Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc. (PIRT), introduces the affordable LineCam12, an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) linescan camera that operates in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) and visible spectrum, from 0.4 to 1.7 µm. The compact camera features a 1024 x 1 pixel format with a 12.5 µm pitch and has two digital outputs, USB3 Vision™ and Camera Link; it can also be powered by USB3.0 in most applications. This is the only USB3 Vision SWIR camera currently available, allowing for easy integration into new or existing machine vision and spectroscopic systems.
Princeton Infrared’s advanced SWIR-InGaAs 1024-element linear array camera can image over 37k lines per second and comes in two models: the LineCam12-12.5-1.7T with 250 µm tall pixels for spectroscopy, and the LineCam12-12.5-1.7M with 12.5 µm square pixels for machine vision tasks.
There are several advantages to this new SWIR linescan camera. The low read noise of <80e- is a factor of 4x lower than the best in the industry. Combined with varied integration times from 10 µs to >10 s and the 14-bit analog-to-digital conversion (dynamic range >6000:1) the LineCam12 provides excellent versatility. This is in addition to the incredibly large selection of full wells from 75ke- to 100 Me- with 128 steps of variation, which far exceeds any other linear array in the SWIR band. Importantly, there is also on-chip optical pixel binning available by command, allowing the user to trade spectral resolution for increased signal levels, as well as faster line rates. The TEC-stabilized camera offers 18 non-uniformity correction (NUC) tables (12 factory set and 6 user defined) for added flexibility.
According to Martin H. Ettenberg, Ph. D., president of Princeton Infrared Technologies, “This is the state of the art in SWIR linescan cameras. Utilizing our fabless manufacturing model, we are enabling numerous machine vision and spectroscopic applications at a much lower cost than other SWIR cameras on the market. The other big advantage is that our LineCam12 does not require a frame grabber, which is an additional expense when purchasing other SWIR linescan cameras.”
The SWIR LineCam12 is specially designed and optimized for complex and demanding imaging applications, for example in imaging lasers, and in environments where objects are moving (factory lines), such as sorting, detecting moisture, characterizing different plastics, and more. The camera starting price is $9500 in single units. For multiple units or OEM quantities, please contact PIRT for pricing.
Princeton Infrared Technologies will premiere the revolutionary 1024L1-12.5-T Linear Array at SPIE DCS in Baltimore from 19-21 April. The array is an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) sensor designed for both spectroscopy and machine vision in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectrum. The linear array provides 1024 x 1 resolution with a small 12.5 micron pitch and delivers the lowest read noise currently available at <550e- for a 250 µm tall pixel. For some spectroscopy applications, the advanced SWIR on-chip noise-suppression circuit will achieve read noise levels to an unprecedented low of <100e-. This is also the only SWIR linear array available that can image the visible and SWIR bands with response from 0.4 to 1.7 mm.
The 1024L1 uses a single digital ROIC chip to minimize variation from output to output, which is often an unwanted feature on linear arrays with multiple ROICs. The chips have built-in 14-bit analog-to-digital converters that maximize dynamic range (>6000:1) and minimize noise, while delivering 34klines/s at 1024 elements. It also has the largest selection of full wells, from 75ke- to 100Me-, in the industry.
Martin H. Ettenberg, Ph.D., president of Princeton Infrared Technologies, Inc., notes, “We are very excited to bring this linear array to market because it is designed for spectroscopy applications in the SWIR band. With our newer assembly methods and fabless manufacturing model, we can offer these advanced arrays at a fraction of the market price, while enhancing performance.”
The lattice-matched InGaAs array is backside illuminated to enable detection in the visible to the SWIR from 0.4 to 1.7 µm. A distinct advantage to backside illumination is that it minimizes stray reflections that plague competing front-side illuminated arrays; bond pads and the many wire bonds near the active imaging area of front-side illuminated arrays often create odd light apertures that adversely affect image quality. The new backside-illuminated1024L1 Linear Array can also be customized by depositing optical filters directly onto the active detector area; this is nearly impossible to do with a front-side illuminated device with its wire bonds.
