Together with TriEye, a shortwave infrared (SWIR) sensing technology provider, Coherent has unveiled a laser-illuminated SWIR imaging system for automotive and robotic applications.
The system is suitable for front and rear cameras in cars and vision systems in industrial and autonomous robots, Cohernet says. It was designed using TriEye’s spectrum enhanced detection and ranging (SEDAR) product platform and Coherent’s SWIR semiconductor laser. SEDAR integrates TriEye’s CMOS-based SWIR sensor and illumination source with Coherent’s 1375nm edge-emitting laser on surface-mount technology (SMT).
The companies claim their SWIR system will enable advanced automotive cameras for all-weather imaging, as well as round-the-clock operation of autonomous robots in any lighting conditions and in both indoor and outdoor environments.
“This new solution combines best-in-class SWIR imaging and laser illumination technologies that will enable next-generation cameras to provide images through rain or fog, and in any lighting condition, from broad daylight to total darkness at night,” said Dr Sanjai Parthasarathi, Chief Marketing Officer at Coherent Corp. “Both technologies are produced leveraging high-volume manufacturing platforms that will enable them to achieve the economies of scale required to penetrate markets in automotive and robotics.”
“We are happy to collaborate with a global leader in semiconductor lasers and to establish an ecosystem that the automotive and industrial robotics industries can rely on to build next-generation solutions,” said Avi Bakal, CEO and co-founder of TriEye. “This is the next step in the evolution of our technology innovation, which will enable mass-market applications. Our collaboration will allow us to continue revolutionising sensing capabilities and machine vision by allowing the incorporation of SWIR technology into a greater number of emerging applications.”
