This application note provides information on the benefits of SWIR imaging in harsh or low-light level conditions, and PG&O's capabilities in manufacturing optical components for SWIR imaging.
With growing applications in industrial 3D metrology, machine vision, automotive obstacle avoidance, security and security, and other digital imaging applications, the demand for optical and image sensors has also grown.
Embedding photonic functionalities into an integrated optical chip can often simplify and reduce the size of a system. This white paper introduces the basic concepts of photonic integration with a goal to help the reader understand how it can improve optical systems.
LASER COMPONENTS delivers Spatial Light Modulators (SLM) as adaptive optical elements that modulate light spatially in amplitude or phase. The available devices are based on either reflective (LCOS) or translucent (LCD) liquid crystal microdisplays.
FLIR offers the Boson® longwave infrared (LWIR) thermal camera using XIR™ expandable infrared video processing architecture to enable advanced image processing, video analytics, peripheral sensor drivers, and several industry-standard communication interfaces while maintaining low power consumption. Setting a new standard for size, weight, and power (SWaP), this core includes a 12µm pitch vanadium oxide (VOx) uncooled detector in 640 x 512 or 320 x 256 resolutions.
LASER COMPONENTS offers Diffractive Optical Elements (DOEs) designed for use as multi-spot beam splitters, in-beam shaping, and beam profile modification in applications with lasers and high-power lasers. Off-the-shelf DOEs are available in almost any desired pattern, and standard plastic DOEs are quickly available for low to medium power laser modules.
To support infotainment and HUD augmented reality displays and enhanced vision systems, Abrisa Technologies offers solutions manufactured from on-hand technologies and float glass, complete with custom features and edge fabrication, strengthening, graphics, coating, and oleophobics.
FLIR offers mid-wave infrared (MWIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) focal plane arrays (FPAs) to be mounted on 84-pin leadless chip carriers, customer supplied substrates, or integrated detector dewar/cooler assemblies. From handheld cameras, which use a single channel, video rate output to high-speed scientific testing where multiple outputs and dynamic windowing are needed, these focal plane arrays surpass the requirements.
SCHOTT Electronic Packaging offers the HermeS® glass substrate wafer with hermetically sealed solid “Through Glass Vias” (TGV) designed to enable fully gastight and long-term robust enclosures for MEMS devices such as industrial hermetic MEMS sensors, medical MEMS, and RF MEMS. It features fine-pitched vias that allow for reliable conduction of electrical signals and power into and out of MEMS devices.
Optics
Optics is an interesting subset of physics. It is the study of light and how it can be used in various industries from measurements to biology as well as photography to navigation. Optics is a fascinating field and we are just beginning to scratch the surface with what we know. One of the most interesting developments in optics is the use of fiber optics in the transmission of data. Light is used to transmit data across long distances and this has proved to be efficient as well as inexpensive.
Light is the fasted trailing particle in the universe and it is radiated from one point to the next in the form of waves. Light in a vacuum can travel at an astonishing 300 million meters per second, a speed that would take it to the moon in just about one second. Optics is primarily concerned with the use of light and how the light can be reflected, refracted, bent or manipulated in just about any way. The unique nature of light gives tremendous benefits in using it in various industries. Optics is no one of the ways where light can be used to store data. It seems that anything electrons have done in the past, light waves are able to do, just able to do it faster. In the beginning copper cables were used to transmit electrical pulses in network data transfer. While at that time it was a breakthrough, it was comparatively slow to the movement of light through fiber optics. Once fiber optics replaced, broad band speeds were achieved. All thanks to optics. The uses of optics can advance further with headway being made in fields of defense as well as medicine. Optics are now being used to return sight to the blind as well as create sight for robots.
