99--TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OPPORTUNITY MICRO-RING THIN-FILM SPECTROMETER ARRAY:LAR-17252 AND LAR-17469

Synopsis: 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 novel spectral analysis system that provides rapid multi-spectral analysis and imaging, in a miniaturized system design. Typical spectrometers make use of linear gratings with linear slits or charge-coupled device (CCD) arrays to separate and detect light in its component wavelengths to build a spectrum across a range of wavelengths. Such conventional spectrometers are difficult to miniaturize below a few centimeters. Creating an image with these systems also requires physical rastering of the light beam and detection system across an area to build up the individual data points of an image. The NASA Micro-Ring Thin-Film Spectrometer technology makes use of a concentric micro-ring grating to separate the component wavelengths of the light signal for detection and spectral analysis. Due to the miniaturized design obtained by Fresnel diffraction, an array of these micro-ring grating- based spectrometers can be constructed to enable extremely small-size multi-spectral imaging of an analysis area. The rings alternate between opaque and transparent and cause the light beam to diffract into a continuum of focal points as a function of wavelength along the axis of the light beam itself. Thus, by detecting and scanning along the axis, different wavelengths of light can be detected to create the spectral response. Alternatively, by using an electro-optic layer that changes refractive index as a function of applied voltage, various wavelengths can be selectively focused at a fixed focal point into an aperture slit. No additional lenses or mirrors are necessary since the micro-ring grating serves to focus the light at the same time as dispersing it into its component wavelengths on the optical axis. The small size of the micro-ring gratings and the simplistic design allow for extreme miniaturization of the spectrometer or spectrometer array. U.S. patents 8,174,695 and 8,094,306 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 Langleys 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.