An infrared collector employs a concentrator formed of a plurality of spatially related gradient-indexed (GRIN) lenses and a photo detector interconnected by optical fibers. Since the GRIN lenses are arranged on a hemispherical shell the concentrator is relatively insensitive to the direction of the incoming infrared radiation. Optical fibers are used to connect the GRIN lenses to a photo detector where assembly is simplified.
Commercial Applications
• Infrared data networks
Competitive Advantages
• Infrared detector in the collector has a size that is significantly smaller than those used in conventional collectors • Concentrator has high optical gain and therefore is particularly well adapted for use in low-power portable systems
Patent Status
Patent Issued – 6,064,067