Thomas R. Werner

Ultra-low-power scene projector for targets against space backgrounds

Honeywell Inc. and Mission Research Corporation (MRC) are jointly developing micro resistive heater array displays for projecting dynamic background scenes and targets in the short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) to long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) wavebands. There are two joint government contracts supporting this work: the Nuclear Optical Dynamic Display (NODDS) program under DNA contract DNA001-92-C-0041, which is developing a 512 X 512 array of 50- by 50-micrometers display pixels, and the Cryovacuum Resistor Infrared Scene Projector (CRISP) program for the USAF Wright Laboratory at Eglin AFB, which is developing a 512 X 512 array of 87.5- by 87.5-micrometers pixels. The requirements on the two programs are somewhat different due to their different missions. While the NODDS program is developing an array that can be used to create dynamic nuclear clutter scenes, the CRISP arrays are being designed for simulating multiple independently moving targets; and while the frame rate on the NODDS arrays requires an array capable of 1-kHz frame rates, the CRISP arrays will be operated at 30 Hz.

Microlens array for staring infrared imager

This paper describes the fabrication and testing of 64 X 96 arrays of microlenses used for fill-factor enhancement of uncooled infrared detector arrays. Each lenslet represents a f/0.9 Fresnel phase lens at 10 micrometers wavelength. All arrays were etched into silicon wafers as either 8-level or 16-level staircase kinoforms. When integrated with a detector array having 20 fill factor, these microlens arrays were capable of increasing the magnitude of the measured signal with f/2.2 fore-optics by 2.5-fold.

Application and demonstration of diffractive optics for head-mounted displays

We present an overview of diffractive optics technology and the advantages this technology offers when applied to head-mounted displays (HMD). We show especially the impact on weight reduction when diffractive elements are used to correct chromatic aberrations in full-color HMDs. We discuss the effect of higher diffractive orders on image quality and show how to model these effects. Finally, we present the results of a demonstration of a diffractive element in a conventional monochromatic HMD, compare the performance of the hybrid and conventional systems, and demonstrate the validity of our model.

Replicated hybrid optics in durable materials: test results

We have designed, fabricated, and tested hybrid refractive/diffractive optical elements in acrylic and cyclic olefin copolymer polymers. The elements were tested for optical performance before and after various environmental conditions.

Process-dependent kinoform performance

Results are presented of an on-going experimental program to characterize the effects of processing errors on kinoform performance. Diffraction efficiency and modulation transfer function data are given for various types of processing errors present in staircase kinoforms of a f/10 Fresnel phase lens having two and four levels. Processing errors include etch depth, linewidth, and mask alignment. Processing errors, especially mask alignment, are shown to have the greatest impact on diffraction efficiency and very little effect on image quality.

CO-OP DOE foundry process results

The DARPA-funded Consortium for Optical and Optoelectronic Technologies for Computing (CO-OP) recently completed the first DOE Foundry run delivering ten samples to each of nineteen users, each with a unique design. The binary optics process was used to provide a maximum of eight phase levels at a design wavelength of 850 nm. Averaged over all users and all samples, an etch depth error of one percent and alignment accuracy within 0.25 micron were achieved. This paper summarizes the details of the process results.

Diffractive optics in an ultraviolet attitude sensor

A diffractive optical surface was inserted in a wide field of view ultraviolet sensor to increase the aperture and waveband of the system with no increase in size or weight. The diffractive optical surface was etched in sapphire using binary optics fabrication techniques.