Speckle Reduction by Optical Modulating Phase Array for Coherent Imaging Systems

To address the Air Force need for highly innovative solutions to significantly reduce or eliminate the optical speckle phenomena in real-time coherent imaging systems, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a Speckle Reduction by Optical Modulating Phase Array (SROMPA) technology for coherent imaging systems based on multilevel diffractive optical elements (DOE) combined with a liquid crystal phase modulation (LCPM). Speckle reduction is achieved in SROMPA by the spatial phase modulation of laser beam to result in speckle amplitude modulation over the diameter of the unfocused scanning laser beam to provide phase diversity in the laser beam. The innovations in using multilevel DOE with high diffractive efficiency and liquid crystal phase modular (LCPM) with high-speed (submillisecond) randomization enable the speckle contrast to be below 1% and maintain overall image quality compared with current state-of-the-art imaging systems. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the SROMPA concept, including the anticipated reduction in speckle contrast and effects on overall image quality. In Phase II, POC plans to provide a prototype demonstration of the technology proven feasible in Phase I with any additional innovation or design changes not yet achieved or documented in Phase I. BENEFIT: The development of the proposed SROMPA technology will benefit both the government (including the military) and private sectors.  Military applications include all forms of visual simulation, including wide-body and fast jet flight simulation, ground mover simulation, JATC and air traffic control simulation.  Commercial applications includes media and motion picture industries, consumer displays, planetariums, CAD/CAM, home entertainment, projection displays, industrial virtual reality, and medical devices.