New IR technology?

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popper43

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China’s Infrared Contact Lenses Give Humans Near-Infrared Vision In Tests

Prototype infrared contact lenses convert near-IR light into visible signals. Here’s what the research achieved and its current status.
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Been in experimental mode for many years but maybe China found a use? Upconverting nanoparticle layer over a visible camera photo array? Unfortunately the visible conversion is not 'focused' so has to be a layer over the detector. Eye in the China use. Would make a very inexpensive IR scope!
 
  • Quantum Dot Films: MIT researchers developed thin-film materials using lead sulfide quantum dots and rubrene molecules. These films absorb IR photons and transfer energy to create high-energy excitons that emit visible light, a technology aimed at improving night-vision goggles and solar cells.
  • Optoelectronic Chips: Integrated devices combining PbSe nanocrystals with organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or bipolar junction transistors have demonstrated high-efficiency conversion, with some prototypes achieving photon-to-photon conversion efficiencies exceeding 1,000% by amplifying the electrical signal generated by IR absorption.
 
Funny, PbSe was, IIRC, the material used in old sidewinder detector. Patent for amorphous silicon charger was sold to Japan (Sony) and UK guy invented OLEDs but sold patent to China as nobody else wanted it.
Edit: long time ago, Brits wanted to put camera on tank turret and a panoramic display inside. No periscope.
Reason for the post - if/when somebody puts the film layer on a cellphone camera array, IR prices will drop through the floor! Still have the germanium lens cost though.
Edit: the lens cost would go way down, as well as the weight! Most now use an F/1 lens and the size is dictated by the array size. VoX array size is about an inch for high pixel count. Vox array size is determined basically by the 'cooling' channels needed. And the camera array only has to be for B&W.
Also see no sense in the angle sensors in some scopes. Makes NO real difference in the ranges we shoot IR. And a compass? Next will be wind readout! Kinds like all the crazy electronics they put in cars now.
 
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This 'stuff' was discovered about 15 years ago. And I was chatting with work buddy about VoX in the early 70s. Just takes a while for some peoples brains to work - and some $.
 
popper43 said:
This 'stuff' was discovered about 15 years ago. And I was chatting with work buddy about VoX in the early 70s. Just takes a while for some peoples brains to work - and some $.
Click to expand...

I thought you said it was not focused? I don't know much about this stuff, but I would think it has a lot of potential
 
You put the IR 'film' on the array behind a lens, for magnification. One could put the 'film' on the front of a lens but I suspect the lens would not 'cool' between scenes.
 
How fast will this get to consumer product? Will it ever? Competing with existing stuff and companies (normal, especially Mil). All 'new' ideas seem to require a gov grant to work. There has been activity (experiments) by us, China may speed up our 'response'. And no, I probably won't be here at the end of the decade.
 
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