- News
10 January 2018
Sofradir launches smallest VGA SWIR detector, cutting costs for high-volume industrial imaging
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Sofradir of Palaiseau near Paris, France – a subsidiary of Safran and Thales that makes infrared (IR) detectors for aerospace, defense and commercial markets – has launched Snake SW Tecless, which is claimed to be the smallest-footprint high-resolution (VGA) shortwave infrared detector (SWIR).
Designed for high-volume industrial, scientific and surveillance applications (such as inspection, sorting, thermography or security monitoring tasks), Snake SW Tecless brings camera makers cost benefits while offering fast frame rates (300fps) and what is claimed to be an industry-leading signal-to-noise ratio - key factors affecting a camera’s ability to perform at its full capacity.
Snake SW Tecless is the first shortwave infrared detector without a cooler that Sofradir has commercialized. The new design furthers the firm’s capacity to bring compatible solutions to system developers seeking to identify defects or perform analysis of raw materials, among other vision tasks, going beyond the capabilities of visible cameras and aiming to increase manufacturing yields.
“We have shrunk the size of the IR detector to enable easier integration into small-footprint cameras, whilst achieving a frame rate that is compatible with most industrial in-line inspection requirements,” says Claire Valentin, VP marketing.
Using Sofradir’s proprietary indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) technology, Tecless’ new uncooled package (0.65 inch2/2.73cm2) is just one-fifth of the size of other Sofradir Snake SW detector products. Its compactness makes it suitable for:
- in-line inspection and sorting (notably machine vision for semiconductors, agricultural, pharmaceutical or chemical products);
- thermography (including hot process control in glass and metal industries); and
- addressing size, weight, power consumption and cost reduction (SWAP-C) needs in surveillance applications (such as traffic monitoring and transport security).
The new product is assembled using cost-efficient and high-volume processes adopted by CMOS image sensors. It is available in production volumes for camera or system integration.
Sofradir is exhibiting the Snake SW Tecless in booth 1746 at the SPIE Photonics West 2018 show in San Francisco, CA, USA (29 January - 1 February).
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