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Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), has been awarded a research program from the U.S. Navy to develop Coupling-Optimized metalenses for Broadband Imaging (COMBI) for efficient optical coupling into photonic integrated circuits.

Phased array imaging devices consist of networked vertical grating couplers to perform single-pixel wide field-of-view imaging in a low size, weight, and power (SWaP) package. However, the performance of these devices is limited by coupling losses in and out of the chip. PSI’s COMBI will address this performance shortfall by providing numerical aperture-matched diffraction-limited broadband focusing of light into the grating couplers on the phased array circuit while adding negligible weight. By employing industry-standard nanofabrication techniques, the COMBI will minimize lens performance variations compared to standard refractive microlens arrays.

The COMBI technology will reduce the SWaP of imaging systems by offering diffraction limited optical focusing into arrayed detectors. Imaging systems based on both focal plane array detectors and phased array detectors will benefit from reduced SWaP, particularly when the imaging aperture is greater than the depth of the imaging system. This will impact optics in space vehicles and unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as consumer electronics such as cell phones.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Joel Hensley
Vice President, Photonics
hensley@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003