Multiple Bands Fiber Optic Test Image Selectable Source

To address the Air Force need for the development of a fiber array capable of providing multiband radiation with selectable visible and infrared wavebands in a test chamber, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Multiband fiber Optic Test Image Selectable Source (MOTISS). This proposed MOTISS system is based on COTS optical and infrared fibers, combined into a bundle and optically coupled with a multichannel attenuator and waveband selector connected with computer image generation (CIG) equipment. The innovative fiber assembly will enable the MOTISS to present wideband (0.4 to 12 micron) simulated scenes with multiple targets and backgrounds all with different temperatures, while the innovative waveband selection technique allows the projection of the dynamically changed simulated scenes. In Phase I POC will demonstrate the feasibility of MOTISS by building a breadboard based on COTS optical and infrared fibers combined into a coherent bundle creating a 9x9 pixel array. In Phase II POC will develop a full resolution (512x512 pixel) prototype MOTISS capable of dynamically projecting wideband (0.4 to 12 micron) scenes with selectable bands; this prototype will be ready for Air Force testing in a cryogenic chamber simulator.