Super-PIC SPIDER Stacked Photonic Arrays for Wide-FOV Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electro-optical imaging sensors for high-altitude, long-endurance UAVs and low-cost small satellites face challenges in meeting mass, volume, and power constraints while achieving wide-angle search requirements, with the segmented planar imaging detector for electro-optical reconnaissance (SPIDER) having a limited field-of-view and image size.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of super-photonic integrated circuit (PIC) imaging detector arrays, where multiple PICs are stacked to increase interferometer channels significantly, forming a super-PIC imaging detector array that includes lenslets and waveguides, allowing for a larger field-of-view and image size by uniformly sampling spatial frequencies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional EO imaging sensors are used, then mass, volume, and power requirements are met, but wide angle search capability and aperture size are severely limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system is divided into multiple independent lenslets arranged in a segmented planar array. Each lenslet independently collects light from different angular directions, enabling wide-angle search capability while keeping individual lenslet mass low. The segmented architecture allows parallel processing of multiple fields of view simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional sensor arrays to a three-dimensional stacked photonic integrated circuit architecture. Multiple PIC layers are stacked vertically, with each layer containing lenslets and waveguide networks. This vertical stacking enables increased aperture equivalent and wide-angle capability without proportionally increasing planar footprint or mass.
2Measurement precision
If the number of interferometer channels is increased to improve image size and field-of-view, then SPIDER performance improves, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple interferometer channels are merged onto a single photonic integrated circuit substrate. The PIC integrates multiple lenslets, waveguides, beam combiners, and detectors in a compact planar configuration. This merging approach increases the number of interferometer channels without proportionally increasing overall device complexity, as shared components serve multiple channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The photonic integrated circuit is designed with universal components that serve multiple functions across different interferometer channels. Waveguides, beam combiners, and detector arrays are configured to handle multiple spatial frequencies and angular directions simultaneously. This multi-functionality allows a single PIC to replace what would traditionally require multiple separate sensor assemblies.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach results in a substantially reduced size, weight, and power consumption, enabling the SPIDER system to achieve larger images and wider fields-of-view, meeting the performance needs of space situational awareness missions while maintaining affordability.
Implementation Method 1
Each PIC imaging detector array includes a number of lenslets and a number of waveguides. At least some of the lenslets are coupled to multiple waveguides
Implementation Method 2
Each PIC imaging detector array includes a number of lenslets and a number of waveguides. At least some of the lenslets are coupled to multiple waveguides
Implementation Method 3
Sets of two lenslets are configured to form interferometer channels
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a number of photonic integrated circuit (PIC) imaging detector arrays, and multiple electronic integrated circuits (ICs) coupled to the PIC imaging detector arrays. Each PIC imaging detector array of includes a number of lenslets and a number of waveguides. At least some of the lenslets are coupled to multiple waveguides, and sets of two lenslets are configured to form interferometer channels.