2506374
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SBIR Phase I: Metasurface optical waveguides for compact and scalable optical systems.
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in replacing conventional optical systems, like lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually produced, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure.
Such optical systems are used in smart phones, consumer wearables devices, biometric identification, medical diagnostics, autonomous navigation, robotics, remote sensing, etc.
This project will develop novel optical devices that will overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost.
The system will be composed of tiny features that interact with light on a sub-wavelength scale.
Development of the novel optical devices will directly benefit U.S. consumers.
The innovation is expected to transform a variety of optical and photonic systems into lighter, more affordable, and more compact solutions that can be produced in large volumes.
This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops innovative metasurface optical waveguiding devices (MOWGs) that control light on a subwavelength level and will provide significant practical benefits over a variety of conventional optical systems.
Conventional optical systems contain assemblies of optical components, such as refractive lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually fabricated, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure.
That results in relatively bulky and heavy optical assemblies that have limited potential for cost reduction and scalability.
Metasurfaces represent a new class of optical surface that control optical fields on the sub-wavelength level.
Novel metasurface topologies that can be applied to optical waveguides will be explored.
This SBIR Phase I project is intended to overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost by employing metasurface assemblies containing waveguiding structures.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in replacing conventional optical systems, like lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually produced, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure.
Such optical systems are used in smart phones, consumer wearables devices, biometric identification, medical diagnostics, autonomous navigation, robotics, remote sensing, etc.
This project will develop novel optical devices that will overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost.
The system will be composed of tiny features that interact with light on a sub-wavelength scale.
Development of the novel optical devices will directly benefit U.S. consumers.
The innovation is expected to transform a variety of optical and photonic systems into lighter, more affordable, and more compact solutions that can be produced in large volumes.
This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops innovative metasurface optical waveguiding devices (MOWGs) that control light on a subwavelength level and will provide significant practical benefits over a variety of conventional optical systems.
Conventional optical systems contain assemblies of optical components, such as refractive lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually fabricated, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure.
That results in relatively bulky and heavy optical assemblies that have limited potential for cost reduction and scalability.
Metasurfaces represent a new class of optical surface that control optical fields on the sub-wavelength level.
Novel metasurface topologies that can be applied to optical waveguides will be explored.
This SBIR Phase I project is intended to overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost by employing metasurface assemblies containing waveguiding structures.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are not planned for this award.
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "NSF SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH / SMALL BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER PHASE I PROGRAMS", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF24579
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Plainsboro,
New Jersey
08536-1938
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Coherent Photonics, Limited Liability Company was awarded
Project Grant 2506374
worth $305,000
from National Science Foundation in April 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Plainsboro New Jersey United States.
The grant
has a duration of 8 months and
was awarded through assistance program 47.084 NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity NSF Small Business Innovation Research / Small Business Technology Transfer Phase I Programs.
SBIR Details
Research Type
SBIR Phase I
Title
SBIR Phase I: Metasurface Optical Waveguides for Compact and Scalable Optical Systems
Abstract
The broader impact/commercial impacts of this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project is in replacing conventional optical systems, like lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually produced, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure. Such optical systems are used in smart phones, consumer wearables devices, biometric identification, medical diagnostics, autonomous navigation, robotics, remote sensing, etc. This project will develop novel optical devices that will overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost. The system will be composed of tiny features that interact with light on a sub-wavelength scale. Development of the novel optical devices will directly benefit U.S. consumers. The innovation is expected to transform a variety of optical and photonic systems into lighter, more affordable, and more compact solutions that can be produced in large volumes.
This Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) Phase I project develops innovative metasurface optical waveguiding devices (MOWGs) that control light on a subwavelength level and will provide significant practical benefits over a variety of conventional optical systems. Conventional optical systems contain assemblies of optical components, such as refractive lenses, mirrors, or their combinations, that need to be individually fabricated, assembled, aligned, and placed within a housing or enclosure. That results in relatively bulky and heavy optical assemblies that have limited potential for cost reduction and scalability. Metasurfaces represent a new class of optical surface that control optical fields on the sub-wavelength level. Novel metasurface topologies that can be applied to optical waveguides will be explored. This SBIR Phase I project is intended to overcome the limitations of traditional optical systems with respect to weight, size, scalability, and cost by employing metasu
Topic Code
PH
Solicitation Number
NSF 24-579
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 4/4/25
Period of Performance
4/1/25
Start Date
12/31/25
End Date
Funding Split
$305.0K
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$305.0K
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2506374
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Small Business
Awarding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Funding Office
491503 TRANSLATIONAL IMPACTS
Awardee UEI
DNCKC4KMSRA4
Awardee CAGE
7BRG3
Performance District
NJ-12
Senators
Robert Menendez
Cory Booker
Cory Booker
Modified: 4/4/25