NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, VA solicits inquiries from companies interested in obtaining license rights to commercialize, manufacture and market the following technology. License rights may be issued on an exclusive or nonexclusive basis and may include specific fields of use. NASA provides no funding in conjunction with these potential licenses. THE TECHNOLOGY: Scientists at NASA Langley Research Center have developed a strong capability in the field of open beam gas filter correlation radiometry (GFCR) and gas filter differential absorption radiometry (DAR). Langley invents numerous techniques and prototypes for using GFCR and DAR to perform a variety of measurements including auto emissions monitoring, methane leak detection, and pollution monitoring. From that work, Langley has developed an optical path switch system and method for detecting one or more substances. The optical path switch receives radiation passing along a measurement or sample path of interest and divides it into a time series of alternating first and second polarized components. The first polarized components are transmitted along a first optical path and the second polarized components along a second optical path. A first gasless optical filter train disposed in the first optical path filters the first polarized components to isolate at least a first wavelength band thereby generating first filtered radiation. A second optical filter train disposed in the second optical path filters the second polarized components to isolate at least a second wavelength band thereby generating second filtered radiation. The first wavelength band and second wavelength band are unique. Further, spectral absorption of a substance of interest is different at the first wavelength band as compared to the second wavelength band. A beam combiner disposed to receive the first and second filtered radiation combines same to form a combined beam of radiation. A detector is disposed to monitor magnitude of at least a portion of the combined beam alternately at the first wavelength band and the second wavelength band as an indication of the concentration of the substance in the sample path. NASA is seeking to license this technology commercially. US Patent 6,922,242. To express interest in this opportunity, please respond to
[email protected] with the title of this Technology Transfer Opportunity as listed in this FBO notice and your preferred contact information. Please also provide the nature of your interest in the technology along with a brief background of your company. For more information about licensing other NASA-developed technologies, please visit the NASA Technology Transfer Portal at http://technology.nasa.gov/ . These responses are provided to members of NASA Langley’s Office of Strategic Analysis and Business Development “OSACB” for the purpose of promoting public awareness of NASA-developed technology products, and conducting preliminary market research to determine public interest in and potential for future licensing opportunities. If direct licensing interest results from this posting, OSACB will follow the required formal licensing process of posting in the Federal Register. No follow-on procurement is expected to result from responses to this Notice.