Infra-Red - Seeing in the Dark!

Oct. 6, 2010 - PRLog -- A state-of-the-art optics manufacturer for more than 40 years, Kowa introduces their new, 1 inch Near Infrared / Short Wave Infrared (NIR/SWIR) lens series, (HC-SW) utilizing focal lengths of 25mm, 35mm and 50mm.

This new 1” SWIR lens series http://www.aegis-elec.com/products/kowa-lens.html is specifically designed for the new generation of NIR/SWIR camera applications. Through manufacturing innovations, high quality lens have been produced using a special Kowa coating technology and unique glass material. The HC-SW series maintains high sensitivity at wavelengths from 800nm to 2.000 nanometer (nm).   A nm is the most common unit used to measure the wavelength of light, where visible light falls in the region of 400–700 nm.





Kowa 1" SWIR Lens

All 1-inch lenses in the NIR/SWIR series includes, locking screws for iris and focus, metal mount (C mount), and metal housings.

The 1 inch, HC-SW lens Series:

Name                                         Focal length            Sensor size                F-stop

LM25HC-SW                                    25                      1 inch                        1.4-16

LM35HC-SW                                    35                      1 inch                        1.4-1.6

LM50HC-SW                                    50                      1 inch                        1.4-16

Pixelink produces the high performance PL-B782F and PL-B782G, 6.6 mega pixel color cameras designed for a wide range of industrial imaging applications.  The Kowa 1” HC-SW lens is a perfect fit for these CMOS sensor architecture cameras.

CMOS and CCD imagers are excellent devices that continue to evolve to meet the needs of the military. Designed for high-resolution operation at low light levels in portable and unmanned aerial vehicle applications, NIR/SWIR lenses are utilized where other detectors or cameras are not sensitive enough for the finite detail recognition required.  Shortwave infrared (SWIR) cameras allow 24 hour imaging capabilities for night surveillance with optimal clarity.  This day-to-night imaging ability enables cameras to see light wavelengths from 0.7-1.7 µm, while allowing the user the ability to detect and track range of military lasers.  This camera will fit most unmanned aerial or ground vehicles, and with this high-speed imaging and tracking lens, specific target recognition can be accomplished.  Pinpoint accuracy and clear identification, so very useful in covert and fixed site surveillance missions, can be accomplished in starlight, under overcast skies, or in full daylight.

These lenses, coupled with thermal imaging, can detect the presence of a warm object against a cool background, however, with this SWIR lens, actual identification of that object is possible.  In the military world, the serious problem of determining whether a threatening vehicle is a civilian truck or a military tank is crucial. SWIR can help with this friend-or-foe determination, optimizing and lessening errors and casualities.

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Aegis Electonic Group, Inc., http://www.aegis-elec.com/ specializes in the distribution, integration & support of visible and Near IR cameras, components and modified integrated system solutions for industrial broadcasting, military, medical, remote monitoring/security and machine vision imaging applications.