ABOUT US
Sensors Unlimited, a part of Collins Aerospace, is the world’s leading manufacturer of indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs)-based imaging products. As renowned experts in shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging, Sensors Unlimited, Inc. introduced the world to the concept of imaging in the shortwave IR spectrum with simple, compact, and uncooled cameras.
We offer a wide variety of InGaAs-based products, such as high performance, near-infrared (NIR) and SWIR cameras, and 1- and 2-dimensional focal plane arrays for use in military, aerospace, biomedical, commercial and industrial applications. Our in-house indium gallium arsenide III-V foundry features Class 100 clean rooms and an MOCVD epitaxial growth wafer fab, plus a 20,000 square foot detector manufacturing facility.
ADVANTAGES
The advanced InGaAs detector technology allows imaging in the SWIR without the necessity of an external cooling system. Other benefits of our proprietary sensor technology are low power consumption and the ability to image at high frame rates, a remarkable advantage over current uncooled microbolometer technology. Our NIR cameras deliver what thermal imagers cannot – clear, lifelike detection in daylight or lowlight. Small and compact, they operate at room temperature with no moving parts and can image through glass and plastic using off-the-shelf glass optics. Because our InGaAs cameras have non-uniformity corrections (NUCs) that last for the lifetime of the cameras, they do not need NUCs in the field, making operation simpler.
APPLICATIONS
InGaAs arrays and imagers are ideal for a wide variety of military, industrial, biomedical, telecommunications, scientific and commercial applications. These include:
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Collins Aerospace, a unit of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX), is a leader in technologically advanced and intelligent solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Created in 2018 by bringing together UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell Collins, Collins Aerospace has the capabilities, comprehensive portfolio and expertise to solve customers’ toughest challenges and to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global market.
PRODUCTS
INDUSTRIES & APPLICATIONS
As the U.S. continues to increase its security at border crossings, airports, and other points of entry, biometrics will play an important role. SWIR cameras can help identify disguises at the border and therefore supplement security efforts.
Manufacturers of glass hollowware have long sought a way to pick out defective product at the hot end of their process, while the pieces are still above 200ºC. At that glass inspection stage, rejects are identified, then shunted aside and reprocessed efficiently, greatly reducing scrap.
Responding to the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) has become the focus of U.S. Defense policy, and with that, the need for greater intelligence collection has moved upward in priority. Whereas past reconnaissance needs were more strategic in nature, today's needs are highly tactical, demanding a high level of persistence and the ability, in many cases, to identify individual humans in the field of interest. In recent years, the exceptional capabilities of short wave infrared (SWIR) technology have made SWIR the "Next Generation" of imaging technology for ground, airborne and space technology.
Innovative research and production of InGaAs material with high quantum efficiency (QE) and low dark current has made Sensors Unlimited the world leading supplier of linear photodiode arrays for IR spectroscopy camera systems.
Contactless machine-vision inspection using photoluminescence (PL) imaging with shortwave infrared (SWIR) cameras can help solar cell producers improve both efficiency and quality of their photovoltaic products. Inspection of silicon bulk ingots, sliced wafers, processed layers, and complete photovoltaic cells is possible with SWIR imaging.
Multi-spectral electroluminescence and SWIR imaging can be used to separately inspect multi-junction uniformity and relative output.
By using the 1.05 µm central wavelength, instrumentation companies are now developing systems to image deeper through the retina into the blood vessel layer (called the choroid) to diagnose eye diseases and monitor treatment.
Flying a Sensors Unlimited 640HSX InGaAs SWIR camera, the GHGSat’s microSat circles the Earth every 90 minutes collecting infrared images. Data from the microSat will enable industries to monitor and quantify their own carbon dioxide and methane emissions to better manage and reduce their impact on air quality.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sensors Unlimited – A part of Collins Aerospace
330 Carter Road, Suite 100
Princeton, NJ 08540-5914
UNITED STATES
Phone: 609-333-8200
Contact: Sales
VIDEOS
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![pw18-sui.jpg]( "What Can You Do With SWIR Imaging?")
Doug Malchow with Sensors Unlimited – A part of Collins Aerospace discusses SWIR imaging and why you should care about it. Watch the video for information on SWIR technology and how it can benefit your research – particularly where military, security, and industrial applications are concerned.
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![Why Use SWIR?]( "Why Use SWIR?")
At DCS 2017, Doug Malchow took us through a presentation on when and why you should use SWIR (short-wave infrared) technology for imaging applications.
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![Export Compliances For Sensors Unlimited Cameras]( "Export Compliances For Sensors Unlimited Cameras")
This year at Photonics West, Sensors Unlimited familiarized us with their export compliance guidelines for their line of cameras.
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![3 Considerations Before Purchasing A SWIR Imager]( "3 Considerations Before Purchasing A SWIR Imager")
At SPIE’s DCS 2016 exhibition, Sensors Unlimited – A part of Collins Aerospace, Brendan Murphy, spent some time with Photonics Online to school us up on the three primary things one should consider before purchasing a SWIR imager — resolution, global availability, and cost.
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![InGaAs Linear Arrays Relaunched]( "InGaAs Linear Arrays Relaunched")
Doug Malchow with Sensors Unlimited – A part of Collins Aerospace discusses the relaunch of his company's InGaAs linear arrays, provides an update on the export classifications of a 320x256 SWIR camera, and shares a quick refresher on their standard suite of SWIR cameras.
DOWNLOADS
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![image1]( "Detecting Disguises At Border And Immigration Security Checkpoints Using Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) Cameras")
As the U.S. continues to increase its security at border crossings, airports, and other points of entry, biometrics will play an important role. SWIR cameras can help identify disguises at the border and therefore supplement security efforts.
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![oct]( "Using SWIR For Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) High Resolution Imaging In Tissue")
By using the 1.05 µm central wavelength, instrumentation companies are now developing systems to image deeper through the retina into the blood vessel layer (called the choroid) to diagnose eye diseases and monitor treatment.
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![Capture]( "Using SWIR Spectroscopy For Light Investigation And Analysis")
Innovative research and production of InGaAs material with high quantum efficiency (QE) and low dark current has made Sensors Unlimited the world leading supplier of linear photodiode arrays for IR spectroscopy camera systems.
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![bucket image]( "Imaging Through Atmospheric Obscurants")
The Salt Lake City Valley in Utah sometimes experiences trapped air pollution in the atmosphere that severely reduces ground visibility. This article demonstrates the difference between using visible light and SWIR cameras to provide greater detail in imaging, even in challenging conditions.
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![ingaas-UTC]( "Why SWIR And InGaAs Are Useful")
Sensing in the shortwave infrared (SWIR) range (wavelengths from 0.9 to 1.7 microns) has been made practical by the development of indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) sensors. This white paper covers the importance of using InGaAs technologies in SWIR applications.
