Background:

There are many applications in science, medicine, defense, and industry where imaging far-infrared (FIR) to mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths of light is desirable. These applications include medical imaging, firefighting, homeland security, monitoring volcano activities, infrared astronomy, national and tactical missile defense, and monitoring heat emission in certain geological areas. In medicine, high thermal resolution is an essential requirement for medical imaging. In astronomy, visible light from distant objects can be absorbed by dust or other elements and compounds such as ozone in the Earth's atmosphere, but FIR and near-infrared (NIR) light from these same sources would penetrate the atmosphere. In missile defense systems, warm targets with low background irradiance can be resolved at FIR and MIR wave lengths. Existing techniques for detecting FIR and MIR wave lengths have many drawbacks. The technology of FIR and MIR detecting cameras is about 20 years behind standard common visible and near NIR cameras, particularly digital cameras.

Summary:

The present invention provides an infrared wavelength converter which includes a near-infrared light source for generating a near-infrared probe wave; imaging optics in optical communication with the near-infrared light source, the image optics operable to capture an image of an object and combining the near-infrared probe wave with the image of the object; a quantum well device in optical communication with the imaging optics, the quantum well device converting non-near-infrared wavelengths of the image to near-infrared wavelengths to produce a converted image; and a near-infrared detector in optical communication with the quantum well device, the near-infrared detector detecting the converted image. The present invention also provides a method for detecting infrared images, which includes the steps of illumination an object, capturing an image of an object; generating a near infrared probe wave using a near-infrared light source; combining the near-infrared probe wave with the image of the object using imaging optics in optical communication with the near-infrared light source; converting non-near-infrared wavelengths of the image to near-infrared wavelengths to produce a converted image using a quantum well device; and detecting the converted image using a near-infrared detector in optical communication with the quantum well device.

Benefits:

- Improving image clarity and quality of MIR and NIR imaging devices

Applications:

- Medical imaging

- Firefighting

- Homeland security

- Space imaging

Full Patent: Infrared Wavelength Converter For Imaging Applications Based On Quantum Well Devices