but there is a large need for reduced cost systems in safety, security, and industrial markets where thermal imaging offers enhanced viewing over the visible spectrum. Thermal imagers provide visibility in fog, smoke, and poor lighting, which enables imaging in adverse conditions needed by automotive collision detection and Homeland Security rescue and response. Security applications require identification of humans in conditions of no light, where thermal imagers alone are able to meet the demand. In industrial use, LWIR thermography can improve energy efficiency by identifying thermal leaks and can predict imminent process faults. The impact to society is as ubiquitous as the commercial opportunities and constitutes an increase in emergency search effectiveness, city street safety, and energy conservation. Labor costs are already driving current labor-intensive IR lens fabrication overseas at the detriment to US scientific innovation. The proposed innovations remove the labor-intensive component, establishing the US as the dominate manufacturer in this emerging market while enhancing science in parallel process development, computational imaging, material property innovation, and IR sensor performance.