Photonics West 2012: Day 3 Report
By Ron Grunsby and Josh Butia
Here is a rundown of some of the happenings on Thursday at Photonics West 2012.
See also:
Photonics West 2012: Day 1 Report
Photonics West 2012: Day 2 Report
Avantes
Avantes displayed the AvaSpec-RS Series - the first truly configurable miniature spectrometer that allows users to change the slit and connector on the go. Customers have historically been able to change the slit with large spectrometers. They could use a larger slit for high throughput applications, such as fluorescents, and put in a smaller slit if they were doing laser profiling where they need a higher resolution. Until now, that has not been available on small spectrometers. Now it is available in small spectrometers with the new RS (removable slit) feature on AvaSpec spectrometers. The AvaSpec comes with a slit installed and a slit kit comes with three individual slit sizes.
Deposition Sciences, Inc. (DSI)
Among the technologies Deposition Sciences, Inc. (DSI) highlighted were their enhanced optical coatings that enable stronger thin films. These include complex thin film filters on polymer substrates and highly durable, wide-angle broadband anti-reflective (BBAR) coatings. The highly specialized coatings fill the need for a very durable, angle-insensitive (FOV 0 to 30 degrees) glare-reducing coating on sapphire substrates in unmanned aircraft systems. DSI's design is band-selective, meaning that minimum reflectance can be tuned to a particular detector package while still minimizing visibility (glare) in the photopic spectral sensitivity range of the human eye. From 400 to 5000 nm, the design of these coatings delivers an average reflectance of about 2 percent. DSI also showcased their multispectral filters and patterned filters. Ruggedized, higher performance optical thin films are now possible on an increasing number of shapes and sizes of substrates, including patterned coatings on everything from small substrates to 150-mm wafers.
Hamamatsu
Hamamatsu hosted an array of cutting-edge technology at their booth. Built on a new Gen II sCMOS detector, the Orca-Flash 4.0 scientific CMOS camera challenges the performance of CCD, EMCCD, and Gen I scientific CMOS cameras. It offers quantum efficiency values of over 70% at 600 nm and 50% at 750 nm, and has only 1.3 electrons of read noise (at 100 full-resolution frames per second). Hamamatsu now offers thermopile detectors for energy-saving and security applications, including gas analysis, temperature measurements, and human position detection. They have linear sensors, dual sensors, and area sensors. The EB Pumped Light Source was also highlighted. Features include high-intensity UV light output, mercury-free, and long operation life (10,000 hours).
LASER COMPONENTS
One of the products LASER COMPONENTS showcased was their fiber-coupled pulsed laser diodes at 1550 nm, which are often used in next-generation eye-safe military rangefinders and friend-or-foe identification. Fiber coupling allows more flexibility for customers in their design, because the laser and drive electronics can be placed away from where the beam is needed. This eliminates many constrains introduced by the optical path. Usually the application determines which type of fiber is used as well as the power requirements. LASER COMPONENTS can easily select a best match to any fiber core diameter because they have a wide range of emitter sizes at their disposal.
Opto Diode Corporation
Opto Diode Corporation introduced a family of three new infrared emitters. The first, the OD-850W gallium aluminum arsenide (GaAlAs) LED, features a wide-emission angle for coverage over a large area and extremely high optical output (minimum 30, typical 40 mW) with peak emission wavelength at 850 nm. It features continuous forward current at 100 mA and peak forward current at 300 mA (absolute maximum ratings at 25°C). The second in the family of high-power IR LEDs, the OD-850F, features a narrow-angle emission and a wide range of linear power output (minimum 22, typical 30 mW) with an 850-nm peak emission. The third in the series, the OD-850L is ideal for industrial control applications and features a medium emission angle for optimum coverage with excellent power density.
PG&O Precision Glass & Optics
PG&O Precision Glass & Optics was on hand discussing their capabilities with customers and prospects. They are a global manufacturer of precision optics, thin film coatings, and commercial optics who specialize in turnkey solutions for all types of optical manufacturing. They have an extremely large inventory of glass products and fabrication services, including advanced optical coatings, manufacturing large mirror blanks, CNC machining, polishing, slicing, sawing, scribing, grinding, edging, and assembly. Recently, they announced an exclusive West Coast distributorship agreement with SCHOTT for their new SCHOTT SUPREMAX 33 rolled sheet borosilicate glass. PG&O's manufacturing capabilities include customized glass fabrication and precision optical coating services on any thickness of the SCHOTT SUPREMAX 33.
Photron
Photron unveiled a new ultra-high-speed, high-spatial-resolution camera system, the Fastcam IS-1M. The 312 x 260 pixel resolution ISIS (in-situ image storage) CCD sensor system can capture a wide range of ultra-high-speed events at up to 1 million frames per second. Its light sensitivity allows the Fastcam IS-1M to capture a wide range of high-speed phenomena in low-light conditions. Applications include inkjet printing/droplet measurements and other fluid dynamics, hypervelocity impact observation and testing, materials failure, electric discharge, combustion evaluation, product fault-finding, and sports science. The system includes intuitive camera control and image download software via a high-speed USB 2.0 interface.
Sensors Unlimited - Goodrich ISR Systems
Sensors Unlimited - Goodrich ISR Systems demonstrated several cameras at their booth, including the 1.3-megapixel GA1280J high-resolution InGaAs SWIR camera and the SU1024LDH2, a high-speed, digital linescan SWIR InGaAs camera. The GA1280J is a high-sensitivity, 1280 x 1024 pixel, 15-µm pitch, military-hardened SWIR camera (0.7 to 1.7 µm). It weighs less than 125 g, with a total volume of less than 4.3 cubic inches, allowing it to be easily integrated into existing systems that have limited space, such as handheld or mobile devices for surveillance. Pictured below is a megapixel SWIR image of the Photonics West show floor from the GA1280J camera. Also featured was the SU1024LDH2, a second-generation, 1024-pixel camera that features a line rate to over 91,900 lines per second, making it ideal for both spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging applications and machine vision for ultra-high-speed inspection tasks.
This shortwave infrared (SWIR) image of Photonics West attendees on the show floor was captured from Sensors Unlimited - Goodrich ISR Systems' booth, using their new, high resolution, mil-hardened, 1.3-megapixel, InGaAs-SWIR camera, the SU-GA1280J.
Toshiba Imaging Systems Division
Toshiba Imaging Systems Division featured the IK-HR1H ultra-small HD CMOS remote head camera, and the IK-HD1 3CCD HDTV camera, which is perfectly suited for 3D stereoscopic video applications and for any imaging tasks that require critical color accuracy. The IK-HR1H can be configured with either of two camera control units, the IK-HR1CD and the IK-HR1CS. The ultra-small remote camera head is approximately 1.18” x 1.37” x 1.41” and weighs only 1.76 ounces (without lens). Applications include life sciences/diagnostic imaging, specialty broadcast/reality TV/sports, aviation, and defense. Small (1.6”) and lightweight (2.3 ounces), the IKHD1 HD color camera system is suitable for applications in which size and weight are critical. Applications include scientific imaging/diagnostics, specialty broadcast, homeland security, and industrial video/inspection.
Xenics
Xenics’ booth displayed their line of 2D and linescan SWIR, MWIR, and LWIR cameras that are used in semiconductor inspection, laser beam profiling, art inspection, hyperspectral imaging, biomedical imaging, and thermal infrared imaging applications. The Cheetah-640CL generated plenty of interest in particular, as it’s an extremely fast SWIR camera for real-time motion analysis, making it especially ideal for applications involving wavefront sensing, hyperspectral imaging, situational awareness systems, and thermal imaging of fast hot objects. It is equipped with a dedicated high-speed InGaAs detector array working up to 1.7 µm and comes in three speed versions: 120, 400, and 1730 Hz.
Energetiq
Energetiq showcased their line of LDLS (Laser-Driven Light Sources) and helped to educate some attendees on their use in analytical sciences applications. High-brightness, broadband light sources are typically needed to make spectral measurements in order to determine a sample’s structure or composition. The LDLS line was specifically developed to deliver ultra-high brightness over 170 to 2100 nm, resulting in a solution that has a longer lifespan and is actually less expensive than traditional light sources. And because of the large wavelength range that the LDLS operates in, it can be used in a large range of lighting conditions, whereas, in the past, traditional lamps would have to be combined with others or replaced entirely in order to yield different results on the same sample.
Gooch & Housego
Gooch & Housego introduced the HSi-440C hyperspectral imaging system with real-time unmixing software and the OL 770-InGaAs NIR spectroradiometer. The HSi-440C uses Gooch & Housego’s patented acousto-optic tunable filter, a high-speed, high-throughput random-access solid state optical filter that delivers excellent image quality with variable bandwidth resolution and the ability to spectrally unmix images at video rates. The OL 770-InGaAs is a high-speed, multichannel spectroradiometer that covers the 850 to 1700 nm spectrum, in addition to the current 200 to 780 nm and 380 to 780 nm versions of the OL Series 770 that are currently available. Applications range from chemometrics and determining atmospheric absorption to solar simulation and IRED source measurements.
Jenoptik
In order to extend its product range in the field of macro material processing, Jenoptik has developed the first product within the range of kilowatt fiber lasers – the laser source JenLas fiber cw 1000. This very brilliant, single-mode, high-power fiber laser system features high-performance stability and a long laser source lifetime. In addition, Jenoptik introduced the new diode-pumped, green thin-disk laser JenLas D2.mini 5/8 W to the U.S. market. This further development of the JenLas D2.x technology provides better beam quality by significantly reduced laser size. The laser is available at 5 and 8 watts power.
Marlow Industries
Marlow Industries showcased the Triton ICE thermoelectric module series that they claim chills electronics as much as 2°C below current market offerings. Designed for the industrial and medical manufacturing markets, its benefits can extend to other applications that require superb cooling capability. It features solid state reliability and high-temperature solder with the ability to withstand higher assembly processing temperatures for short periods of time (<160°C). It is designed for rugged environments and is RoHS 2002/95/EC-compliant. Available options include perimeter sealing, custom leadwires, and lapped for multiple module applications.
Newport Corporation
Newport Corporation featured a host of recently announced products, including the OptoFlash optical engine for light energy detection at multiple wavelengths; Oriel’s SOL-UV, a series of UV solar simulators for sun protection factor testing; and Spectra-Physics’ new high-repetition-rate ultrafast amplifier for femtosecond micromachining, the Spirit. They also highlighted Spectra-Physics’ new industrial DPSS lasers that span UV to IR and high power to compact. These new products, along with their current line, helped Newport maintain their strong position in the scientific research, aerospace, microelectronics manufacturing, defense/security, life sciences, and precision industrial manufacturing markets.
Princeton Instruments
Princeton Instruments showcased the PIoNIR: 640, a scientific-grade camera utilizing a deep-cooled InGaAs focal plane array. The 640 x 512 camera is engineered for use in challenging low-light near infrared (NIR) or shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging and spectroscopy applications that require high sensitivity from 0.9 µm to 1.7 µm. Applications include nanotube fluorescence, photovoltaic inspection, emission microscopy, non-destructive testing, and singlet oxygen detection. The camera includes a Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) data interface for remote operation from up to 50 meters away and features a maximum frame rate of 110 frames per second at full resolution. It can be integrated into OEM systems using the PICAM SDK, a free software development kit from Princeton Instruments.
World Star Tech
World Star Tech highlighted the TEC-Series thermoelectrically cooled green laser diode, a compact, self-contained, highly reliable laser operating at very stable wavelength and power. It features an integrated TEC and laser controller, less than 0.5% laser RMS noise, laser power stability of less than 0.5%, wavelength of 515 nm +/-5 nm, long lifetime, and low power consumption. The built-in temperature controller stabilizes the laser temperature within +/-0.01°C. It is suitable for bioanalytical, measurement, and confocal microscopy applications. These lasers can be customized to include beam-shaping optics.
See also:
Photonics West 2012: Day 1 Report
Photonics West 2012: Day 2 Report