High Quality Polymer Image Inverters and Faceplates for Imaging Applications.

This Small Business Innovative Research Phase II research project is to design and fabricate high quality polymer optical fiber faceplates and imaging inverters for use in night vision systems and other devices. The Phase II research will optimize and expand the technology developed during the successful Phase I research. The end result will be a flexible and economic method for fabricating polymer fibers arrays optimized for use in faceplates and inverters. Phase II will greatly increase the overall quality of the arrays including optical loss, distortions, and functionality. The optical loss properties will be greatly improved through the use of optical quality materials. Material changes and modifications will result in improved contrast and resolution of the imaging guides. Individual fiber tolerances and bundling improvement will be realized as a result of tower and packing improvements. Fusing process alterations will result in dramatically improved image distortion. The technology will be further expanded to include doped core and cladding materials to increase the functionality of the inverters and faceplates. This technology will be material independent and can be applied to existing polymer materials as well as polymer materials modified or developed in the future.