LWIR Detectors | SCD - SemiConductor Devices

LWIR

SCD is a leading manufacturer of long-wave infrared (LWIR) detectors, offering both cooled and uncooled technologies.

The LWIR spectral range is marked by extremely high Planck radiation intensities at Earth-like temperatures, usually one to two orders of magnitude greater than in the MWIR. This allows for the use of uncooled (UC) infrared detectors with lesser sensitivity and cooled infrared detectors with enhanced sensitivity. The choice depends on the balance one seeks between size and performance. Rayleigh scattering from particulates is also strongly reduced due to the LWIR wavelength, increasing penetration through atmospheric conditions such as smoke, dust, and fog more effectively.

This makes LWIR detectors an ideal choice for outdoor applications over other spectral bands, where environmental conditions can affect detection and performance.

The benefits encompass:

Outstanding image clarity from both, the lower sensitivity UC micro-bolometer detectors and the faster, higher sensitivity cooled detectors.
High Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) maintained even under exceedingly cold weather conditions.
Significantly reduced sensitivity to common disturbances like dust scattering and sun glints, especially in ground battlefield and desert scenarios.
A broader dynamic range, facilitating detection across a more extensive temperature spectrum in the scene.
Reduced blooming effect, ensuring better target examination and differentiation, particularly near flaming objects.

Infrared detectors for the LWIR spectral region support a wide variety of applications in both the military and commercial domains. Examples for applications using high-end cooled detectors are:

Fire control systems
Commander sights
Threat detection
Application using uncooled detectors include:
Remote Weapons Stations (RWS)
Thermal Weapons Sights (TWS)
Driver vision enhancement (DVE)
Short range goggles
Unattended sensors
Miniature payloads
Security and short to medium range surveillance
Fire-fighting goggles
Missile Seekers

SCD’s LWIR detector technology leads the industry, providing a blend of reliability, cost-effectiveness, and top-tier performance in both cooled and uncooled formats. Rooted in our pioneering infrared innovations, our superior cooled and Low SWaP-C uncooled LWIR detectors include:

Type-II Super lattice (T2SL) technology for cooled 2D array detectors
VO_x micro-bolometer technology for high sensitivity uncooled 2D array detectors

We are proud to offer our customers the latest in LWIR detector technology and look forward to continue providing them with the tools they need to succeed.

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Applications
- Defense & HLS
  - Airborne
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    - IR Search & Track
    - Missile Warning System
    - Persistent Surveillance
    - Situational Awareness
  - HLS
    - Perimeter SecuritySCD’s high-end, XBn (HOT) and InSb detectors were specially developed for applications where 24/7 operation is a must. These cooled detectors are successfully integrated into Perimeter Security systems thanks to their superior performance, high reliability and endurance to harsh environmental conditions.
    - Long Range SurveillanceSCD’s detectors are used in long range surveillance thermal cameras. Thanks to the detectors’ high resolution imaging, these cameras are successfully used in any environment from heavy fog to complete darkness and for 24/7 situational awareness and long-range recognition and identification of targets.
    - Public Safety & TransportationThermal cameras are one of the most suitable solutions for making public transportation safer. Public transportation passengers rely on trains, metros or trams to bring them safely and timely to their destination and accidents caused by fire or objects lying on secured areas (areas which should be free of objects) can lead to delays as well as severe personal damage. Thermal imaging cameras can detect many of these incidents in time and therefore help public transportation operators take the appropriate measures in advance. SCD’s wide portfolio of cooled and uncooled detectors, cover the entire infrared spectrum and are consistently integrated into these cameras in order to improve the everyday public safety of transportation.
    - Border & Coastal Security
    - Critical Infrastructure Protection
    - Fire Detection
    - Law Enforcement
  - Missile
    - Missile SeekersSCD’s Pelican-D JT is an MWIR detector specially designed for missile applications. The FPA is InSb based, having a digital Readout Integrated Circuit (ROIC) in a format of 640 x 512 with 15μm pitch. Pelican-D JT has a unique structure of Dewar which enables very fast cool down time and hence quick mission readiness using a Joule-Thomson (JT) cooler. Due to the low heat load on the focal plane, the detector achieves long mission duration, a basic requirement for missile applications.
  - Land
    - Armor Vehicles & MBTsSCD’s cooled and uncooled detectors have been integrated into different military applications for over forty years. Thanks to SCD’s battle proven experience, SCD’s SWIR, MWIR and LWIR detectors have been successfully integrated into different armor vehicle applications, such as gunner sights, commander sights, driver night enhancement systems, remote weapon systems and more.
    - Counter Drone SystemsSCD’s low SWaP detectors are now integrated into counter drone systems that detect, locate, track, identify and defeat small UAVs. Counter drone systems provide the right solution to combat the growing threat of hostile drones and near-peer air threats thanks to SCD’s MWIR detectors.
    - Driver Vision EnhancementSCD’s uncooled detectors (SWIR and VOX Bolometers) are used in driver vision enhancement systems to enhance a driver’s viewing capabilities while operating during degraded visual conditions, such as darkness, fog, smoke or dust. These systems are mainly used in armored vehicles, providing their drivers with full visibility so they can safely maneuver their vehicles in battlefields full of obstacles and/or at low visual conditions.
    - DronesFor many years, Semi Conductor Devices has developed tens of thousands of SWIR, MWIR and LWIR detectors, which are already deployed in military and commercial drones. SCD’s low SWaP cooled and uncooled detectors are specially designed for integration in portable systems where low weight, size and power are required.
    - Hand Held Thermal ImagersFor over forty years, Semi Conductor Devices has developed and manufactured tens of thousands of SWIR, MWIR and LWIR detectors, which have been integrated into Hand Held Thermal Imagers. SCD’s low SWaP cooled and uncooled detectors are specially designed for integration into portable systems where low weight, size and power are required.
    - Long Range SurveillanceSCD’s detectors are used in long range surveillance thermal cameras. Thanks to the detectors’ high resolution imaging, these cameras are successfully used in any environment from heavy fog to complete darkness and for 24/7 situational awareness and long-range recognition and identification of targets.
    - Missile Warning SystemSCD’s SWIR, MWIR and LWIR detectors are successfully used in Missile Warning Systems (MWS) to enable detection of attacking missiles. Advanced missile warning systems and countermeasures against IR-guided missiles have become critical for survivability and this is why Semi Conductor Devices has developed infrared detector technology for the entire spectral range, to meet every MWS requirement.
    - ReconnaissanceSCD’s SWIR, MWIR and LWIR detectors have been integrated into thermal imagers and military targeting devices for use at reconnaissance and target land missions. Thanks to the high-resolution infrared detectors, it is possible to accurately observe surroundings, both during day and night, and identify potential threats at an early stage.
    - Remote Weapon SightSCD’s cooled and uncooled infrared detectors are used in remote weapon sight systems which are mounted in different armored vehicles. The highest performance of SCD’s detectors enable the remote weapon sights to perform military missions at night or during adverse weather conditions and to operate under extreme conditions of shock and vibration.
    - Situational AwarenessSCD’s low SWaP detectors are successfully used in situational awareness systems which are the perfect solution for search and rescue missions because they can rapidly gather information from inaccessible or unsafe locations, thus increasing safety and rapidity of interventions. Thanks to the low weight, size and power of these detectors, Semi Conductor Devices provides the ultimate solution for both, low SWaP and high-end systems used for situational awareness missions.
  - Naval
    - IR Search & TrackThousands of SCD’s cooled and uncooled detectors are used in search and track applications for detecting and tracking objects which emit infrared radiation. Unlike radars, infrared search and track systems (IRST) are totally passive, insensitive to jamming, and guarantee absolute discretion for land missions.
    - Long Range SurveillanceSCD’s detectors are used in long range surveillance thermal cameras. Thanks to the detectors’ high resolution imaging, these cameras are successfully used in any environment from heavy fog to complete darkness and for 24/7 situational awareness and long-range recognition and identification of targets.
    - Missile Warning SystemSCD’s SWIR, MWIR and LWIR detectors are successfully used in Missile Warning Systems (MWS) to enable detection of attacking missiles. Advanced missile warning systems and countermeasures against IR-guided missiles have become critical for survivability and this is why Semi Conductor Devices has developed infrared detector technology for the entire spectral range, to meet every MWS requirement.
    - ReconnaissanceSCD’s SWIR, MWIR and LWIR detectors have been integrated into thermal imagers and military targeting devices for use at reconnaissance and target naval missions. Thanks to the high-resolution infrared detectors, it is possible to accurately observe surroundings, both during day and night, and identify potential threats at an early stage.
    - Remote Weapon SightSCD’s cooled and uncooled infrared detectors are used in remote weapon sight systems which are mounted in different armored vehicles. The highest performance of SCD’s detectors enable the remote weapon sights to perform military missions at night or during adverse weather conditions and to operate under extreme conditions of shock and vibration.
    - Situational AwarenessSCD’s low SWaP detectors are successfully used in situational awareness systems which are the perfect solution for search and rescue missions because they can rapidly gather information from inaccessible or unsafe locations, thus increasing safety and rapidity of interventions. Thanks to the low weight, size and power of these detectors, Semi Conductor Devices provides the ultimate solution for both, low SWaP and high-end systems used for situational awareness missions.
- Commercial
  - Aviation SafetySCD has been a market leader in the field of cooled and uncooled detectors used in Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for Aviation Safety. These systems allow aircraft to safely land and takeoff in adverse weather conditions such as fog, snow or heavy rain.
  - Furnace Temperature MappingOne of SCD’s commercial applications of SWIR and LWIR uncooled detectors is furnace temperature mapping. By using thermal infrared cameras it is possible to establish a temperature mapping model which helps to measure the molten iron temperature. The temperature measurement of blast furnace (BF) molten iron is a mandatory requirement in the iron-making process, and the molten iron temperature is significant in estimating the molten iron quality and control blast furnace condition.
  - Gas Leak DetectionSCD’s cooled and uncooled detectors have been successfully integrated into thermal cameras used for detecting gas leakage which the human eye can’t see. If gas leakage isn’t discovered early, companies could face not only financial losses, but also negative environmental impact and personnel safety issues.
  - Hyperspectral ImagingSCD’s SWIR detectors are successfully used in hyperspectral imaging applications in order to obtain the spectrum for each pixel in the image of a scene, with the purpose of finding objects, identifying materials, or detecting processes.
  - Industrial InspectionsSCD’s cooled and uncooled detectors are integrated into thermal cameras for use in Industrial inspections. These cameras are powerful, non-invasive tools that can be used to monitor and diagnose problems in a variety of industrial systems. Any system that generates heat can be observed with the camera and fluctuations in that heat can indicate potential problems such as loss of energy, a damaged component or areas in need of maintenance.
  - Laser Beam ProfilerWith many years of development experience, SCD has become an established supplier of high-power laser bar and stack products in a broad wavelength range from 750 nm to 1100 nm, primarily for DPSSL Pumping Applications. Built upon SCD’s RobustHead™ Packaging Technology and proprietary chip design, our laser diode arrays can be assembled in different configurations for QCW operation with peak powers in the kilowatt range. Special designs are available for CW operation and high-quality beam collimation with precision optics.
  - MedicalAbnormal body temperature is a natural indicator of illness. Infrared thermography is a fast, non-contact and non-invasive alternative method for monitoring body temperature and to map body surface temperature remotely. Infrared thermography has been successfully used in the diagnosis of breast cancer, diabetes neuropathy and peripheral vascular disorders. It has also been used to detect problems associated with gynecology, kidney transplantation, dermatology, heart, neonatal physiology, fever screening and brain imaging. SCD’s detectors provide a perfect solution to thermal cameras which are intended to be used on medical applications.
  - Non Destructive TestingSCD’s unmatched portfolio of SWIR, MWIR and LWIR cooled and uncooled detectors are integrated into thermal cameras for use in non-destructive testing. These cameras are powerful, non-invasive tools that can be used to monitor and diagnose problems in a variety of industrial systems. Any system that generates heat can be observed with the camera and fluctuations in that heat can indicate potential problems such as loss of energy, a damaged component or areas in need of maintenance.
  - Semiconductor InspectionsSCD’s SWIR and MWIR detectors are integrated into thermal cameras used for semiconductor inspection. These cameras are powerful, non-invasive tools that can be used to detect physical defects and particles on wafers.
  - ThermographySCD’s cooled and uncooled detectors have been successfully integrated into thermography cameras which help detect failures in equipment which are signaled by heat patterns in the infrared spectrum and are not visible to the human eye.
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