SWIR Image Sensors

See the Unseen

Introduction

Outside of the typical visible light spectrum lies a range of longer wavelengths, the infrared range. This range is typically separated into four segments: Long Wave (LWIR) 8-12 µm, Mid Wave (MWIR) 3-5 µm, Short Wave (SWIR) 1.0-2.5 µm, and Near (NIR) 0.7-1.0 µm Infrared. The latter two are typically considered most similar to visible wavelengths with a light source and a target. The longer wavebands are emitted by objects due to their temperature. 

Though NIR and SWIR act similarly toĀ visibleĀ light, they are not visible to the human eye. As a result, these spectrums presentĀ valuableĀ informationĀ whichĀ can show artifacts or damage that wouldĀ otherwiseĀ not be seen.Ā Click hereĀ to see some examples of how SWIR is being used in existing applications today.Ā Ā 

Pixel Architecture

Many CMOS sensors are able to see into the NIR range with their standard architecture but cannot see into the SWIR range. These silicon sensors have an upper range limit around 1.0 µm. To look deeper into the SWIR range, InGaAs is used as a sensor material. It is a semiconductor grown with a specific ratio of (Indium, Gallium and Arsenic) giving it a spectral response of 1.1-1.7 µm. The typical drawback to these sensors is that they cannot see the shorter, visible color wavelengths due to the manufacturing process.  

For applications that want to see in both the visible and SWIR ranges,Ā two sensorsĀ areĀ needed to seeĀ theseĀ independentlyĀ andĀ thenĀ their imagesĀ canĀ be mergedĀ into one. This can be challenging to do as theĀ cameras and captured imagesĀ need to have similar fields of view,Ā andĀ opticsĀ being positioned very close to each other to minimize anyĀ disparity. This process often has alignment issues in the final images that make them difficult to get the best resultsĀ forĀ a given application. New technology and sensorĀ substrates are being developed that are making it possible to overcome these challenges with only a few drawbacksĀ or sacrifices.Ā Ā 

Sony’sĀ SenSWIRĀ TechnologyĀ 

The demand for higher productivity is driving the growing interest in image capture in both the visible spectrum and SWIR wavelengths.Ā SenSWIRĀ from SonyĀ can captureĀ wavelengths from 0.4 – 1.7 µmĀ allowingĀ oneĀ image sensorĀ to see both the visible andĀ SWIR spectrums of lightĀ simultaneously.Ā For this reason, the market trend for SWIR sensors is promising and technical developments are progressing rapidly.Ā Do you already knowĀ SenSWIR?Ā 

Sony’sĀ SenSWIRĀ technology,Ā leverages Sony’sĀ semiconductor processing and theirĀ copper-to-copper connectionĀ producing smaller pixels, not otherwise available withĀ InGaAsĀ sensors. As a result, smaller high-resolution cameras can be developed, which can support higher inspection precision.Ā 

Image Source: https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/e/products/IS/industry/technology/swir.html

Discover several ways to benefit from Sony’s first-class SWIR solutions

The demand for higher productivity is driving the growing interest in image capture in both the visible spectrum and SWIR wavelengths. For this reason, the market trend for SWIR sensors is promising and technical developments are progressing rapidly.Ā 

Under visible light

Under SWIR imaging conditions

Image Source: https://www.sony-semicon.co.jp/e/products/IS/industry/technology/swir.html

Explore the advantages in a variety of applications

Sorting of Products

Ideal for applications such as sorting fruits and vegetables, as light in the SWIR band enables detection of moisture content, which is difficult to determine under visible light.

Foreign Material Inspection

Properties of light absorption and reflection in SWIR imaging are applied to distinguish substances that would be difficult to differentiate under visible light alone.

Semiconductor Inspection

Light in the SWIR band passes through material made of silicon. This aspect of SWIR imaging is applied in semiconductor production and inspection.

Temperature Estimation

Around hot objects, light in the SWIR band shines quite brightly. Temperature can be estimated from differences in brightness among several wavelengths. This is used to estimate the temperature of welds or other hot areas.

Remote Observation

Light in the SWIR band has longer wavelengths than visible light. This makes the light less susceptible to scattering, thus apply SWIR imaging successfully in remote observation.

Learn more details about the possibilities provided by Sony’s SWIR technology

In IMX990 and IMX991, SenSWIR technology has enabled Sony to overcome challenges in pixel miniaturization to offer sensors that are compact, high-resolution, and capable of imaging from the visible spectrum to SWIR wavelengths.

The advances in performance and functionality introduced by the IMX990 and IMX991 pave the way for the development of SWIR industrial cameras and inspection equipment for a diverse range of applications such as inspection, identification, and measurement.Ā 

Sensors

Sony IMX991-AABJ ES
Sony CMOS Global shutter SWIR, 0.34 MP, 656 x 520, 1/4 inch, 5 x 5 µm, 240 fps, SLVS, LGA (Ceramic) TEC less,
Sony IMX991-AABA ES
Sony CMOS Global shutter SWIR, 0.34 MP, 656 x 520, 1/4 inch, 5 x 5 µm, 240 fps, SLVS, PGA (Ceramic) TEC | with built-in...
Sony IMX990-AABJ ES
Sony CMOS Global shutter SWIR, 1.34 MP, 1296 x 1032, 1/2 inch, 5 x 5 µm, 120 fps, SLVS, LGA (Ceramic) TEC less,
Sony IMX990-AABA ES
Sony CMOS Global shutter SWIR, 1.34 MP, 1296 x 1032, 1/2 inch, 5 x 5 µm, 120 fps, SLVS, PGA (Ceramic) TEC | with built-in...

Evaluation Kits

Sony IMX991-AABJ EVB-Kit
Sensor evaluation kit, Sony, Uncooled PKG | Includes: IMX990EVB-DBF, IMX990EVB-MCB, IMXEVB-CUE3S, and a sensor.
Sony IMX991-AABA EVB-Kit
Sensor evaluation kit, Sony, Cool PKG | includes: IMX990EVB-DAF, IMX990EVB-MCA, IMXEVB-CUE3S, and a sensor.
Sony IMX990-AABJ EVB-Kit
Sensor evaluation kit, Sony, optics: C, Uncooled PKG | Includes: IMX990EVB-DBF, IMX990EVB-MCB, IMXEVB-CUE3S, and a sensor.
Sony IMX990-AABA EVB-Kit
Sensor evaluation kit, Sony, optics: C, Cool PKG | includes: IMX990EVB-DAF, IMX990EVB-MCA, IMXEVB-CUE3S, and a sensor.

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