High-Definition High-Dynamic-Range Color Camera Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2010.3 Topic No.: N103-217 Topic Title: High-Definition High-Dynamic-Range Color Camera Proposal No.: N103-217-0312 Firm: Physical Optics Corporation Photonic Systems Division 20600 Gramercy Place, Bldg. 100 Torrance, California 90501 Contact: Fang Zhang Phone: (310) 320-3088 Web Site: www.poc.com Abstract: To address the Navy's need for a new high-resolution, high-dynamic-range color camera to characterize intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR)-quality imagery data by submarine imaging systems, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new High-Definition, High-Dynamic-range Color Camera (HD2C2). This proposed system is based on the novel design of high-resolution (>2 million pixels) color camera sensor with real-time pixel-wise closed-loop adaptive feedback controls via a high-speed reflective spatial-light-modulator (SLM). These innovations in the proposed system architecture will enable controlled, independent, and adaptive attenuation of each pixel in real time (60-Hz to 180-Hz frame rate) based on incident intensity without the need to reduce aperture or contrast ratio. As a result, the system will significantly improve the dynamic range to >120 dB with >2M pixels and 4:3 or 16:9 aspect ratio, which directly addresses Navy requirements. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate HD2C2 feasibility by designing and developing a proof-of-concept prototype that incorporates pixel control and evaluating its performance in a laboratory environment. In Phase II, POC plans to develop a design that meets submarine periscope environmental requirements, develop the prototype, integrate it with a periscope, and test its performance. Benefits: Because the proposed HD2C2 will simultaneously acquire regions of low and high visual light intensity within a single imaged scene with both high resolution and high dynamic range, the new camera technology developed in this project will become the basis for further development of technologies in commercial markets such as security, surveillance, industrial robotics, machine vision, and automotive applications. In addition, it can be widely used in the medical and diagnostic instrumentation (e.g., fluorescence detection and spectroscopy) arenas. Return