Product category:
Optical sensors and vision systems
News Release from: Sensors Unlimited
Edited by the Processingtalk Editorial
Team on 11 January 2006
Long range night vision camera
development
Goodrich has been awarded a contract from the US Army to design an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) detector array for use in high definition (1920x1080 pixel) shortwave infrared night vision cameras
Goodrich Corporation has been awarded a contract from the US Army Night Vision and Electronic Sensors Directorate to design, develop and deliver an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) detector array for use in high definition (1920x1080 pixel) shortwave infrared (SWIR) night vision cameras The contract will further the development of high resolution, small pixel pitch, high sensitivity, dual-wavelength cameras that can simultaneously produce images in both the visible and the shortwave infrared wavelength regions
This article was originally published on Processingtalk on 24 Jul 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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This will allow users to image under the darkest of night conditions in a new wavelength band and will enable backward compatibility with older imaging technologies.
The project will be conducted by the company's Optical and Space Systems team (formerly Sensors Unlimited) in Princeton, New Jersey.
Goodrich research and development will focus on the design of an improved readout integrated circuit (ROIC) architecture with an unprecedented 12mm pixel pitch thus allowing for a tiny array with high resolution.
Further reading
Shortwave infrared thermal imaging applications
Sensors Unlimited, using indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) technology, has recently developed new machine vision cameras for remote monitoring of hot-end processes, such as glass and metal smelting
Principles and practice of Shortwave IR imaging
Shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging is establishing a place for itself in manufacturing and process control applications where machine vision provides benefits
This minimises the weight and size of the optical assembly for long-range imaging.
With the small pixel pitch and resultant smaller diode collection area, the new device will feature an improved ROIC design with lower read noise offering higher resolution than is currently available in a small array.
Work will also focus on improving the visible response from the current, commercially proven indium phosphide (InP) substrate removal process.
These improvements will result in higher device yields which will lower the cost per unit and provide much higher sensitivity in dark or low light conditions.
The new ROIC and the improved substrate-removed InGaAs photodiodes will be integrated into the new imager.
The resulting camera will have the potential for both commercial and defense applications in areas such as covert surveillance, optical coherence tomography, hot end process inspection (eg glass and steel), spectroscopy and a variety of other machine vision tasks.
Goodrich has pioneered the design and production of shortwave infrared cameras and systems utilising advanced InGaAs imaging technology for industrial, commercial, military, agricultural and biomedical markets.
For additional information on InGaAs-based shortwave infrared imaging detectors, arrays and systems, visit the "Sensors Unlimited" link found on the Goodrich Optical and Space Systems division homepage.
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