Tech Briefs

Photonics & Imaging

Access our comprehensive library of technical briefs on photonics and imaging, from engineering experts at NASA and major government, university, and commercial laboratories.

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Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Applications include detection of explosives, navigation, and aerospace altitude sensing.
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Briefs: Lighting
The material could enable cheaper and more environmentally friendly displays and large-area lighting.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The chip combines two functions — logic operations and data storage — into a single architecture, paving the way to more efficient devices.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The system turns faces into thermostats, providing more comfort with less energy.
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Briefs: Medical
The system can recharge the internal battery of devices without invasive surgery or risky penetrative procedures.
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Briefs: Imaging
The device could reduce the need for painful biopsies by 50 percent.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
This simple and inexpensive design achieves high-quality ozone measurements.
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Briefs: Semiconductors & ICs
Computations are done solely with beams of light.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The mobile system could reduce healthcare workers’ exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
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Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics
This subsystem is used in free-space optical communications and fiber-optic communications.
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Briefs: Imaging
The system allows multiple users to interact with the same VR app on smartphones, providing opportunities for education, healthcare, and entertainment.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
Method Tests Microscopic Aeronautical Materials
This process breaks the temperature barrier in small-scale materials testing.
Briefs: Wearables
The device can translate expressions into emojis or silent speech commands.
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Briefs: Aerospace
This technique for optical data transmission from satellites uses laser arrays to provide fine pointing capability.
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Briefs: Imaging
High-Resolution X-Ray Camera System
The system has applications in X-ray spectroscopy, pump probes, and molecule imaging.
Briefs: Transportation
The camera collects the spatial and spectral information required for self-driving cars, machine vision, corrosion detection, and other applications.
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Briefs: Lighting
Invisible displays on walls and windows would be bright when turned on but invisible when turned off.
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Briefs: RF & Microwave Electronics
Any high-performance communication systems operating in RF or optical frequencies may benefit from this system.
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Briefs: Imaging
Rather than using supecomputers, heart function simulation can be performed at the CT scanner.
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Briefs: Imaging
Applications include characterizing additively manufactured components and baggage screening.
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Briefs: Imaging
High-Performance, Low-Field MRI for Cardiac and Lung Imaging
The system could enhance image-guided procedures that diagnose and treat disease and make medical imaging more affordable and accessible.
Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Detector Senses X-Rays Over a Broad Energy Range
New materials generate precise X-ray images with a lower amount of exposure.
Briefs: Photonics/Optics
Printable organic photodiodes can distinguish wavelengths and enable data transmission by light.
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Briefs: Manufacturing & Prototyping
Adaptable automation reduces manufacturing time and costs.
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Briefs: Electronics & Computers
The system is effective in urban environments where there are tall buildings on all sides.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Using radar commonly deployed to track speeders and fastballs, the automated system “sees” around corners to spot oncoming traffic and pedestrians.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
This technology enables robots, electronic devices, and prosthetic devices to feel pain through sense of touch.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
The sensor enables detection of items for security screening, intrusion detection, forensics, and medical imaging.
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Briefs: Sensors/Data Acquisition
Applications include biomedical imaging, remote sensing, and heliophysics research.
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