1-50 of 131 technologies within Optics and Photonics RSS ATOM

Generate Total Internal Reflection (TIRF) Illumination for High-Resolution Quantitative Fluorescence Microscopy

11627 – The University of Central Florida invention is an imaging method and system that reshapes Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) excitation light into a ring-shaped beam, which is conjugated to the back focal plane of an objective. The output end of the device comprises multiple multi-mode fibers arranged around a spacer to form a single ring. The device enables TIRF... Read More

Ultra-Spectrally Selective Terahertz Pyroelectric Detector

11552 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a device that can intercept electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range more effectively without the costly components that other detection methods require. A key aspect of THz radiation is its ability to penetrate a wide range of materials without damaging target objects. Example materials include... Read More

Self-Centering Crucibles for Precision Thermogravimetric Analysis

2021-064 – The University of Central Florida invention describes various designs of self-centering thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) crucibles to allow samples to stay put at a constant location during the measurement process. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) measurements are carried out in dedicated systems where the mass of a sample is measured against that of a thermally stable standard.... Read More

Fast Modal Analysis and Transverse Mode Instability (TMI) Mitigation in High Fiber Amplifiers

11647 – The University of Central Florida invention describes performance improvement methods for high-power laser systems. The techniques include:

Spectrally Selective Mid-Infrared (IR) Graphene-VO2 Photodetector Operates Close to Room Temperature

2022-002 – The University of Central Florida invention is an ultrasensitive mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) photodetector consisting of a hybrid heterostructure made of nanopatterned graphene (NPG) and vanadium dioxide (VO2). Compared to current VO2 microbolometers, the graphene‐VO2 photodetector is spectrally selective and has higher sensitivity. The substantial increase in sensitivity is because the... Read More

Night-Vision Goggles in the Form of Eyeglasses

2021-073 – The invention developed by the University of Central Florida and Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a night-vision enabling flat lens made of a metamaterial consisting of the following: The flat lens enables all-optical night-vision in the form of eyeglasses without the need for any bulky optical system, electronic transduction and internal screen.

Single-Shot Low-Light Polarimeter

2021-098 – The University of Central Florida invention is a type of polarimeter. Its self-referencing nature makes it ideal for accurately measuring the properties of beams in any state of polarization, regardless of their direction of incidence. The compact design and single-shot operation make the invention useful in time-resolved remote sensing applications. Moreover, the design uses all... Read More

High Power In-Band Pumped, Triple Clad Thulium Fiber and Laser Modeling Software

2021-093 – The University of Central Florida invention is a thulium fiber geometry design specifically geared for in-band pumping. Thulium-doped fiber lasers have gained much interest recently in the field of directed energy because of the potential to create eye-safe sources at 2 μm. This design will take advantage of the higher efficiencies and lower thermal load of in-band pumping. The... Read More

Hybrid Photonic Iterative Solver for Large-Scale Systems of Equations

11650 – The University of Central Florida invention relates to a method of solving a linear equation system for use in matrix inversion, image reconstruction, high–dimensional inverse problems, numerical eigen problems, and ab initio ray-tracing engines.

Optically-Pumped Semiconductor Waveguide Amplifier

11538 – The University of Central Florida invention is a device that incorporates a conventional laser monolithically integrated with a totally undoped semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) that can produce more than 20dB of optical gain in an overall length of less than 100 μm. A 2-D array of such devices can easily be flip-chip bonded onto a silicon photonic integrated circuit (PIC) for... Read More

Pulse Compression and Supercontinuum Generation Scheme Using Random Glass-Air Anderson Localization Fiber

2021-083 – The University of Central Florida invention demonstrates pulse compression and supercontinuum generation in optical fibers with transverse random and longitudinal uniform refractive index distributions.

Instantaneous Non-Diffracting Light-Sheet Generation Using Controlled Spatial Coherence

11553 – University of Central Florida researchers have developed an easily implementable method for enhanced high‐resolution, light‐sheet fluorescence imaging without using a beam scanning module or a phase modulation system. The UCF single-shot, non-diffracting light-sheet generation technique provides a much larger field-of-view and higher signal-to-background ratio than current... Read More

Ultrashort Pulse Field Measurement Device

2021-066 – The University of Central Florida invention is a system for measuring the electric field (amplitude and phase) of a femtosecond laser pulse, consisting of a spatial filter, a beam splitter, an optical delay line, a cylindrical or spherical focusing element, and a detector. The detector can consist of either (a) a transparent crystal, a set of imaging lenses, and a spectrometer (or... Read More

Multi-Stage Raman Amplifier

11533 – The University of Central Florida invention is a multi-stage diamond Raman Master Oscillator Power Amplifier (MOPA). Raman lasers, in general, do not require rare-earth doping, as the vibrational modes of the atomic structure or crystal lattice are the media for the effect. It is a nonlinear effect, and as such, the gain is proportional to the intensity of the 1st Stokes signal and... Read More

Tailored Laser Pulse Trains for Burst-Mode Illumination

11534 – The University of Central Florida invention is a novel laser that generates directed energy at a distance consisting of a narrowband tunable radio-frequency (RF) emission in the MHz and GHz ranges for military and commercial applications. This is accomplished by creating a localized transient micro-laser plasma source with a periodic pulse function. The system is additionally... Read More

Quantum Cascade Laser Tree Arrays with Broad Area Emitters Offer Ultra-High Output Power and Beam Quality

11558 – The University of Central Florida invention describes a quantum cascade laser (QCL) configuration with broad-area emitters and tapers at the output facet. The configuration potentially offers ultra-high brightness with on-axis, far-field maximum, and most power concentrated in the central lobe. Broad-area quantum cascade lasers are capable of delivering very high CW power. Output... Read More

Figure 1. As shown, a bidirectional chip may time-duplex signals—transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx)—from a given pixel with a Tx/Rx selection step.

Photonic Integrated Circuit Outcoupling Array for Imaging-Based Beam Steering

11449 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) array device that can provide the emitter and detector array capabilities that imaging-based beam steering (IBBS) systems need to achieve high-resolution, dynamic beam steering over a wide field-of-view (FOV). The UCF invention, which includes an IBBS system design, offers a passive,... Read More

Inside of a barrel reactor with zinc selenide (ZnSe) powder coated with 300 cycles of atomic layer deposition (ALD) aluminum oxide (Al2O3).

Coat Zinc Selenide Particles with Functional Thin Films for IR Optics

11644 – The University of Central Florida invention is a processing technique to coat ZnSe (an IR transparent material) particles with an atomically thin functional film. For fabricating optical components such as optical fibers, a high-temperature melting process is used in which the base matrix and the ZnSe powder are mixed and heated past the melting point of the matrix. This important... Read More

Ultra-Spectrally Selective THz Band Stop Reflector

11645 – The University of Central Florida invention is a device that can inhibit the reflectance of electromagnetic radiation in the THz frequency range. It is characterized by a combination of material and geometric parameters that are unique and tunable—enabling resonating frequencies (spectral selectivity) in the THz range (0.1-25) with narrow channel widths (FWHM) controllable by the... Read More

Complex Refractive-Index Imaging by Iterative Optical Diffraction Tomography

11459 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a technique for capturing and reconstructing images of phase objects with greater accuracy and quality than conventional optical diffraction tomography (ODT) inversion methods. Example objects include transparent samples such as biological cells, tissues and optical fibers with high contrast, complicated structure, or... Read More

Schematic showing the UCF ultra-fast mid-IR light source.

Plasmonically Enhanced Graphene-Based Mid-IR Light Source

11596 – The University of Central Florida invention describes a proof-of-concept of a method to tune the spectrally selective thermal emission from nanopatterned graphene (NPG). This is done by means of a gate voltage that varies the resonance wavelength of localized surface plasmons (LSPs) around the circular holes that are arranged in a hexagonal or square lattice pattern in a single... Read More

High-Definition Optical Components with Embedded Sensing/Modulating Capabilities

11586 – The University of Central Florida invention comprises methods and structures for new optical components that may embed the following: (1) anti‐reflection (AR) materials during an additive manufacturing process, (2) monitoring elements for thermal control, or (3) optical components to enhance functionality and performance.

Cooperative LIDAR Object Detection Via Feature Sharing in Deep Networks

11564 – The University of Central Florida invention is an approach that enables “cooperative cognition” by sharing partially processed data (“feature sharing”) from light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensors among cooperative vehicles. The partially processed data are the features derived from an intermediate layer of a deep neural network. Experimental results show that the approach... Read More

Semi-Robotic Laparoscopic Surgery Support System

11540 – The University of Central Florida invention describes a laparoscopy support system that bridges the gap between manual and robotic laparoscopy. The device is semi-robotic in such a way that the surgeon can still manipulate the tools with their own speed and precision. However, the surgeon can lock the position and rotation of each trocar and inserted tool in place using a... Read More

Statistics-Based Adjustments of Parameter Ranges for Adaptive Systems

11588 – The University of Central Florida invention describes an adaptive system with parameters and intermediary variables with adjustable ranges. Artificial neural networks (ANN) are a class of adaptive systems that transform inputs such as text, audios, images, videos, to outputs of desired formats to achieve various tasks. The ranges are determined based on the statistics of the... Read More

System for Measuring High-Temperature, Gas-Phase Reaction Kinetics Using Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy

11561 – The University of Central Florida invention is a portable system for obtaining fast time‐resolved measurements of the temperature and composition of high-temperature gases via broadband laser absorption spectroscopy in the mid‐infrared spectral range. A compact, portable subharmonic optical parametric oscillator is used as a bright and spatially coherent broadband source in the... Read More

Ultra-Spectrally Selective Terahertz Pyroelectric Detector

34367 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a device that can intercept electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz (THz) frequency range more effectively without the costly components that other detection methods require. A key aspect of THz radiation is its ability to penetrate a wide range of materials without damaging target objects. Example materials... Read More

Capture Accurate, Real-Time Temperature Readings of Materials in Extreme Operating Conditions with Luminescent Coatings and Phosphor Thermometry

34514 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a suite of technologies that allow accurate, remote, real-time temperature measurements of TBCs on components used in extreme operating conditions, such as the blades in turbine engines. The accurate measurement of a coating's temperatures in such environments is crucial to ensure and maintain good performance, the... Read More

Ultra-Stable Deep-Dyed Perovskite-Polymer Composites as Tunable Downconverters

34381 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a low-cost, simple deep‐dyeing method that can convert a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer matrix into ultra‐stable luminescent perovskite‐polymer composites (PPCs) that demonstrate water resistance and heat stability. Due to their excellent color tunability, color purity, and water‐/photo‐stability, the PPCs are... Read More

Dynamically Tunable, Single Pixel Full-Color Plasmonic Display

33838 – The University of Central Florida invention demonstrates a liquid crystal-plasmonic system that covers the full red-green-blue (RGB) color basis set, only as a function of voltage, for the first time. Nematic liquid crystals are long rod‐shaped molecules that have extraordinary properties, most importantly: long-range order and alignment with an electric field. This allows liquid... Read More

High Brightness Narrow-Ridge and Broad-Ridge Quantum Cascade Lasers with InP Spacers

34353 – The University of Central Florida invention is an optimized mid-infrared quantum cascade laser (QCL) design capable of delivering multi-watt continuous wave (CW) power in a high-quality output beam. The design comprises InP spacers whose thickness, as well as other design parameters, is adjusted to simultaneously achieve a high CW power and high beam quality. The design method... Read More

Figure 1. Diagram of the UCF dynamically tunable cavity-coupled plasmonic system. As shown, it includes a complementary gold hole/disk array, a tri-layered cavity spacer and a reflective back mirror.

Actively Tunable Photonic Device Enables Multispectral Infrared Camouflage

34066 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have designed an innovative adaptive infrared (IR) camouflage system that can operate at any wavelength in the technologically relevant, midwave IR (3–5 µm) and longwave IR (8–12 µm) bands. The plasmonic nanostructured system design offers a faster, more efficient way to encode information and provides spectral selectivity, which is... Read More

Phototransistor Mimics the Synaptic Behavior of Neurons

34446 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a phototransistor device that can act as an artificial photonic synapse for neuromorphic computing. Ultrathin and highly efficient, the device comprises a superstructure with the fast charge transport capability of graphene (G) and the efficient photogeneration features of perovskite quantum dots (PQDs). The UCF team... Read More

Solar Energy Device Boosts Optical Absorption of Thin-Film PV Cells

34405 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a way to increase the broadband optical absorption of thin-film solar cells regardless of their thickness or intrinsic absorption. Thin-film technologies (less than 10 μm) reduce the material cost of solar cells and provide added flexibility. However, their reduced light absorption capacity results in lower cell... Read More

Mode Demultiplexing Hybrid Simplifies Coherent Optical Front End

34398 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida have designed a single device that integrates mode demultiplexing, local oscillator power splitting, and optical 90-degree phase deconstruction using a multi-plane light converter (MPLC). As a result, the invention enables more reliable and robust coherent optical signals for communications systems. Today’s current optical front... Read More

As illustrated, the new UCF technology may be implemented using planar arrays such as an organic light-emitting diode array.

Imaging-Based Transmitter and Receiver for Free-Space Optical Communications

34131 – Key points: Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a robust and cost-effective solution for line-of-site control (LOS)—also known as beam steering—in emerging free-space optical communications (FOC) systems. Instead of using conventional radio frequencies, FOC systems employ optical domain carrier frequencies to establish direct LOS data links between... Read More

Cost-Saving Electro-Optic Comb Generator Uses Its Own Internal Radio Frequency Source to Produce Tunable Broadband, Widely-Spaced Frequency Combs

34056 – New architecture’s ability to generate 52 individual electro-optic comblines across 5 nanometers offers improvements in optical communications and signal processing. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a unique architecture for an electro-optic modulation (EOM) tunable comb generator that combines a photonically filtered optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) with a... Read More

A schematic diagram of a double-channel shallow ridge-waveguide configuration using the UCF QCL design.

New Quantum Cascade Laser Design Provides Greater Efficiency and Power for Broad-Area Applications

33908 – QCL design enables the development of compact infrared countermeasure systems that can protect aircraft against next-generation portable surface-to-air missiles. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have designed a compact, lightweight quantum cascade laser (QCL) that can maintain beam quality and protect against laser facet damage while achieving more than 30 watts of optical... Read More

Multiple Line-Scanning Confocal Fluorescence Microscope Offers 3D Single-Molecule Imaging that Minimizes Photobleaching and Photodamage

34128 – Device enables high-resolution, real-time, gentle imaging of single-molecule RNA in mammalian cells. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a line-scanning confocal fluorescence technology that scientists can use to capture high-resolution, 3D, live-cell images while minimizing the effects of photobleaching and photodamage to target molecules. By providing a... Read More

Figure 1. An example setup of the UCF Highly Inclined Swept Tile (HIST) microscope system. CL1-CL2 are cylindrical lenses; DM is a dichroic mirror; GM is a galvo mirror; IP is the imaging plane; L1-L4 are relay lenses; M is a mirror; SMF is a single-mode fiber; TL is a tube lens.

Highly Inclined Swept Tile (HIST) Microscope for Advanced Real-Time, Single-Molecule Imaging

34127 – New fluorescence microscopy system enables super-resolution imaging of single molecules across a 40x wider field of view. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a fluorescence microscope that provides better real-time imaging of single molecules than conventional fluorescence technologies such as HILO (highly inclined and laminated optical sheet) microscopy. By... Read More

The block diagram illustrates an example use of the optical calibration source invention and related components.

A Compact, Bright, and Broadband Light Source for Calibrating the Spectral and Spectral Power Density of an Optical System

34055 – Novel method provides plug-and-play capabilities for easily calibrating laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) optical systems. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a novel plug-and-play technology for calibrating optical systems such as laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) or Raman spectroscopy systems. A compact, bright and broadband (180 nm... Read More

Figure 1. The graphic (a) schematically illustrates an experimental incoherent light-illuminated DCNN-GALOF imaging system without distal optics. The light source is a low-cost LED. To quantify the amount of fiber bending (b) the offset distance was measured as the distance from the end of the bent fiber to the position of the straight fiber (equal to the length of the dashed line).

Glass-Air Optical Fiber Imaging for Accurate, Real-Time Views of Biological Objects

34029 – New approach can transmit artifact-free images of cell structures in vivo despite temperature fluctuations and optical fiber bending. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a lensless fiber-optic imaging system that overcomes the expense and complications associated with existing multicore and multimode fiber-based imaging systems (MCFs, MMFs). More robust, compact... Read More

Figure 1. Illustration of the general concept behind harmonic multi-tone injection locking.

Chip-Scale Harmonic Injection Locking Technology for Integrated Photonics

33996 – New harmonic multitone injection locking technique links optical and microwave domains Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a chip-scale optical-to-RF link technology that clears a path for integrated photonics. Using a novel harmonic multitone injection locking technique, the invention down-converts frequency combs from the optical domain (>120GHz to THz) into... Read More

Figure 1. The UCF Holmium laser system concept.

Multi-millijoule Holmium Laser System

33995 – New system can generate attosecond laser pulses for use in biomolecule manipulation. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented an ultrafast Holmium laser system that can generate multi-millijoule-level laser pulse energy centered at 2.05 μm and a 1 kHz repetition rate. With such capabilities, the laser can produce long, ultra-broad bandwidth (4-12 μm wavelength),... Read More

An example diagram of the noninvasive, portable, aspiration detection system.

Portable Breath Gas Analysis System

34004 – Low-cost, noninvasive, point-of-care system quickly detects aspiration in dysphasia patients. Researchers at the University of Central Florida have invented a fast and simple way to quickly detect pulmonary aspiration in patients with dysphasia (difficulty swallowing) or other conditions that put them at risk for aspiration-related illnesses. Pulmonary aspiration occurs when people inhale... Read More

Figure (a) shows a schematic representation of chiral light-matter interaction between left-circularly polarized (LCP) and (s) enantiomer; (b) shows a top view of one uncoated sample and cross-section view of one polymer-coated substrate embedding the chiral molecule; (c) shows a representation for the optical characterization.

Molecular Chirality Detection Technique using Hybrid Plasmonic Substrates

33902 – System offers low-cost methods for efficiently and accurately detecting low levels of left- and right-handed enantiomers of drugs seeking FDA approval University of Central Florida researchers have designed a system that can accurately identify the chirality of drugs, proteins, DNA and other molecules at lower detection limits than conventional detection systems. With the ability to... Read More

Chemical Sensor with Real-Time, Remote Detection Capabilities and 3D Output

33957 – New detection system can scan gas mixtures from a distance and provide quantifiable data about specific chemicals in the mixture. Researchers from UCF and the United States Navy have invented an optical detection system designed to identify and quantify the chemicals in a gas mixture from a distance and in real time. The new system can provide a 3D mapping/readout of the mixture’s... Read More

New UCF optical nanocomposite material can be drawn into fiber form, dissolved into a solution and deposited as a thin film, or used as a bulk optical component.

Unique Nanocomposites for Fiber- and Planar-Infrared Laser Applications

33951 – Glass-nanocrystal material can be made into optical fibers, thin films and bulk optical elements. UCF researchers have invented a low loss optical nanocomposite material made of glass and high concentrations of nanocrystals (NCs). Unlike conventional crystal laser media, the new glass ceramic medium can be drawn into fiber, coated onto films, deposited as waveguides or formed as bulk... Read More

Figure 1. Example of a flexible solar cell fabricated using the new UCF light trapping invention.

Omnidirectional, Polarization-Independent, All-Dielectric Light Trapping Scheme

33979 – Novel biomimetic design approach enables manufacturers to cost-effectively produce ultrathin, flexible, durable solar cells that capture the most energy from daylight as it strikes from multiple directions. UCF researchers have developed a novel architecture and process for producing low-cost, ultrathin, flexible and durable solar cells that can be easily fabricated using roll-to-roll... Read More

Low-Cost Brightness Enhancement of Laser Sources Using Photonic Lanterns

33903 – New system enables manufacturers to reduce the cost and space needed to combine and boost the output brightness of semiconductor laser sources UCF researchers have invented a system that requires less physical space and is less expensive than other laser brightness enhancement systems. By uniquely integrating few-mode fiber and photonic lantern technologies, the new system enables the... Read More

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