Flexible fiber cameras @ Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Author(s): Yoel Fink (MIT), Fabien Sorin (MIT), Ofer Shapira (MIT), Matthew Spencer (MIT), Nicholas Orf (MIT) John Joannopoulos (MIT), Ayman F. Abouraddy (U. Central Florida)

A team of researchers, led by Yoel Fink of the MIT MRSEC, has developed light-detecting fibers that can be woven together to create a flexible, basic camera. These fibers are each less than a millimeter in diameter, and consist of several nested layers of light-detection materials. The fibers measure the intensity of the light illuminating them and convert it to an electrical signal, which is then fed into a computer that creates an algorithm to assimilate the data and create a black-and-white image on a screen. In a recent issue of the journal Nanoletters, the team reported that it has successfully used such a fiber web to capture a simple image of a smiley face.

This development is significant because it is the first time that researchers in this field have demonstrated that a single plane of fibers can collect images like a camera would, but without a lens. As the research team creates more sophisticated fibers, it may be possible to weave fiber “fabrics” that can produce sharper images, even in color. A potential application could be to weave these fibers into a fabric that could be worn by a soldier, for example, along with a small screen attached to a visor, to provide increased awareness of the surrounding environment.  Image: Light-sensitive detectors drawn into very thin fibers can produce images (inset) without the need for lenses. Credit: F. Sorin et al., Nano Letters, Online edition (2009) This work was supported by the Army Research Office through the ISN, the National Science Foundation through the Materials Research Science and Engineering Center Program, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Department of Energy.

Related publication(s):

1. Exploiting Collective Effects of Multiple Optoelectronic Devices Integrated in a Single Fiber. Nano Letters 9 (7), pp 2630–2635, 2009. DOI: 10.1021/nl9009606 Publication Date (Web): June 15, 2009 Publication Date (Web): June 15, 2009