Leuven, Belgium, 23. August 2011 — Xenics, Europe’s leading developer and manufacturer of advanced infrared detectors and customized imaging solutions, presents its new SWIR line-scan camera in InGaAs technology with highest available resolution. The Lynx-1.7-2048 features 2048 pixels with 12.5 μm pixel pitch and offers various programmable configurations ranging from a high sensitivity mode to a high dynamic range mode and a frame rate up to 10 kHz. The camera is fully optimized for integration in advanced solutions in industrial image processing, medical electronics, hyperspectral imaging and spectroscopy.
With its innovative SWIR line-scan camera Lynx-1,7-2048, Xenics is conquering the near infrared realm between 0.9 and 1.7 μm for highestresolution InGaAs linescan cameras. It provides high optical sensitivity and a broad dynamic range well suited for industrial image processing and optical coherence tomography (OCT) in advanced medical and industrial applications.
The new camera is based on Xenics’ proven linear sensor series Xlin. It offers a line length of 2048 pixels at a pixel grid of 12.5 μm and pixel heights of 12.5 or 250 μm to cover a wide range of high-resolution industrial and spectroscopy applications. Compared to earlier solutions with complex multicamera configurations this highest resolution linescan camera guarantees simpler and cheaper solutions for demanding applications. Essentially the InGaAs technology enables room temperature operation for wavelengths up to 1.7 μm. Nevertheless the new line-scan camera comes standard with a single-stage thermoelectric cooling, which can be expanded to three-stage cooling for an even higher signal/noise ratio. In this way small signals in Raman or Photoluminescence Spectroscopy can be readily measured. The camera has a spectrometer flange and it can be equipped with C-mount compatible lenses and filters.
The new line-scan camera offers a broad range of advanced techniques featured across the Xenics camera portfolio. The analog signal outputs of the InGaAs photodiodes are pre-processed on-chip via two CMOS read-out ICs (ROIC) with five integration capacities selectable individually or collectively at runtime. This yields a wide range of conversion characteristics to adapt to the required pixel size and application. Correlated double sampling compensates offset and reset noise, while a subsequent sample/hold stage decouples readout from integration. An analog multiplexer and pad driver transfers all pixel values sequentially to the camera’s external analog/digital converter.
Lynx-1.7-2048 delivers an ultra fast line rate of 10 kHz for the acquisition of fast moving objects. It makes system integration easy through its very flexible user interface. The outputs are 14-bit image data via the fast CameraLink or its GigE Vision compatible Gigabit-Ethernet connection. Camera control and parameter selection is provided through a serial interface. Trigger inputs and outputs will synchronize image capturing with selected external events. A GPIO covering 2 inputs and 2 outputs allows interfacing dynamically to PLC or PWM controlled systems.
With this set of advanced features, the new Lynx-1.7-2048 is well suited for near-infrared spectroscopy and image processing as a reliable quality assurance tool to uncover internal defects with highest resolution in the objects under test. Because of the fact, that SWIR wavelengths penetrate deeper in material, they enable a look behind the surface and help to control the manufacturing of multi layered structures to reduce waste, save energy and raise the yield. Also, highly sensitive SWIR cameras can analyze the weak electro-luminescence of solar modules and thereby help increase quality and manufacturing throughput.
A very interesting future use area of spectroscopy is optical coherence tomography (OCT), which promises annual growth rates of 60 percent. Nearinfrared OCT can capture cross sectional images of human skin without the need to take invasive actions. As such Lynx offers a perfect tool for integration in systems for skin cancer detection. With its experience in hyperspectral imaging Xenics is involved in various satellite based research programs for remote sensing of vegetation properties which can provide solutions for demanding nutrition and environmental problems.
