OPTIMAX SYSTEMS, INC. — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: Windows that conform to an airframe shape are an essential optical element for future of s

Description

Windows that conform to an airframe shape are an essential optical element for future of sensing in aircraft and missiles. Conformal windows are challenging to manufacture due to their shape, typically with no or minimal symmetry, and specified material, typically a hard crystalline material. We aim to significantly improve the manufacturability of conformal windows by adapting an existing technology to measure the windows with greatly improved accuracy. It is clear that the precision of the conformal windows"surface shape is limited by the ability to measure with confidence. In this project Optimax and QED, as a subcontractor, will modify existing stitching interferometry tools and technology to measure conformal windows with high accuracy. The main outcomes of this work are to produce an accurate surface measurement of a conformal window and to perform sub-aperture deterministic polishing using that measurement. The deterministic polishing step is critical to improving the conformal window surface error.