January 19, 2008, San Jose, Booth 6525 — XenICs has extended the wavelength areas of its proven high-detectivity and high-uniformity InSb detector cameras for the midwave infrared (MWIR) 3 to 5 μm area. New broadband versions now cover the extended area 1 to 5 μm. These crucial extensions are realized for both, the XMID-FPA-5.0-320 and -640. As before, both models continue to excel by their high flexibility in terms of frame rates and temperature ranges. The XenICs XMID Series supports numerous applications in all-weather and night vision applications such as in advanced landing aids for aircraft.
With its state-of-the-art 2D InSb detector array and Stirling cooler, the affordable XenICs XMID Series offer a standard resolution of 320 x 256 pixels at a pixel pitch of 30 μm, or high resolution of 640 x 512 at a pixel pitch of 20 μm. The pixel operability level is better than 99.5%. An excellent NETD figure is listed at typical 25mK. It now covers the extended wavelength area of 1 to 5 μm. The Stirling cooler allows for a detector operating temperature of approximately 80K. The cameras deliver 14-bit total dynamic range images. Frame rates are 60, 100 or 350 Hz for the XMID-320 version, whereas the XMID-640 is available as 25 and 90 Hz.
XenICs’ new broadband XMID Series is laid out for highly stable, PC-driven thermal imaging applications which request stable and predictable performance, besides aircraft landing systems, this applies especially in R&D situations that demand reliable imaging performance below 3 μm. Camera control is done via USB 2.0, image acquisition goes via USB 2.0 or CameraLink. The fully flexible exposure times of these snapshot cameras begin at 1 microsecond and go up to several milliseconds.
XenICs’ X-Control software is used to operate the cameras, setting camera control parameters as well as image acquisition. Moreover, as with all other XenICs cameras, a software development kit is available for programming in LabView, C# and Visual Basic.
The optical interface for these cameras is the bayonet mount. For the broadband XMID cameras, a variety of lenses with 25, 50 or 100 mm focal length is available. These lenses transmit from the laser line at 1.5 μm through the mid infrared (1.5 to 5 μm).
Due to the non-condensing housing construction, ambient humidity conditions are not a critical parameter. The dimensions of the XMID camera housing are 115 x 145 x 225 mm, weight including the power supply is at approximately 3.3 kg. XMID operates on a regular 12V/5A supply (XMID-320) or 28V/3.5A (XMID-640).