A New Generation of Polymer Fiber Optic Image Inverter

In Phase I, Agiltron has successfully demonstrated the proof-of-principle of an innovative design and fabrication process for plastic fiber optical image inverter with significant reduction in weight, thickness, and cost. This new category of image inverter also also offers high performance, providing high-resolution and high optical gain. Leveraging our extensive experience in micro-precision fiber optic products and nano-composite engineering, Agiltron has built a fully functional plastic fiber draw tower, developed a synthesis process for high refractive index PMMA (n ~ 1.8), designed a plastic fiber with large numerical aperture (NA) close to unity, synthesized high extra-mural absorption nano-composite materials, and prototyped a functional plastic fiber imaging bundle with 25 um fiber diameter. In Phase II, Agiltron will continue development toward mass production and commercialization of these devices for Air Force helmet mounted imagers, including Night Vision Goggles. The anticipated Phase II deliverable is a fully functional plastic imaging inverter with improved performance in terms of weight reduction (over 70%), high image clarity, high axial resolution, large numerical aperture, large packing fraction, high collimation and Lambertian light transmission, and low cost. Agiltron will work with ITT Industries Night Vision to evaluate performance and deliver a fully functional plastic inverter to the US Air Force for verification.