High Speed SWIR Scene Projector

ABSTRACT: The mission of this proposed Phase II program is to develop a compact High Speed SWIR Scene Projector (SWIRSP) capable of generating large format image of 1920x1080 in the short wave infrared (SWIR) region, with a non-flickering image that can update at ~800 Hz (threshold) or greater frame rates. The result is a SWIRSP module that is able to be integrated as a sub-system in a multispectral system in KHILS (Eglin Air Force base) from visible through LWIR with combined co-registered outputs via dichroic combiners. The SWIRSP is based on the state-of-the-art Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) technology which has demonstrated SWIR projector capability during the Phase I period of this program. The final SWIRSP is anticipated to reach a technology readiness level (TRL) 6. BENEFIT: The IRSP, in particular the very large format LCoS Array, aim at the scene display market for hardware-in-the-loop application. Applications include high-end IR sensor/seeker development, test, calibration, missile interception simulation, countermeasure, infrared target discrimination. The users include the U.S. and its ally government agencies, defense industry players, research institutions, universities, to name a few. The Market Pull for the IRSP is demonstrated by our receiving request for quotes for our IRSP systems from Government/military agencies, domestic defense contractors, and foreign Government; all requesting larger formats than our present 512x512.