Electrically Tunable Liquid Crystal Spectral Image Filters

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Small Business Innovation Research
Electrically Tunable Liquid Crystal Spectral
Image Filters
Cambridge Research Instrumentation, Inc.
Cambridge, MA
INNOVATION New class of filters suitable for the
construction of small, low-cost multispectral
imagers

• ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• ? First liquid crystal tunable filter for use to
  2.4 microns
• ? Loss factor an order of magnitude lower than
  any current dichroic polarizer
• ? Demonstrated expanded spectral range, increased
  filter aperture and reduced thickness
• ? Tuning reduced from 50 to 15 milliseconds
• COMMERCIALIZATION
• ? Digital color cameras for science, industry and
  medicine
• ? Sales are 1million annually and expected to
  double within next 12 months
• ? Filters used in fluorescence multiprobe and
  fish imagery systems

Color Picture taken with Monochromatic CCD Camera

• GOVERNMENT/ SCIENCE APPLICATIONS
• ? Current development funded under Planetary
  Instrument Development and Definition Program
• ? Potential demonstration on Mars Rover as part
  of autonomous feature navigation system

1991 Phase II NAS7-1246 Success Story 130
Jet Propulsion Laboratory