Patent ID: 8238026
Filing Date: 2012-08-07
Classification: G01J,G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. A polarization-sensitive infrared image sensor, comprising: a two-dimensional (2-D) array of polarizers to receive infrared light from a scene and to filter the infrared light according to polarization; a 2-D array of optical fibers located proximate to the 2-D array of polarizers to receive the filtered infrared light from each polarizer at an entrance end of the 2-D array of optical fibers and to transmit the filtered infrared light to an exit end thereof; and a 2-D array of infrared photodetectors located proximate to the exit end of the 2-D array of optical fibers, each infrared photodetector detecting the filtered infrared light from one of the optical fibers to generate an electrical output signal containing polarization information for a pixel of the scene.