Wide-field Resonant Electro-optic Imaging Devices and Applications

The Kasevich lab has expanded on an earlier invention ( Stanford Docket 18-388: " Efficient wide-field nanosecond imaging methods using Pockels cells for low-light applications" ) that achieves efficient ultrafast temporal imaging on standard camera sensors. Current fast camera sensors have significant drawbacks and achieve nanosecond resolution only by sacrificing performance and sensitivity. Low-cost nanosecond camera sensors with favorable performance and form-factor are more desirable, especially for applications in LIDAR and fluorescence lifetime imaging.

The Kasevich lab has developed resonant electro-optic imaging techniques and optimized the design of electro-optic crystals to allow compact, low-cost, and wide angular field-of-view imaging. Embodiments include multi-layer structures of low-cost electro-optic crystals and polarization optics, configurations to reduce switching voltage, and integrated systems for wide-field imaging.

This technology is an advantageous approach to Pockels cell LIDAR beyond conventional "flash" imaging mode – combining high distance resolution with large depth of fields, which is not possible with traditional Pockels cell approaches. It is also compatible with mode-locked laser sources and megahertz repetition rates, and facilitates compact and low-cost nanosecond imaging and LIDAR on standard CMOS sensors.

Stage of Development - Prototype