SPIE DSS 2011: Day 3 Technology Report
By Jim Pomager
We conclude our coverage of the 2011 SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing (DSS 2011) exhibition with our rundown of the advanced technologies we saw on Thursday. (See also our Tuesday and Wednesday reports.) Links to product datasheets, demo videos, and other resources have been provided, in case you need more information about any of the products and services described below.
Xenics
An exciting technology introduced by Xenics at DSS was a camera/software system that enables the "fusion" of images from different spectral ranges. To accomplish this, Xenics equipped the new Meerkat Fusion with three different cameras — one each for visible, SWIR, and LWIR spectral ranges. Proprietary software merges images from any two of the cameras at a time, enhancing the appearance of the scene or adding thermal accents to SWIR or visible images. Xenics also launched the new XenicsCore family of high-resolution IR OEM modules (XSW-640 and XTM-640), and demonstrated its Pumair-170DW lightweight, dual-wavelength (LWIR and SWIR) airborne imaging system.
TELOPS
TELOPS conducted live demonstrations of its FAST-IR 1000 scientific infrared camera. (We captured the demo on video.) True to its name, the new camera delivers 1000 fps full-frame performance with an FPA frame size of 320 x 256 pixels. The company's real-time temperature calibration algorithm allows the system compensate for temperature changes in the environment, and an optional filter wheel gives the camera multispectral capabilities, allowing up to eight channels to be sequentially captured. TELOPS also displayed the HD-IR 1280, a high-definition (1280 x 1024), mid-wave IR camera intended for surveillance, military, and other application areas.
Sofradir EC
Sofradir EC demoed a number of new cameras at its DSS booth. First up was the IRE-320VL imaging engine for the 7.7 to 11.5 um long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectral range. Based on the Sofradir Mars VLW cryogenically cooled MCT (mercury cadmium telluride) infrared detector, this camera engine has an adjustable full frame rate of 1 to 320 Hz. Also on display was another MCT-based camera, the IRE-320S, covering the 0.75 to 2.5 um short-wave infrared (SWIR) range and boasting >90% quantum efficiency. In addition, Sofradir EC demonstrated the new ATOM 1024 uncooled thermal imaging camera, which delivers 1024 x 768 pixel resolution at 30 Hz and 640 x 480 at 60 Hz.
FLIR Systems
FLIR launched the new Quark thermal camera core at DSS. At 17 x 22 x 22 mm in size and weighing less than 20 g, Quark is approximately 75% smaller than its predecessor, the popular Tau. This compact, lightweight design was made possible by FLIR's wafer-level packaging of the microbolometer sensor. The camera is available in 320 and 640 resolution (with 17 um pixels) and has high shock and vibration tolerance (approximately 800 to 1000 Gs). Applications include handheld and clip-on sights for weapons, helmet-mounted imaging, small unmanned systems (with limited payload capacity), and unattended ground systems (UGSs).
Avantes
Taking center stage at the Avantes booth was the company's new AvaSpec NIR family of high-performance near infrared (NIR) spectrometers. These instruments, optimized specifically for measuring long wavelengths, feature toroidal focusing mirrors and dynamic dark correction for enhanced stability. They are intended for applications such as moisture content measurement of liquids, solids, and powders; quantitative and qualitative measurement of volatile organics; plastic characterization and material identification; and irradiance measurements. Available options include wireless communication, irradiance/intensity calibration, and nonlinearity calibration.
Trioptics
Optical test equipment manufacturer Trioptics introduced us to a number of new instruments at its booth. One of these was the recently upgraded TriAngle electronic autocollimator, used for high-precision measure of angular displacements of specular reflective surfaces and the angular alignment of optical or mechanical parts. The new model has an improved measuring rate of 300 fps (up from 30 fps in the previous model) and new CMOS camera interface software (to handle the increased frame rate). Also on display was a second-generation version of the OptiCentric System for optical inspection, alignment, cementing, and assembly of optics, with a new automated focusing feature.
Ocean Optics
Ocean Optics demoed a laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) system for the microanalysis of solid materials at DSS. Produced in partnership with Photon Machines, the Insight LIBS System incorporates a rugged Nd:YAG laser with a broadband spectrometer (190 to 940 nm); a built-in timing control circuit synchronizes the two, and confocal video and laser planes ensure repeatability. No sample preparation is required, and the system achieves better than 0.1 nm resolution. The unit can be used in military field labs to detect explosives in fertilizer, or anthrax spores in the dust on a tank, for example.
Jenoptik
Jenoptik's Optical Systems Division introduced a new line of multiband, multispectral antireflective and filter coatings. The coatings were designed for screening and transmitting wavelengths that are spectrally far apart, and they meet durability and adhesion requirements of MIL-C-48497. They have applications in hyperspectral image fusion, which can reduce false positives in surveillance and target acquisition, and multispectral single-aperture optical systems, which can enable smaller, lighter optical solutions for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and other weight/size-restricted platforms.
Laser Operations / QPC Lasers
Laser Operations showcased a number of products from its QPC Lasers product line. Among them was a collimated version of the company's BrightLock Ultra-G green laser (which is also available as a fiber-coupled module), delivering up to 6 W of output power at 532 nm. Defense-related applications for the unit include long-range daylight target illumination and optical distraction/interruption (i.e. dazzler). The company also displayed a 1550 nm laser diode in a TO-can package that generates 25 W of peak output power.
StingRay Optics
StingRay held a special product demonstration of its recently released SuperBand lens assemblies, showing how they can be used InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide), InSb (indium antimonide), or QWIP (quantum well infrared photodetector) detectors. Currently available in 25, 50, and 100 mm focal lengths, SuperBand lenses enable achromatic imaging over a wide spectral region, ranging from visible to far-infrared wavelengths. The new assemblies are designed for use with cooled detectors offering an F/2.5 cold shield arrangement, but they are can also be used with 640 x 512, 15um FPA (focal plane array) formats.
Photonics Online
Congratulations to Scott Japczynski of Bruker Optics, who won the iPad 2 in our SPIE DSS 2011 prize drawing. And thanks to everyone else who visited us and signed up for the Photonics Online newsletter during the show. We look forward to serving you, and to seeing you next year in Baltimore.
