First Sensor’s X series of photodiodes is utilized to detect alpha, beta, gamma, and X-ray radiation either directly through the absorption in the crystal lattice or indirectly through the measurement of the luminescence radiation of a scintillation crystal. The series features optimized silicon PIN photodiodes that form wide, fully depleted space-charge regions to guarantee maximum radiation absorption, even at low reverse voltages.
First Sensor offers the HTD series of piezoresistive differential pressure sensors for use in low pressure ranges and demanding space constrictions. These high-performance, high-accuracy sensors allow for flexible direct manifold assemblies. A digital SPI interface and analog voltage output provides the maximum flexibility for any type of application.
Opto Diode introduces two new 13.5 nm directly-deposited thin-film filter photodetectors ideal for electrical performance in many applications, including laser power monitoring, semiconductor photolithography, and metrology systems that utilize extreme ultraviolet light. The SXUV100TF135 and SXUV100TF135B feature a 100 mm2 active area, detection capabilities between 12 nm and 18 nm, and a responsivity of 0.09 A/W at 13.5 nm.
SCHOTT Electronic Packaging manufactures custom-made, hermetically-sealed, autoclavable Eternaloc® connectors and feedthroughs made with Glass-to-Metal Sealing (GTMS) or Ceramic-to-Metal Sealing technology (CerTMS®). SCHOTT also produces provide sensor housings offering complete protection with a hermetic seal that helps prevent moisture from seeping into the the housing and causing damage and corrosion to internally-housed electronics components. A wide selection of Transistor Outline (TO) housings are also available.
Opto Diode now offers the new BXT2-17TF single-channel infrared (IR) detector designed to provide excellent sensitivity for industrial carbon monoxide (CO) detection in harsh environments. With an integrated 4.67 µm optical bandpass silicon filter and a thermistor, this thermoelectrically-cooled device features excellent performance and high reliability for long life use.
Abrisa Technologies now offers the innovative High Ion-Exchange (HIE™) Asahi Glass Corporation (AGC) Dragontrail™ aluminosilicate glass for cover glass, display, sensor, and scanner technologies. Dragontrail supports low profile, reduced weight, portable field, and industrial devices with a toughness of 6x that of soda lime float. It is designed to enhance the usable lifetime of high contact touch displays, and industrial image sensors, document scanners, and on board vehicular and avionics displays.
Imec, the world-leading research and innovation hub in nano-electronics and digital technology, will demonstrate recently at its Imec Technology Forum in Antwerp (ITF Belgium 2018), a new wireless eye-tracking technology based on electro-oculography (EOG), an ophthalmology technique used to examine eyes and record eye movement.
On the last day of SPIE’s 2016 DCS exhibition in Baltimore, Kevin Fogarty with Canon showed us a 19 micron pixel pitch sensor that can achieve a full color and high definition image in extremely low light environments.
This year at SPIE’s DCS exhibition, Donna with DSI gave us a quick on-location hello from the show floor before turning it over to principle investigator Kevin Gibbons so that he could offer some advice on what you should consider before determining an optical coating’s specifications for sensing applications.
Marco Snikkers wrapped up our Photonics West 2016 coverage by introducing us to a pixel sensor that acts as an 8-channel spectrometer for biomedical, fluorescence marking, and colorimeter applications, as well as a multi-spectral camera that can monitor specific wavelengths in real-time.
Sensors Unlimited — UTC Aerospace Systems cut the ribbon on their new facility on September 17th, 2014. Doug Malchow spent a few minutes with us explaining how the move to a bigger and better place has already resulted in better quality imaging detectors with lower defects, lower bad pixel counts, and much lower dark current.
Jeff Eng, applications engineer with Hamamatsu, shows us a MEMS FTIR engine for IR spectroscopy instruments that works in applications involving gas sensing, materials analysis, and point of care devices. He also introduces us to 2D InGaAs image sensors for thermal imaging monitors, NIR image detection, and foreign object detection; compact radiation detectors; and more.
Excelitas and Qioptiq have joined together to provide custom optics manufacturing and a wide array of sensor offerings for various applications.
Opto Diode’s national sales manager Stan Duda kept us up to date on some new developments at Opto Diode. Watch the video to learn more about a new EUV compatible position sensing detector covering the 0.1 nm to 400 nm spectral range.
LIGHT SENSORS & DETECTORS
A light sensor is a device senses or detects light. Various available kinds of light sensors and detectors function in different ways to give required results.
Active pixel sensors which are image sensors comprises of an integrated circuit with a number of pixel sensors. Each individual pixel has a light sensor as well as an active amplifier.
Charge-coupled devices (CCD)
These are applied in recording of images in astronomy, digital cinematography and digital photography.
Chemical detectors
A silver halide molecule is split into an atom of metallic silver and a halogen atom; the photographic developer causes adjacent molecules to split similarly. An example is a photographic plate.
Cryogenic detectors
They are sensitive enough to measure and determine the energy of single x-ray, visible and infrared photons.
Optical detectors
They are normally quantum devices where individual photons produces a discrete effect when exposed to light. This makes Optical detectors to behave like thermometers by responding solely to the heating effect of the incoming radiation.
Photo resistors or Light Dependent Resistors (LDR)
They change resistance according to light intensity. The light then can be measured or determined by measuring the resistance.
Photovoltaic cells or solar cells
When Illuminated they produce a voltage and supply an electric current. Which means the level of illumination is directly dependent on the amount of light being supplied.
Photomultiplier tubes
They contain a photocathode that emits electrons when illuminated. A chain of diodes then can be used to amplify the electrons.
Photo tubes
These contain a photo cathode which when illuminated emit electrons making the tube to conduct an electric current that is proportional to the light intensity.
Proximity Sensors
Has two photodiode arrays which convert light into current; one photodiode array responds to ambient light and the other responds only to infrared light; when joined with an infrared LED, this second LED array can operate as a proximity sensor.
Ambient Light Sensing Application
Ambient light sensors are incorporated in various laptops as well as cell phones to detect the lighting in the surrounding environment and appropriately adjust the backlight of the screen.
