Buying an NIR-SWIR camera for 1300 and 1550nm wavelengths

This is a list of camera manufacturers:

• Thorlabs
• Newport
• DataRay
• EdmundOptics
• Ophir Optronics / Spiricon
• FLIR Systems
• Princenton Instruments
• Hamamatsu
• Goodrich / Sensors Unlimited
• Xenics
• Allied Vision Technologies

Thorlabs

CCD and CMOS cameras from Thorlabs are only for VIS-NIR range (400-900nm typical, some reach 1100nm).

EdmundOptics

Edmund only has products for VIS, and some solutions for 1550nm:

• Using a standard VIS CCD camera, Edmund sells an High REsolution 1550nm converter NT56-764, it is a NIS-to-visible conversion phosphor layer
• An specific camera for 1550nm only.

Newport

Only one model covers required ranges: LBP4 beam profiler. Manufacturer declares that camera covers 350-1310 & 1550nm range. It is a CCD camera with an additional conversion coating (conversion phosphor?) sensible at 1550nm+/-50nm.

DataRay

Dataray cameras are available at three ranges:

• standard (350-1150nm)
• -1310 model (350-1350nm)
• -NIR model (1480-1680nm, uses conversion phosphor). Indeed, -NIR model is only useable in 1550nm window!.

WinCamD, BladeCam and TaperCamD are USB2.0 powered cameras with CCD & CMOS array sensors.

DataRay software can interface with third-party software. LabVIEW software is free available for WinCamD.

Ophir Optronics / Spiricom

Spiricom sells model SP-1550M, for 1550nm only (phosphor layer).

FLIR Systems

• Alpha NIR OBSOLETED InGaAs focal plane array (FPA), 320x256px, 30x30um pixel, 900-1700nm. Peltier stabilization to 0ºC. Output: 12 bit parallel.Alpha NIR camera is designed to use with National Instruments digital image acquisition board (IMAQ). FLIR provides software and hardware in the form of a LabVIEW virtual instrument (aka IRvista), IMAQ board and diital cable interface. Virtual instrument controls integration time setting, gain and other sensor parameters. The system allows the user to acquire and display 12-bit digital image data, change camera settings, calibrate camera and analyze the acquired data. FLIR also offers a comprehensive LabVIEW toolkit for users who wish to develop custom applications with Alpha NIR.
• Tau SWIR http://www.flir.com/cvs/cores/view/?id=51890&collectionid=602&col=51889 para montadores OEM. 640x512px.

Princenton Instruments

Has two possible solutions:

• OMAV linear array or discrete photodiodes (PDA), for 1000-2000nm spectroscopy
• PIoNIR InGaAs 2D camera for 400-1700nm 640x512px. PIoNIR employs powerful, thermoelectric (TE) peltier cooler (Air or Liquid assisted) for up to -90C cooling to reduce dark current. This is done without the use of liquid nitrogen for maintenance-free operation. Output format: Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), controlled by LightField software or Picam SDK. This model is, indeed, a focal plane array (FPA) a 2D photodiode array, 640x512 InGaAs focal plane array camera for visible and SWIR.

Hamamatsu

• C5840 is a DISCONTINUED PRODUCT. covers 400-1600nm, but it is an analogic camera (analogic output): we will need a capturer card (frame grabber) to make measurements
• C10633-13/C10633-23 is a 320x256px camera, with pixels of 30um size, without cooling, 900-1520nm. Datasheet is not very clear aboutoutput format: it has USB2.0 connector but also analogic output. Needs an external controller and frame-grabber??
• C10633-34 covers 40-1520nm. It has more pixels (640x512px), but does not have USB, it has RS-232, and very low frame rate (1.6fps). Requires external controller and frame grabber. Requieres cooling peltier and water.

Hamamatsu catalog about these models are not very clear. It it not clear about controlling software. Comes free with camera? Can be LabView controlled?.

Goodrich / Sensors Unlimited

Have many submodels in website. All are room temperature (non-cooling) InGaAs FPAs.

Sus productos pueden presentar restricciones a la exportación.

KT-Family

CameraLink of 12bits, C-mount external lenses

• SU640KTS-1.7RT meets CE requirements, AGC and NUC corrections, 30fps, EIA170, CameraLink 12bits and RS232 for commands and controls. 640x512px, 900-1700nm, 25um, for laser beam profiling. M42x1 mount with FD adaptor and C-mount lens included. 16mmx12.8mm Module dimmensions: 53x53x65mm, 270g.

• for pulsed events, pulsed laser beam and machine vision of moving objects SU320KTS-1.7RT and SU320KTSVis. 320x256px, 25um pitch AGC, NUC, works in constant-gain/variable-integration-time or constant integration time/variable gain. Simultaneous EIA-170 analog and CameraLink outputs 60fps. M42x1 lens mount, C-mount lens adaptor included 18ºFOV. Active area: 8mm x 6.4mm. Module dimmensions: 53x53x65mm 270g.

• Windowing Camera for very high framerate SU320KTSW-1.7RT and SU320KTSWVis High framerate in reduced ROI. EIA-170 analog 60fps and CameraLink 12bit simultaneous. On board AGC and NUC. 320x256px 25um pitch. M42x1 lens mount, with C-mount adapter inclided. 18ºFOV. Active area: 8 x 6.4mm. Module dimmensions: 53x53x65mm, 270g

• SU640KTSX-1.7RT, high-sensitivity, wide dynamic range, on-board AGC and NUCs. Simultaneous EIA170 analog and CameraLinks 12-bits outputs 30fps, 640x512px, 25um, emission microscopy, astronomy. M42x1 lens mount, C-mount adapter included 18ºFOV. Sensor 16x12.8mm. 900-1700nm standard, 700-1700nm in NIR/SWIR version. Module dimmensions: 53x53x65mm, 270g

• for high sensitivity SU320KTSX-1.7RT. 900-1700nm, 320x256px, 25um, High sensitivity, wide dynamic range. Onboard AGC and NUC. 900-1700nm. Simultaneous analog EIA170 and digital CameraLink 12bits 60fps, M42x1 and C-mount adapter 18ºFOV. Active area: 8mmx6.4mm Module dimensions: 53x53x65mm, 270g.

• for high sensitivity for passive surveillance and use with lasers SU320KTX-1.7RT High sensitivity wide dynamic range. on-board AGC and NUC. Simultaneous analog and CameraLink 12bits 60fps. 900-1700nm or 700-1700nm. 320x240px, 40um pithc, M42x1 and C-mount adaptor28º FOV. Active area: 12.8mmx9.6mm. Module dimmensions: 52x52x64mm, 270g

SD-Family

CameraLink of 14bits, bigger module, F- and FD-mount adapters not included.

• High sensitivity SU640SDX-1.7RT 640x512px 25um, AGC and NUC. EIA170 75ohm BNC and CameraLink 14 bits 30fps, 900-1700nm Active area: 16x12.8mm. Sensor a 17.3mm del mount flange. M42x1m optional F- and FD-mount adapters. no incluye adaptores. Taladros M6 en el bottom y M4 en el front. Camera body size 16x8x8cm, 1kg

• Windowing Camera high frame rate SU640SDWH-1.7RT and -Vis 15000fps with four ports. 640x512px 25um, EIA170 75ohm BNC analog and CameraLink 14bit. Active area: 16x12.8mm M42x1 thread, F-mount and FD-mount adaptors available. Sensor a 17.3mm del optical mount flange. Camera body with M4 and M6 holes. 16x8x8cm 1kg.

• Area Camera SU640SDV-1.7RT and -Vis 640x512 25um, wide field of view. EIA170 conector BNC de 75ohm and CameraLink 14bits. Extensive interactive commands. M42x1 thread, with F or FD adapters not included. Sensor focal plane a 17.3mm del mount flange. Taladros M6 y M4 en el camera body 16x8x8cm, 1kg. Active area: 16x12.8mm

J-Family

• Military Rugged GA1280J 1280x1024px, 15umpitch, 30fps, 900 to 1700nm or 700 to 1700nm. AGC and NUC. CameraLink 12bits (3M SDR26 connector). M42x1 mount lens. 19x15mm active area
• Military Rugged GA640C-15 640x512px 15um pitch CameraLink 12bits, 900 to 1700nm or 700 to 1700nm Lens mount M15x0.5. 9.6x7.7mm active area.

H-Family

SU640HSX-1.7RT 640x512px. SU320HX-1.7RT 320x240px, 40um. Both uncooled, Mil-Hardened, surveillance and maritime applications. AGC, NUC, Simultaneous RS170 analog and CameraLink 12bit. M42-1 to C-mount adapter.

SUI Image Analysis software is included on the support CD shipped with Goodrich cameras. Works with National Instruments frame-grabber cards via the LabVIEW® Run-time Engine when NI IMAQ imaging software driver is installed

SU320-1.7RT supported in National Instruments website.

Xenics

Suggested cameras for laser beam profiling are:

• XS-1.7-320 900-1700nm InGaAs FPA 320x256px, 30x30um pixel size, uncooled. Output by USB2.0, 60fps. Includes software Xcontrol (which provides simple measurements, CVS output array, histograms...). Xeneth API/SDK includes Labview controls, but it is not clear id this software is included with camera. This camera is outdated.
• Bobcat-1.7-320 has similar specifications (900-1700nm InGaAs FPA 320x256px, uncooled), but small pixel (20x20um), embedded DSP. Output: ethernet or CameraLink.

Other cameras

• XEVA-1.7-320 900-1700nm InGaAs FPA 320x256px, 30x30um pixel sixe, TEC cooled for super low dark current. Two gain modes. Output can be USB2.0 (100fps maximum) or CameraLink (350fps). Camera is delivered with a graphical user interface X-Control, which offers direct access to various camera settings such as exposure time and operating temperature.
• XEVA-1.7-640 provides more pixels but lower frame rate: 900-1700nm InGaAs FPA 640x512px, 20x20um pixel size, TEC cooled for super low dark current. Weight: 1.8kg. Four gain modes. Outputs: USB2.0 or CameraLink. Includes software Xcontrol.
• Cheetah-640CL 900-1700nm InGaAs 640x512px, cooling by Peltier. Special for high framerates: 1730fps with double channel CameraLink.

Xenics tiene distribuidor en España: Infaimon. Además, Infaimon alquila cámaras IR.

Allied Vision Technologies

• Goldeye P-032 SWIR camera is a 900-1700nm InGaAs 636x508px, 25x25um, 30fps, peltier cooling. Outputs GigE, CameraLink as option.
• Goldeye P-008 SWIR camera is a 900-1700nm InGaAs 320x256px, 30x30um, 100fps, peltier cooling. Outputs GigE, CameraLink as option.

Software can be downloaded free of charge, but no LabView drivers are provided.

National Instruments

This link provides a list of tested cameras. CameraLink compatible cameras need a file with camera and framegrabber parameters. A software is available to generate this file. A FTP with generated files is available.