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Mid-Infrared Fiber Bundle Imager

Award Information
Agency: Department of Defense
Branch: Air Force
Contract: FA9101-12-C-0015
Agency Tracking Number: F093-216-0138
Amount: $750,000.00
Phase: Phase II
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: AF093-216
Solicitation Number: 2009.3
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2009
Award Year: 2012
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2012-04-02
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
300 Ringgold Industrial Parkway
Danville, VA -
United States
DUNS: 623702557
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 Francois Chenard
 CTO
 (434) 483-4304
 francois.chenard@irflex.com
Business Contact
 Francois Chenard
Title: President
Phone: (434) 483-4304
Email: francois.chenard@irflex.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

ABSTRACT: Infrared cameras for thermal imaging applications can operate between 2-14 microns. These cameras produce a thermal image using two-dimensional arrays of infrared detectors (such as ferroelectric detectors or microbolometers). Some critical military applications (such as spatial analysis of combustion processes in turbines combustors and afterburners) require the use of high spatial resolution infrared fiber bundle imagers (FBIs) due to the area of study being inaccessible to infrared cameras because of limited size and/or extreme environment. Coherent FBIs are commonly used in the visible and near infrared (0.4 to 1 microns) to remotely transfer images to cameras. Unfortunately, coherent FBIs for infrared imaging in the range of 1-12 microns are not commercially available. The work conducted during the SBIR Phase I demonstrated the feasibility of developing innovative FBIs that are inexpensive, flexible, rugged, high fiber-count bundles for use in the 1-12 microns. The FBI fabrication process will be perfected during Phase II effort to produce low-cost coherent infrared imaging fiber bundles that are 2-4 m in length, 1000-10,000 fibers in a 10 mm diameter bundle, minimum bend radius of 8 cm and attenuation less than 1 dB/m over the spectral range of 1 to 12 microns. BENEFIT: Fiber bundle imagers (FBIs) in the spectral range of 1-12 microns have many potential applications. The proposed FBI is targeted primarily at military applications for infrared viewing of harsh environment and/or in tight space where infrared camera cannot be used. The Air Force has a specific requirement for infrared viewing at turbine combustors and afterburners. The infrared FBI has other potential uses in military aircraft for surveillance, reconnaissance, and threat warning systems. Security Agencies (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security) and law enforcement officials could use the infrared FBI as a thermal fiber endoscope for covert surveillance from a safe distance to support hostage rescue, building surveillance, clearance, and search operations. Also the FBI can be made small enough to apply infrared spectroscopy to the study of human and other tissues. In-vivo biomedical imaging could differentiate spectra of cancerous tissues from those of corresponding non-cancerous tissues.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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