Wide-area and omnidirectional optical detector arrays using modular optical elements

This paper presents novel, modular optical detector arrays of various shapes and configurations. Recently developed Modular Optical Wireless Elements (MOWE) architecture serves as the basis for large and complex optical detector arrays that can be constructed as geometric shells and provide wide-area even omnidirectional field-of-view (FoV). Programmable optical modules synchronously sample the environment, and then route measurements to the user through a dedicated electrical backbone. The arrays are inexpensive, easy to construct, and can be made with homogeneous/inhomogeneous optical properties. Applications include remote sensing, motion detection, optical navigation, and medical imaging, among others. We present the MOWE detector array concept with a detailed optical analysis and a suggested design methodology, as well as a number of various demonstrations. We also utilize wavelength-diversity of MOWE arrays to demodulate two overlapping signals, showing that many diversity-based algorithms can be conveniently prototyped and implemented.