Abstract: An optical device is disclosed. The optical device has an optical path and includes a first polarizing filter positioned in the optical path that is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from a scene and to transmit a first subset of EMR comprising EMR in a first waveband that has a first polarization orientation and EMR in a second waveband. A second polarizing filter is positioned in the optical path downstream of the first polarizing filter that is configured to receive the first subset of EMR and to transmit a second subset of EMR comprising EMR in the second waveband that has a second polarization orientation and the EMR in the first waveband that has the first polarization orientation.

Abstract: The embodiments implement fraud-resistant biometric security based on polarization-based iris identification. The embodiments include identifying an iris based on unique patterns of polarized electromagnetic radiation (EMR) received from the iris.

Abstract: The embodiments implement polarization-based disturbed earth identification. At least one sensor apparatus comprising a plurality of detector elements receives polarized electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in a first waveband from a scene of an area of a surface of the earth and polarized EMR in a second waveband from the scene, the polarized EMR in the first waveband having a first polarization orientation and the polarized EMR in the second waveband having a second polarization orientation. The sensor apparatus outputs sensor information that quantifies EMR received by each detector element of the plurality of detector elements. A computing device processes the sensor information to generate an image or a classification image of the scene based on an amount of polarized EMR received by each detector element, and presents the image on a display device.

Abstract: An optical element is disclosed. The optical element includes a plurality of layers. The plurality of layers includes a notch filter array that has a plurality of notch filter elements. Each notch filter element is configured to filter out energy within at least one wavelength band of interest. The plurality of layers further includes a polarization-responsive grid array having a plurality of polarization elements and includes a microlens array having a plurality of microlens elements. Each microlens element is configured to image a portion of a scene onto an image plane.

Abstract: The embodiments implement fraud-resistant biometric security based on polarization-based iris identification. The embodiments include identifying an iris based on unique patterns of polarized electromagnetic radiation (EMR) received from the iris.

Abstract: Identification of reflective surfaces as being associated with optical threats is disclosed. A first laser signal is emitted from a first laser system at a first wavelength and a first emission circular polarization orientation. A first signal reflection of the first laser signal from a reflective surface at the first wavelength having a first return circular polarization orientation that is different from the first emission circular polarization orientation is detected. A first return quantification of the first signal reflection, based at least in part on an amount of circular polarization of the first signal reflection, is determined. It is determined that the reflective surface is associated with a threat optic based at least in part on the first return quantification.

Abstract: An optical assembly that includes at least one polarizing filter assembly and at least one sensor. The polarizing filter assembly is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation (EMR) emitted by a sun and transmit at least three different portions of EMR towards the at least one sensor, each portion filtered based on a different polarization orientation. A processor device is configured to receive sensor data generated by the at least one sensor in response to receipt of the at least three different portions of EMR, and determine an elevation angle of the sun with respect to a horizon from a geographic location of the optical assembly.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a detector array and an aperture disposed along an optical path, with an array of filter elements positioned within the aperture in the optical path. Each filter element is configured to filter out energy that is within a unique wavelength band of interest within a wavelength spectrum of interest, to form filtered energy within the wavelength spectrum of interest that is outside the unique wavelength band of interest. The filtered energy is passed from each filter element to a plurality subsets of non-contiguous detector elements in the detector array, which in turn each generate one or more detector values based on the received energy. The detector values may be processed to determine an intensity value for the wavelength band of interest.

Abstract: An imaging device includes a detector array and an aperture disposed along an optical path, with an array of filter elements disposed in the optical path therebetween. The detector array has a plurality of detector elements that are sensitive to a wavelength spectrum of interest, such as, for example, the visible spectrum and/or the infrared (IR) spectrum. Each filter element is configured to filter out energy within the wavelength spectrum of interest that is in a wavelength band of interest to form filtered energy within the wavelength spectrum of interest that is outside the wavelength band of interest. The filtered energy is passed by each filter to at least one corresponding detector element, which generates one or more detector values based on the received energy. The detector values may be processed to determine an intensity value for the wavelength band of interest.

Abstract: An optical device is disclosed. The optical device has an optical path and includes a first polarizing filter positioned in the optical path that is configured to receive electromagnetic radiation (EMR) from a scene and to transmit a first subset of EMR comprising EMR in a first waveband that has a first polarization orientation and EMR in a second waveband. A second polarizing filter is positioned in the optical path downstream of the first polarizing filter that is configured to receive the first subset of EMR and to transmit a second subset of EMR comprising EMR in the second waveband that has a second polarization orientation and the EMR in the first waveband that has the first polarization orientation.

Abstract: Mechanisms for validating the authenticity of an item. A reader device records authentication data that is obscured in a label. The authentication data is provided to a remote authentication server via a network. The reader device receives, from the remote authentication server, an authentication response based on the authentication data. Based at least in part on the authentication response, the reader device displays an indication that identifies whether the item is authentic.

Abstract: A multi-spectral photon converting imaging apparatus and method are disclosed. A plurality of photons in a first received band and a plurality of photons in a second received band are received by a first nanoparticle photon conversion material. The first nanoparticle photon conversion material converts the plurality of photons in the first received band to a plurality of photons in a first converted band, and the plurality of photons in the second received band to a plurality of photons in a second converted band. An image sensor receives the plurality of photons in the first converted band and the plurality of photons in the second converted band, and generates a digitized image of the scene based on the plurality of photons in the first converted band and the plurality of photons in the second converted band.

Abstract: A photonic conversion layer receives incoming photons in a plurality of X-ray bands, the incoming photons passing through an item on a path from an X-ray source to the photonic conversion layer. The incoming photons are converted in each X-ray band of the plurality of X-ray bands to outgoing photons in corresponding different converted bands in the visible-to-near infrared (VNIR) spectrum. The outgoing photons are emitted in the corresponding different converted bands in the VNIR spectrum. A sensor detects the outgoing photons in the corresponding different converted bands in the VNIR spectrum and generates output data representative of the outgoing photons. Image data is generated based on the output data.

Abstract: A photon conversion assembly. The photon conversion assembly includes a first plurality of photon conversion particles configured to convert photons in a first received band to photons in a first converted band, and a second plurality of photon conversion particles configured to convert photons in a second received band to photons in a second converted band. A first plasmonic near-field enhancement material that enhances an attraction of photons in the first received band is positioned in proximity to at least some of the first plurality of photon conversion particles, and a second plasmonic near-field enhancement material that enhances an attraction of photons in the second received band is positioned in proximity to at least some of the second plurality of photon conversion particles.

Abstract: A method and device for obtaining information from a scene. A beam of photons associated with a scene is separated into a plurality of photon sub-beams. At least two photon sub-beams are optically encoded to generate at least two corresponding encoded photon sub-beams. Each encoded photon sub-beam is encoded based on a corresponding encoding function. The encoded photon sub-beams are combined to generate a combined photon beam. A detection device detects the combined photon beam to generate image data. The image data is decoded based on the plurality of encoding functions to generate a plurality of sub-images. Each sub-image corresponds to one of the at least two photon sub-beams of the plurality of photon sub-beams.

Abstract: A system for emitting X-ray energy is disclosed. An X-ray emitter emits photons in a first X-ray band toward a first photon conversion layer. The first photon conversion layer receives the photons in the first X-ray band and converts the photons in the first X-ray band to photons in a plurality of different second predetermined X-ray bands. The first photon conversion layer emits the photons in the plurality of different second predetermined X-ray bands in a downstream direction toward a second photon conversion layer.

Abstract: A photon conversion assembly. A first filter assembly is configured to transmit photons in at least one received band in a downstream direction of an optical pathway and to reflect photons in at least one converted band that are moving in an upstream direction of the optical pathway. A photon conversion material has a first side and a second side. The first side is downstream of the first filter assembly, and the second side is upstream of a second filter assembly. The photon conversion material is configured to convert photons in at least one received band to photons in at least one converted band. A second filter assembly is configured to transmit photons in the at least one converted band in a downstream direction of the optical pathway and to reflect photons in the at least one received band that are moving in the downstream direction of the optical pathway.

Abstract: Electron-activated photon emission materials are disclosed. A first electron source emits a first electron having a first predetermined energy at a first nanoparticle of a photon emission material that includes a first layer of a plurality of nanoparticles. A first photonic response of the receipt of the first electron by the first nanoparticle is determined. The first photonic response is interpreted as a first numeric value.

Abstract: Mechanisms for validating the authenticity of an item. A reader device records authentication data that is obscured in a label. The authentication data is provided to a remote authentication server via a network. The reader device receives, from the remote authentication server, an authentication response based on the authentication data. Based at least in part on the authentication response, the reader device displays an indication that identifies whether the item is authentic.

Abstract: A method and device for obtaining information from a scene. A beam of photons associated with a scene is separated into a plurality of photon sub-beams. At least two photon sub-beams are optically encoded to generate at least two corresponding encoded photon sub-beams. Each encoded photon sub-beam is encoded based on a corresponding encoding function. The encoded photon sub-beams are combined to generate a combined photon beam. A detection device detects the combined photon beam to generate image data. The image data is decoded based on the plurality of encoding functions to generate a plurality of sub-images. Each sub-image corresponds to one of the at least two photon sub-beams of the plurality of photon sub-beams.