SBIR Phase II: Spatial Light Modulator for long wavelength imaging

该项目更广泛的影响/商业潜力是，由于这种相机具有颠覆性的价格和性能，毫米波成像产品的市场将大大增加。该传感器技术项目将展示第一台性价比高的视频率毫米波相机，它可以拍摄和解析从5米到3英里以外的移动物体。毫米波灯经常用于安检，因为它在人身上使用是安全的，可以穿透包装、袋子和衣服，以识别金属和非金属物体。该项目开发的技术使医院、学校、商业建筑和公共场所都可以使用这一革命性的安全检查功能。虽然不可能对避免的悲剧和拯救的生命赋予金钱价值，但改善公共安全将减少这些行动对社会和经济增长造成的恐惧的影响。人员筛查和安全以及导航辅助方面的市场增长已经得到证实(年增长率超过40%)，但受到现有解决方案的规模、成本和速度缓慢的限制。这款相机的便携性、成本和视频速率能力将扩大市场，并使尚未得到服务的新市场成为可能。这个小型企业创新研究(SBIR)第二阶段项目是一种实现视频速率毫米波成像的新组件的演示。毫米波中的多像素成像成本高昂，因为每个像素的成本高达数百美元。该装置能够将经过验证的光学单像素技术应用于毫米波成像，从而极大地降低了成本并增加了这项技术的可及性。这个SBIR第二阶段项目的结果将是一款可以集成到现有安全基础设施中以进行更好的安全筛选的量产相机。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The broader impact/commercial potential of this project is a vastly increased market for millimeter wave imaging products due to the disruptive price and performance of this camera. This sensor technology project will demonstrate the first cost-effective video-rate millimeter wave camera that can image and resolve moving objects from 5m to 3 miles away. Millimeter wave light is often used for security screening because it is safe to use on people and can penetrate packaging, bags, and clothing to identify both metallic and non-metallic objects. The technology developed in this project makes this revolutionary security screening capability accessible to hospitals, schools, commercial buildings, and public spaces. While it is impossible to put a monetary value on tragedies averted and lives saved, improved public safety will reduce the effects of the fear these actions create on society and on economic growth. Market growth in people screening and security, as well as navigational assistance, is already proven (40+% annual growth rate) but is constrained by the size, cost, and slow speed of existing solutions. The portability, cost, and video-rate capability of this camera will expand the markets as well as enable new markets not yet served.This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is a demonstration of a novel component that enables video-rate millimeter wave imaging. Multi-pixel imaging in millimeter wave is cost-prohibitive since each pixel costs hundreds of dollars. This device enables the application of proven optical single-pixel technologies to millimeter wave imaging, thereby greatly decreasing the cost and increasing the accessibility of this technology. The result of this SBIR Phase II project will be a production-ready camera that can be integrated into existing security infrastructure for better security screening.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.