The latest developments in the field of improving the performance, reducing the size and energy consumption of thermal imagers offer unprecedented opportunities not only to combat units, but also to law enforcement and commercial structures, which is perfectly demonstrated by the images taken by the device manufactured by FLIR Systems.
In order to meet the stringent combat requirements regarding the detection, recognition and identification of targets in any light and in any weather, the capabilities of medium-wave and long-wave infrared devices are constantly increasing by improving their characteristics and reducing their weight and size and energy consumption parameters.
Sensitivity, resolution, and signal-to-noise ratio are key parameters in highly efficient cooled and smaller uncooled systems. Developments in the field of shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging of the electromagnetic range (0.9 to 1.7 microns) are expected to be in demand in a wide range of military imaging and sensing applications. Collecting and synthesizing images from detection equipment has become a dominant need in combat operations, leading to dual-sensor devices for dismounted operations. ITT Exelis' i-Aware TM NVG (Tactical Mobility Night Vision Goggles) night vision goggles, which combine an image intensifier with an uncooled thermal imager, as well as numerous optoelectronic / infrared systems for ground and air applications are a good example in this case. In the case of small drones, these developments also made it possible to move from single-sensor to dual-sensor configurations of on-board equipment, while the development of electronics for generalization of data onboard sensors made it possible to increase the situational awareness of the soldier by reducing the time required to identify targets.
The third and latest generation of infrared systems provides enhanced capabilities such as high pixel counts, high frame rates, better thermal resolution, and multi-color functionality and built-in signal processing for color and non-color video converter matrices. In third generation systems, three detector technologies are currently being developed:
• cadmium and mercury telluride (MCT - mercury-cadmium-telluride) also known as HgCdTe;
• infrared photodetector on quantum wells - Quantum-Well Infrared Photodetector (QWIP);
• superlattices (SLS) with stressed layers of type-II based on antimonides.
At present, cadmium-mercury telluride is the most widespread semiconductor material for infrared photodetectors, and it is expected that due to the properties of this material, its possibilities and field of application will only expand.
The very compact QWIP photodetector (384x288 matrix, 25 µm pixel pitch, long-wave infrared) from Sofradir is well suited for vehicle-mounted systems such as Thales' Catherine-XP TI. The picture shows in a stationary version
Since QWIP photodetector technology is at an early stage of development, a relatively new type-II superlattice structure based on InAS / Galnsb (Indium Antimonide / Gallium Indium Antimonide) may well become an alternative to MCT technology in long wavelengths. spectrum. VOx (Vanadium Oxide) microbolometric array is currently the most common technology in uncooled detectors. More of them are produced than all other infrared arrays combined, and this trend is expected to intensify in the near future. Meanwhile, the development of thermal imaging cameras continues, for example, DRS is working on miniaturization of long-wave (LWIR) cameras under the Aware program (Advanced Wide-field-of-view Architecture for image Reconstruction and Exploitation - a modern architecture with a wide field of view for image recovery and use), issued by the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the United States Department of Defense (Darpa). This program was launched with the aim of increasing the field of view, resolution and day / night capabilities of thermal imagers with reduced weight, size and power consumption characteristics and cost. The development and further development of thermal imagers operating in the short-wave infrared region of the spectrum contribute to additional support for combat operations. Thermal imagers of this type offer several advantages, including: operation under starlight (they can receive an adequate amount of light from subtle natural phenomena known as atmospheric night glow), imaging near the visible spectrum, detection of hidden targets in the dark, camouflage permeability, and finally, the ability to display beacons and lasers used in night vision goggles.
American suppliers
Flir Systems
Flir Systems manufactures a variety of video camera modules and matrices for integration into larger systems. Flir's portfolio of longwave sensors has recently expanded with the uncooled Quark and Tau 2 sensors. The Quark uncooled vanadium oxide microbolometer is available in 640x512 or 336x256 video transducer array resolutions with 17 micron pixel pitch. It is reported to be the smallest in the world and, as a result, the "unrivaled" option for small drones. It measures 17 x 22 x 22 mm, weighs between 18.3 and 28.8 grams (depending on lenses) and has a power consumption of less than one watt. The very compact dimensions allowed the Danish company Sky-Watch to replace one sensor with two in its Huginn Xl drone weighing 1.5 kg. Now he is able to use both the thermal Quark 640 and the conventional camera. Aerovironment continues to upgrade hundreds of its Quark-based Raven Mantis UAVs. The new firm Trillium has launched a universal joint based on the Quark matrix measuring 6, 35 cm and weighing 227 grams.
Flir Systems' uncooled Quark microbolometer is considered the smallest in the world. It is available with 640 x 512 or 336 x 256 video converter matrix resolution and 17 micron pixel pitch
The new generation Tau 2 family of uncooled thermal imagers comes with improved electronics in three formats (Tau 640x512, 336x256 and 324x256) with two pixel pitch (17 microns for 640/336 and 25 microns for 324) for a variety of applications, including remote controlled machines, for example Canadian heliport Draganfly X6, Desert Hawk III UAVs from Lockheed Martin and Puma from Aerovironment. The Tau array has been used in hundreds of unattended ground-based situational awareness sensors manufactured by NGC Xetron, L-3 Nova Engineering and Digital Force Technologies.
Presentation of the FLIR H-Series Tactical Thermal Night Vision Camera with my subtitles
Flir introduces the Photon HRC with one of the smallest 640x512 sensors among medium wave chilled cameras. An indium antimonide matrix with a 15 micron pitch weighs less than 454 grams and is used in a wide variety of applications. In the same range, Flir offers several more of its products. It is the smallest and lightest Neutrino camera on an indium antimonide 640x512, 15 micron sensor, as well as a family of very compact MCT 640x512 detectors based on µCore-275Z and Min-Core HRC sensors with continuous optical zoom, eliminating the need for multiple lenses, advanced image processing and optics with multiple fields of view. It is reported that the base model µCore-275Z has a range of detection, recognition and identification of humans and machines, respectively, 9, 2, 2, 9, 1, 2 and 15, 5, 6 and 3, 3 km. Finally, Flir offers the Tau camera with a 640x512 or 320x240 25 micron gallium arsenide sensor. Both options weigh just 130 grams with an M24 lens, making them ideal for small cars and battery-powered surveillance devices.
The next generation Tau 2 Flir Systems family of uncooled LWIR thermal imagers features improved electronics and is available for a variety of applications, including small drones such as Canada's Draganfly X6 and Lockheed Martin's Desert Hawk III (pictured)
RAYTHEON
Raytheon, also a global leader in uncooled and cooled thermal imagers, offers the broadest range of products for space, sea, air, land and dismounted applications. Raytheon offers an expanded range of aerial multisensor kits, integrating medium and long wave cooled thermal imaging cameras into controlled and remote controlled platforms.
On the other hand, its uncooled detector technology is primarily intended for terrestrial applications; The rugged and extremely lightweight PhantomIRxr binoculars and thermal imaging scopes capture targets day and night, in smoke and fog. Tracked and wheeled vehicles, equipped with Raytheon's DVE driver vision amplifier, do not lose maneuverability day or night, including full mobility in fog and haze. Raytheon offers an uncooled long wavelength Vox sensor in 320x240 and 640x480 in 25 micron pitch, while it offers an uncooled 640x512, 1280x1024 and 1920x512 image sensor in 20 micron pitch.
L3
At the AUVSI unmanned systems show, L3 Cincinnati Electronics showcased its new Night Warrior µCam 640 medium wave system, which the company claims is one of the smallest cooled thermal imagers. This thermal imager is based on a 640x512 matrix with 15 micron pitch and HOT (High Operating Temperature) technology. It operates at higher temperatures than indium antimonide products, producing the highest quality imaging comparable to uncooled thermal imaging systems. Weighing less than 500 grams and consuming 6 watts, the NightWarrior 640 is sized for a C battery (also designated R14, 343, Baby), allowing it to be added to systems that previously could only be used by uncooled devices. L-3 CE engineers designed the NightWarrior 640 for easy integration into a variety of applications, from handheld devices to remotely controlled weapon stations. L3 CE is considering a variety of optical options including mid-range 250mm lenses.
BAE
At the same show, BAE Systems showed what it calls the smallest (weighing only 144 grams) multispectral camera designed for installation on small drones. The company also introduced a system with its own processing of sensor data and their integration in order to improve the situational awareness of the soldier by reducing the time for identifying targets. Thanks to the new Digitally Fused Sensor System (DFSS), the innovative sensor combines the image from a high-sensitivity night vision camera and the image from an uncooled long-wave thermal imager (supplied by BAE Systems for weapon systems scopes) on a single display, which allows soldiers in the shortest possible time intuitively assess the scene using a remote-controlled device. With this type of fusion technology, soldiers don't have to switch back and forth between daytime and infrared cameras, according to BAE Systems. A set of multispectral sensors was shown on a drone with four Air Robot AR-100B rotors. The system adjusts itself to the external conditions of each task, so the operator does not need to choose between a day or infrared sensor before starting. BAE Systems is exploring the possibility of using a full color night vision camera in addition to a laser pointer and uncooled thermal imager. This system is being tested by the United States Special Operations Command. The possibility of obtaining digital image data at ranges of up to 3500 meters is also being considered.
The innovative sensor combines the image from a highly sensitive night vision camera and the image from an uncooled long-wave thermal imager (supplied by BAE Systems for weapon scopes) into a single image thanks to the new digital image fusion system Digitally Fused Sensor System (DFSS)
SWIR and LWIR thermal imaging cameras from UTC Sensors Unlimited are used by subsidiary Cloud Cap Technology to create a family of Tase optoelectronic stations, including the Tase 150 for small drones.
UTC company
UTC Aerospace Systems - Sensors Unlimited offers a complete line of SWIR (far [short wave] infrared) imaging products. Last April, Sensors Unlimited introduced a new generation indium-gallium arsenide SWIR camera with reduced weight and size and power consumption characteristics and high sensitivity due to a 640x512 pixel matrix with a pixel pitch of 12.5 microns, using proprietary image enhancement algorithms.
This camera weighs less than 55 grams and has a power consumption of up to 3W, providing real-time images under various lighting conditions (from daylight to low light), thermal imaging that can "see" through fog, haze and smoke screen, as well as laser targeting … In April 2012, Sensors Unlimited introduced the new GA640C-15 A "Cubic Inch" uncooled camera with a resolution of 640x512 pixels in 15 micron increments. Weighing less than 26 grams without lens and only 1.5 W power consumption, it is an ideal candidate for integration into dismounted soldier solutions. Short- and long-wave thermal cameras are being used by subsidiary Cloud Cap Technology to create a family of Tase optoelectronic stations, including the Tase 150 for small drones.
The smallest of the family of micro-stations offered by UTC Cloud Cap Technology includes the 900-gram Tase 150, which includes a 640x480 full-frame imager with two modes (image enhancement and thermal imager), a miniature GPS / INS system and associated interfaces
DRS company
DRS Technologies is a leading manufacturer of uncooled vanadium oxide microbolometer (Vox) chambers and refrigerated cadmium mercury telluride (MCT) chambers. It was the first company to offer 17 micron pitch uncooled imagers and more recently 12 micron MCT thermal imagers. DRS Technologies is the primary supplier to the US Army and many drone manufacturers. The ultra-compact device Tamarisk 320 has a light weight (30 grams), low power consumption (750 milliwatts). Its core is a VOx 320x240 microbolometer with 17 micron pitch and uncooled NIR technology. It is offered either as a standalone camera or as a configurable module with different lenses and frame rates. In February 2013, DRS Technologies introduced the Tamarisk TI 640x480 variant, which provides excellent quality in a small size (46x40x31 mm without optics), light weight (<60 grams) and low power consumption (<1.5 W). The Tamarisk family of devices is widely used not only in vehicles, UAVs, but also as part of the equipment of dismounted soldiers. The 640 model from this family is installed on the Falcon drone.
Europe and the rest of the world
SOFRADIR company
Sofradir is one of the world leaders in mercury and cadmium telluride technologies. With the acquisition of indium antimonide equipment and technology from Sagem, QWIP (Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector) technologies and indium gallium arsenide matrices from Thales under an agreement signed in December 2012, Sofradir strengthened its market leadership in Europe and worldwide as a supplier of a complete line of refrigerated and uncooled technologies and products. Uncooled items are the responsibility of its subsidiary Ulis.
This French industrial group offers a new uncooled detector (42x30x9mm) based on an InGaAs matrix (640x512, 15 microns, SWIR) called Snake. It has high sensitivity and resolution and is well suited for a wide variety of applications such as handheld and portable night vision devices and onboard optoelectronic stations.
The very compact QWIP photodetector (384x288, 25 micron, LWIR) is well suited for vehicle-mounted systems such as the Thales Catherine-XP TI, while the Scorpio longwave thermal imager is the newest addition to the widespread family (640x512, 15 micron). This family provides the necessary qualities for terrestrial applications such as high sensitivity, high resolution and extended range.
Sofradir infrared detectors are used in a wide variety of already proven applications, including the MBDA Storm Shadow / SCALP EG missile, Thales Damocles and Navflir targeting and navigation containers, Thales Sophie handheld and vehicle-mounted Catherine thermal imagers, and Sagem Iris and Sada II thermal imagers (for US armored vehicles).
The company is working on new detectors to innovate, improve the capabilities and compactness of its products. Recent products include e-APD (avalanche photodiode), dual-band video converters with very low equivalent noise temperature difference (NETD) and other new applications. The main direction of development at Sofradir is to further reduce the size of the minimum picture element, which will increase the number of pixels in one detector and maintain the overall size of the system. In this regard, the company has already demonstrated a matrix with a pitch of 10 microns. Sofradir is also exploring the possibility of increasing operating temperatures up to 150K in order to offer smaller, lighter and more reliable cooling dies for creating products with lower weight, dimensions and energy consumption.
CASSIDIAN
Cassidian Optronics offers cooled and uncooled thermal imagers as part of the Attica family (Advanced Thermal imagers with Two-dimensional IR CMOS Array), which uses state-of-the-art technology for medium and long wavelength cores. They can be mounted on tripods and in vehicles, while a miniature uncooled LWIR thermal imaging camera is preferred for handheld devices. Cassidian Optronics offers products for a variety of applications, including surveillance systems for the Goshawk-II HD / HDT aerial systems.
AIM company
Aim Infrarot-Module (Aim) is equally owned by Diehl BGT Defense and Rheinmetall and supplies cores and modules for the entire spectral range from 1 to 15 microns based on MCT and Type II infrared detectors with super grating (InAs / GaSb). Today Aim offers HiPIR-640 thermal imagers (MWIR or LWIR, 3rd Gen, 640x512, 15 micron pixel pitch) based on cadmium telluride and mercury, with MWIR type detectors operating at temperatures above 120K. Aim's portfolio includes µCAM-640 series thermal imagers (cooled MWIR based on MCT and uncooled LWIR) for Luna and Aladin drones, as well as a HuntIR / RangIR thermal imaging sight for the German army. The two-color MWIR / MWIR cryogenic machine based on the Type II super lattice provide breakthrough solutions for missile attack warning systems, while the 640x512 MWIR / LWIR dual-band sensor from the cryogenic machine is being developed for the next generation camera.
Sofradir sensors are used for a wide variety of proven technologies, including the MBDA Storm Shadow / Scalp EG missile, Thales Damocles and Navflir targeting and navigation containers, Catherine and Iris cameras and the Thales Sophie family of handheld systems (pictured)
Scorpio LW detector - the latest member of the 640x512 15 micron family
THERMOTEKNIX
The British company Thermoteknix Systems offers the Miricle family of video converters with XTI shutterless technology. It includes an ultra-compact uncooled 110KS model with no moving parts (no shutter), while Belgium's Xenics Infrared Solutions offers a family of high-resolution cameras based on the so-called “Xenics Core”. Built on a common platform (SWIR and MWIR FGA), the Xenics SWIR XSW-640 camera and the LWIR XTM-640 camera weigh less than 100 grams and consume less than 2 watts. They are easy to combine, the corresponding images obtained in any weather and in any light are superimposed and merged into a complex spectral image with increased information content.
The M-STAMP optoelectronic station from the Controp Stamp family weighs only 1.2 kg. It includes a daytime zoom camera and an uncooled thermal imaging camera. It works well for light drones like the Elbit Systems Skylark-I and Aeronautics Orbiter (pictured)
ASELSAN Company
In order to meet national and international needs, Aselsan has developed a family of stations for large and small drones with biaxial stabilization of the universal joint, which include a laser pointer and one sensor, either a day color camera or a night uncooled infrared camera. The version with an infrared camera was shown at IDEF 2013 on ARI-1T minidrones and rotorcraft.
The military, and later export needs, forced Israeli industry to develop its national capabilities in this sector. Equally owned by Rafael and Elbit Systems, Opgal Optronic Industries offers a wide range of ultra-compact, low-power thermal imaging sensors that serve as the basis for thermal imaging systems manufactured both in Israel and abroad. Opgal thermal imaging sensors with support for VOx and ASi based photo detectors are ideal for dismounted, ground and air applications. Also worth mentioning is Semiconductor Devices (SCD), a joint venture between Elbit Systems and Rafael. It designs and manufactures a full range of InSb, MCT and VOx infrared detectors and is the world's largest supplier of indium antimonide 2D arrays.
Controp recently showed off its 3kg T-Stamp, which houses a day camera, night camera and laser pointer. The op thermal imaging camera is available in cooled or uncooled versions, but both use unique continuous optical zoom lens technology
CONTROP company
Specialist Controp, owned by Rafael and UAV maker Aeronautics, is the world leader in avionics for light drones, although it also manufactures products for land, air and offshore platforms. The smallest member of the Stamp M-Stamp family weighs just 1.2 kg with daytime camera and uncooled thermal imaging camera and is well suited for installation on drones such as Elbit's Skylark-I and Aeronautics' Orbiter and various Bluebird Aero Systems.
Introducing the Skylark-I-LE drone from Elbit
In June 2013, Controp introduced a three-sensor, fully stabilized T-stamp optoelectronic station weighing less than 3 kg, which includes a day and night camera and a laser pointer. The thermal imaging camera can be cooled or uncooled, plus, like most Controp thermal cameras, these options have a unique continuous optical zoom lens. The company also supplies the FOX family of cameras with x22, x36, x55 zoom lenses, which include 3rd generation sensors in either 320x258 or 640x512 medium wavelengths, as well as uncooled long wavelength detectors with patented continuous optical zoom lenses.
