SBIR-STTR Award

Development of an advanced high frame-rate spectral infrared (ir) digital imaging system is proposed that combines our new high frame- rate imaging method and conventional spectrometry. The new digital imaging system will have a frame-rate for higher than any video system has ever achieved and the captured images will be made through a (wide or narrow) spectral band. The high-resolution digital data (12-bit) of spectral images compiled using the new system will enable us to maximize scientific information (x.e., Quantitative imaging) that we can obtain out of the high-speed motion objects. The very high frame-rate in our new system will be achieved by using a parallel data acquisition method to overcome several limitations in imager and electronics technologies. The parallel architecture will be achieved in both the imager design and electronic circuitry so that the new system will have frame-rates variable from low to very high. Since the spectrometric image analysis is most productive in the ir range, it is appropriate that we employ ir imagers in the new spectral imaging system. Among the (preliminary) target characteristics of the new imaging system are: (1) variable frame rate (at least 10,000 frames/sec and 25,000 frames/sec is feasible; (2) variable exposure period (1 - 30,000 microseconds); (3) variable spectrum imaging, 2-5 micrometers; (4) variable aperture; (5) frame storage, 256 frames/shot or more; (6) digitized data in 12-bit out of the imager with 128 x 128 pd(els. It is emphasized that these target features can be substantially enhanced than listed above but at the expense of increased cost and complexity due to current limitations of the state-of-the-art electro-optical technology. It is assured that any technological improvement, as newly emerges during the course of the present project to eliminate any limitations, will be incorporated in our new data system.