Unlocking the Invisible with Sony SWIR image sensors
Sony’s Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) image sensors are revolutionizing industries by enabling the detection of objects and objects invisible to the human eye. This is part of high sensor pressure, an area in which Sony has excelled.
By using a specific wavelength of light, SWIR sensors capture images not only in the visible spectrum but also in the short-wave infrared region, enabling advanced applications in various fields, such as food inspection, material processing, pollution detection, and semiconductor production. We saw a live demo at CEATEC 2024 in Japan.
One important attribute of SWIR technology is its ability to distinguish between objects based on their absorption and reflection of light at specific wavelengths. For example, water, which normally appears transparent in visible light, absorbs SWIR light, making it appear dark.
This property makes it very useful to identify moisture levels in materials, such as food testing, where determining the presence of moisture can be critical to ensure quality and safety. SWIR sensors, therefore, allow the detection of foreign objects and contaminants that would be difficult or impossible to identify with the naked eye.
Additionally, SWIR sensors can also capture high resolution images in areas where visible light is blocked. Their ability to see through fog or smoke improves their use in a variety of applications where environmental conditions may limit visibility.
This makes them valuable in precision testing, where identifying minute impurities or defects can be critical to efficiency and quality control.
Sony’s innovation in this space centers on its SenSWIR technology, a wide-band and highly sensitive SWIR image sensor. This technology includes integrated semiconductor InGaAs (Indium Gallium Arsenide) photodiodes and silicon reading circuits using Cu-Cu bonding, which improves the sensitivity and performance of the sensor.
SenSWIR sensors provide improved imaging accuracy, enabling industries to see beyond the surface and find the invisible, improving productivity and inspection accuracy. Sony’s SWIR image sensors, especially SenSWIR technology, set new standards in imaging by capturing invisible wavelengths of light.
Their use in industries such as food safety, logistics, and semiconductor testing is revolutionizing the way these fields identify and manage previously unrecognized problems.
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