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By topic (Commercial)
May 2013
SiOnyx Launches NIR/SWIR Black Silicon FPAs
Improved Low Light Level Imaging for Night Vision
SCD Rolling Out a Line of New Infrared Products
Irvine Sensors is Reincarnated
April 2013
QmagiQ Becomes Merchant Supplier of Superlattice FPAs
FLIR Systems is back in the Fire Fighting Thermal Imager Market
Start-Up Plans Smartphone Thermal Imager
Lexavia Prepares for EVS Certification on Eclipse 550 Jet
March 2013
L-3 Cincinnati Electronics Introducing High-Performance nBn FPA and Camera
DRS Partners with Cypress Semiconductors on Microbolometer Fab
Ulis Introducing Small Format (80 x 80) Microbolometer
SPIE’s IR Technology and Applications Conference – A Preview
February 2013
Former Indigo Execs Start New Infrared Venture
A Promising Approach to Low-Cost SWIR Imaging
LightPath Tries to Get Molded Infrared Lenses into Low-Volume Applications
January 2013
L-3 IRP Moves Microbolometer Production to Outside Fab
Mercedes Dual-Band System to Give Big Boost to Automotive Night Vision
Sofradir Wraps Up Final Consolidation of Infrared Detectors in France
Not Just MCT
New NFPA-Compliant Fire Fighting Thermal Imagers
Fluke Seeks to Leapfrog Thermal Imagers with Visual IR Thermometer
December 2012
IRnova Sees Big Increase in QWIPs for Gas Sensing
Toshiba Improves Its Uncooled SOI FPA
November 2012
Teledyne Launching T2SL FPA and Camera
CEA/LETI and Ulis Develop 640 x 480 Microbolometer with 12 Micron Pixels
NEC Develops 640 x 480 Microbolometer with 12 Micron Pixels
October 2012
A New Uncooled Microbolometer to Compete with VOx and Amorphous Silicon
SATIR Takes on FLIR Systems in Low-End Thermography Market
Automotive Night Vision After-Market Driving Some Chinese Infrared Companies
New Infrared Security Cameras at ASIS Illustrate Continued Price Decreases
September 2012
Infrared Conference in Japan Attracts Intense Interest
Cooled and Uncooled Infrared Detectors in South Korea
Superlattice FPAs in South Korea
EADS Cassidian Prepares to Take Over Carl Zeiss Optronics
August 2012
NEC Restructuring Infrared Business
Lead Selenide FPAs and Cores Find New Niches at NIT
EVS-Maker Max-Viz is Acquired
Sagem and Thales form Optronics Joint Venture
Thales and Cisco Partnering in Security and Defense Markets
July 2012
IRISYS is Being Acquired
Thermography Camera Pricing Goes Under $1K
LighPath to Invest New Funding in Infrared Molded Glass Lenses
June 2012
Novel Uncooled Infrared Technologies Continue to Vie for a Toehold
Sensonor Survives Bankruptcy – Continues with Uncooled Microbolometer Development
Dual-Band QWIPs to Go into Production for Thales Thermal Imagers
May 2012
nBn FPAs Enter the Commercial Market
Fire Fighting Cameras Move to 17 Micron Pixels
Combining Gas Sensing with an Infrared Security Camera
Turkish Start-Ups Enter Uncooled FPA and ROIC Markets
Two start-ups in Turkey are vying for a portion of the infrared market
Novel SWIR Imagers
DRS Reorganizes
April 2012
Mitsubishi Electric Pushes Uncooled SOI Technology to 2 Megapixels
TriWave SWIR Sensor Makes a Comeback
Regulators in Canada May Pave the Way for Uncooled EVS
New Entrants in the Thermography Market: Tool and Instrument Companies with Infrared Cameras Sourced from China
March 2012
Consolidation of Infrared Technology in France Will Strengthen Sofradir
The Latest in the Thermography Wars
FLIR vs. Fluke
Enhancing Productivity of Turbine Blade Inspection with Pulsed Infrared
February 2012
Autoliv Prepares for Rollout of New Automotive Night Vision System
Teledyne Dalsa Prepares for Microbolometer Fabrication
January 2012
Spectrolab Moves InGaAs APDs into Production
An Enabling Technology for 3D Imaging
Raytheon Takes Next Step in Microbolometer Wafer-Level-Packaging
Axsys Renamed to General Dynamics GIT
December 2011
Obzerv Working Full-Out to Install Large Number of Range-Gated Systems
Bridge Semiconductor Partnering with Optex to Roll Out Uncooled TFFE FPA
November 2011
Ulis Hedges Microbolometer Packaging with Wafer-Level Approach
October 2011
NEC Developing Ultra-Low Cost Uncooled Microbolometers Based on Carbon Nanotubes
Thin Film SWIR Technology Licensed by French Start-Up
Ulis and CEA/Leti Partner to Develop Small Format FPAs
United Technologies Acquiring Goodrich
A New Player in Infrared
September 2011
Obtaining Large Format SWIR Images by Compressive Sensing
DCG Acquires Thermosensorik
Japanese Earthquake Prompts Development of Energy Saving Infrared Detectors
Panasonic Introducing Thermopile FPA
NEC Rationalizes and Moves Uncooled Infrared Operations
August 2011
IRFPA Forum in Japan has Record Attendance
JAXA Stimulates IRFPA Development in Japan
“HOT” Cryocooled FPAs in the Spotlight
Newport Acquiring Ophir Optronics of Israel
July 2011
Uncooled TFFE makes a Comeback
ISG UK is Acquired
Uncooled Microbolometers Introduced by Chinese Company
How Real are the Claims?
Texas Instruments Introduces Chip Scale Thermopile Sensor
June 2011
FLIR Systems Settles Lawsuit with Former Executives
Cantronic Sells Thermal Imaging Business including QWIPs
May 2011
Improvements in Uncooled SOI Technology
Medical Infrared - The Role of Infrared in Endoscopes
New Ultra-Small Uncooled Infrared Camera Cores
Terahertz Imaging Using Uncooled Microbolometers
NEC Improves Both Passive and Active Mode Cameras
April 2011
Teledyne Acquires Nova Sensors
Bosch Developing Ultra-Low-Cost Uncooled Sensor for Auto Night Vision
France’s III-V Lab Partners with CEA/Leti
March 2011
EVS Takes One Step Closer to More Widespread Use
Honeywell’s Demonstration of Blended Infrared and Synthetic Vision on Primary Flight Displays
European Automotive Night Vision Program Targets InGaAs Sensors
NEC Partners with Tamron on Security Camera
FLIR Systems and Home Depot Test Market the Rental of Infrared Cameras
Allied Vision Acquires VDS Vosskuhler
February 2011
LumaSense Buys ITC from L-3
NEC Sets Up U.S. Subsidiary by Buying U.S. Distributor
Autoliv Expanding Capacity for Automotive Night Vision Systems
NFPA Standard for Fire Fighting – A Moving Target
U.S. Export Control Reform and its Potential Effect on Infrared
January 2011
A New Uncooled Microbolometer
Megapixels for Starters
NoblePeak Finds Buyer
Teledyne Buying DALSA
Synergies in Infrared
December 2010
SiOnyx Lands Investment for Black Silicon
Sirica Hits Roadblock
Another Novel Uncooled Technology in Trouble
EVS Certified on Boeing Business Jet
The First Step to Wider Infrared Use in Commercial Aviation?
November 2010
Innovative New Readout Technology Results in Possible Breakthrough for InGaAs FPAs
NASA Funds Tests of Synthetic Vision for Use with Infrared Enhanced Vision for Aircraft
October 2010
Automotive Night Vision Takes Another Leap Forward
Autoliv Tests its New Thermal and Near-Infrared Fusion System
Mikron Moves its Operations
LumaSense Consolidates
NoblePeak Vision Closes Doors
Small 3D Imaging Arrays Reach New Level of Maturity
BAE Systems Acquiring OASYS Technology
September 2010
FLIR Systems Acquiring ICx Technologies
Integrating a Diversified Portfolio of Technologies
Max-Viz Seeking to Facilitate Exports of EVS for Retrofitting of Aircraft
August 2010
Interest in Infrared Increases in Japan
New Support for Small Pixel Uncooled Microbolometers
Jostling for Space at the Low End
Infrared Cameras for Building Inspection
Draeger Introducing New Fire Fighting Thermal Imagers Based on Jenoptik Modules
July 2010
BAE Systems to Reorganize in U.S.
The Effect on Infrared Operations
Mosaic Pixel Security Sensor Being Granted U.S. Patent
June 2010
FLIR Systems Acquiring Raymarine
Fire Fighting Thermal Imager Makers Tread Water in Light of New NFPA Standard
April 2010
Infrared Markets Shrug Off Economic Slowdown
A New German Capability in Uncooled
Fraunhofer Institute Makes Large Format Uncooled Microbolometer
March 2010
Infrared Aircraft Enhanced Vision Systems Poised to Move into the Big Time
NIT in Spain Launches Lead Selenide Products
February 2010
Axis Enters Thermal Imaging Market with Network Security Cameras
Sofradir-EC Partners with N2 Imaging on New Uncooled Camera Cores
International Standards for Fever Screening
The Effect of Eased U.S. Export Controls on Uncooled Infrared Cameras
U.S. Also Proposing Easier Export Controls for Thermal Imagers in Two Application Areas
January 2010
Sagem Acquires Optics 1
FLIR Systems is Merging Commercial and Thermography Divisions
Sumitomo Electric Developing Uncooled T2SL SWIR FPA
Toshiba Improves Uncooled Microbolometer
December 2009
L-3 Infrared Products Being Merged with EOS
RedShift Suspends Development of TLV Sensor
Progress in Type II Superlattice FPAs
Large Area Substrates Provide a Path to Practical Devices
November 2009
Automotive Night Vision Moves to New Car Models
October 2009
Infrared in Japan
The Latest Developments
FLIR Systems Wins Claims in Lawsuit Brought by Raytheon
Sofradir-EC Becomes U.S. Distributor for Xenics
Thermography Camera Pricing Pushed to New Low
September 2009
New Uncooled Thermopile FPA Projected to Provide High Performance at Ultra-Low Cost
August 2009
Lockheed Martin Buying Gyrocam
A Deal That Makes Sense
EADS Wins Large Saudi Border Contract
Selects FLIR Systems to Provide Infrared Systems – with potential for much more
July 2009
General Dynamics Buying Axsys
How Will the Acquisition Affect the Commercial and Military Infrared Markets?
June 2009
U.S. Export Controls on Uncooled Infrared Cameras Eased Drastically
Leveling the Playing Field for U.S. Manufacturers
XenICs Developing Uncooled EVS System
South Korea Readying the Release of an Uncooled FPA
Moving Microbolometer Vacuum Packaging into Mass Production
Ritsumeikan University Has a Solution
May 2009
Easier U.S. Export Controls on Uncooled Infrared Cameras Pass Last Major Hurdle
“UTIC” Rule Being Finalized
Uncooled Microbolometers Race to 17 Micron Pixels and Below
April 2009
SCD Expanding Capacity to Meet New Demand for Uncooled FPAs
Axsys Technologies Puts Itself up for Sale
Some of the Potential Buyers
IRISYS Moves its Pyroelectric FPA to a Larger Format
Introduces New Low-End Thermography Camera
FLIR Systems Rolls Out New Line of Uncooled Camera Cores
March 2009
World Infrared Market Takes Leap Forward in 2008
Agiltron Acquires SensArray
Standards Agency Tests Fire Fighting Thermal Imagers
Measures Performance Against New NFPA Draft Standard and Comes Up with a Few Surprises
SPIE’s IR Technology and Applications Conference
February 2009
RedShift Systems Pulls Rabbit Out of the Hat
Secures On-going Financing
NEC Avio Uncooled FPA Module Used to Monitor NASA’s Space Shuttle Launches
FLIR Systems Partners with Trijicon
January 2009
ISG’s U.S. Operations Acquired by Private Investment Group
Raytheon Develops Infrared Pedestrian Warning System
L-3 Communications Changes Organizational Structure of Infrared Businesses
Toshiba Develops Uncooled Microbolometer
Max-Viz Introduces New Low-Cost Uncooled EVS for General Aviation
Selex Galileo Makes New Advances with its MOVPE Process
Obtaining High Yield with Mercury Cadmium Telluride
December 2008
RedShift Update
A Setback for a Novel Uncooled Sensor
BAE Systems PbSe Development
Company Pursues Military, Commercial Markets
Auto Night Vision in Europe
A More Ambitious FPA Development
Start-up Preparing 400 x 400 SiGeC SWIR FPA
November 2008
Aircraft EVS
Market Separates into High and Low Ends
Axsys Expands Operations
Increases Product Offerings
Sofradir Buys Electrophysics
The Strategy Behind the Move
New InGaAs Camera Based on Alcatel-Thales III-V Module
October 2008
Spin-off in Spain Prepares for Uncooled PbSe FPA Production
RedShift Teams with OEMs
Plans Production Rollout in 2009
Russia’s “Cyclone” Research Institute Introduces a Line of Uncooled Cameras
September 2008
BMW Unveils 2009 7-Series with New Night Vision System
American HealthChoice Launches OmniBody Scan
The Latest Attempt at Infrared Diagnostic Breast Imaging
August 2008
Uncooled FPAs in France
Uncooled microbolometer development in France has been very rapid partly because of the cooperation between the CEA/Leti labs and Ulis
Goodrich Acquires Recon/Optical
July 2008
L-3 Infrared Products Downsizes
L-3 Infrared Products laid off 10% of its 180 employees in June in an effort to stem the flow of red ink.
Former Indigo Execs Prevail Over FLIR Systems in Lawsuit
FLIR Systems has lost a lawsuit against two former Indigo Systems executives whom it claimed were misappropriating trade secrets and against whom FLIR was seeking a permanent injunction to prevent them from starting a new venture to produce uncooled microbolometers.
Electrophysics and Opgal Partner
June 2008
Auto Night Vision in Europe
A new program called FNIR is being started in Europe to develop a low-cost automotive night vision system based on fused images from an uncooled LWIR imager and a near-infrared (NIR) imager.
DX Rating for Uncooled FPAs Causes Commercial Shortage
The high priority for MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected) vehicles and their infrared sensors, has led the U.S. Department of Defense to place a DX rating on components, such as uncooled microbolometers that are used in the Driver’s Vision Enhancers (DVE) on these vehicles.
FLIR Systems Pushes Prices Below $3K
Competition in low-end thermography cameras is heating up. FLIR Systems’ latest introduction, the i5 camera, pushes prices below $3K—a level unheard of just a few years ago.
Automotive Night Vision Aftermarket Price Reduction
Although infrared automotive night vision systems are usually supplied as a factory-installed option, an aftermarket is developing…
Finmeccanica to Acquire DRS
Finmeccanica S.p.A. (Italy) has agreed to acquire DRS Technologies for $5.2 billion in cash.
May 2008
Agiltron Acquires MII
Agiltron, Inc. has acquired Multispectral Imaging, MII, the developer of uncooled microcantilever FPAs with a capacitive readout.
Bell Labs Uncooled FPA Development Looks for a Home
Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs has stopped all work to develop an uncooled focal plane array. In October 2007, the company’s partner, Isonics Corp., ceased funding the program and all rights to the technology reverted to Alcatel-Lucent.
GE Takes Minority Stake in Ulis
General Electric’s GE Commercial Finance is taking a 15% minority stake in Ulis, the supplier of uncooled amorphous silicon microbolometers.
Toyota Introducing NIR Active Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection
Toyota is introducing a near-infrared (NIR) active night vision system called Night View on the Crown Hybrid
April 2008
Uncooled BST Being Phased Out
L-3 Infrared Products is phasing out the production of uncooled BST ferroelectric FPAs and cameras. The company expects to stop producing BST detectors in mid-2009 but will support these products for another three years.
L-3 Buying Northrop Grumman’s Electro-Optical Systems Business
L-3 Communications has signed an agreement to acquire Northrop Grumman's Electro-Optical Systems (EOS) business for $175 million in cash. The EOS business had 2007 revenues of approximately $190 million in night vision goggles, weapons sights, driver viewers, image intensifier tubes and applied optics products.
March 2008
Infrared Markets Soar
World commercial and dual-use infrared imaging markets soared by 30% in 2007.
Goodrich Forms New ISR Business Unit
Goodrich Corp. has formed a new ISR Systems (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance) business unit out of the former Optical & Space Systems (OSS) division. The new unit has its headquarters in Chelmsford, Mass., and includes operations in Danbury, Conn., Albuquerque, N.M., Princeton, N.J., Ithaca, N.Y., and Malvern (UK).
Medical Infrared Struggles
The application of thermal imaging to medicine has long been heralded as one of the most promising application areas. One of the most hotly pursued areas has been screening for breast cancer.
February 2008
New Fluke Cameras Push Pricing Below $5K
Fluke is introducing four new handheld cameras which are pushing the pricing of thermography cameras below $5000. Two of the new cameras, Ti10 and Ti25, are intended for industrial and electrical inspections; the other two TiR and TiR1, are intended for building inspection.
SPIE’s Infrared Technology and Applications Conference
SPIE’s Infrared Technology and Applications XXXIV Conference – a part of SPIE’s Defense & Security Symposium - will feature the latest developments in IR technology and sensor systems. The four day conference, with concurrently running sessions on Monday and Tuesday, will be held from March 17 to 20 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
IRnova Moves up the Food Chain to QWIP DDCA Modules
IRnova is moving up the infrared food chain and is now offering its customers full Detector Dewar Cooler Assemblies (DDCAs) instead of just QWIP focal plane arrays. The DDCAs are provided together with partners that specialize in detector and cooler manufacturing.
FLIR/Cedip Acquisition Closes
FLIR Systems has completed the acquisition of 69.3% of the shares (at 19 euros per share or a total of 42.3 million euros) of Cedip Infrared Systems after obtaining approval from the French Ministry of Finance and Economy. FLIR Systems Holdings SAS, the company’s French subsidiary will now proceed to acquire the remaining shares of Cedip for the same 19 euro price.
January 2008
New Gen EVS Ready for 2008
A new generation of Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for aircraft is close to being certified by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Kollsman’s EVS II, an enhanced version of its original EVS, makes use of SCD’s 320 x240 InSb FPA on a Blue Fairy read-out and provides 30% increase in sensitivity.
NEC/Nippon Avionics Reorganize Infrared Businesses
Nippon Avionics plans to reorganize and consolidate its infrared businesses, including NEC San-ei Instruments, into the new company, NEC Avio Infrared Technologies Co., Ltd.
Isonics-Bell Labs Uncooled Development Suspended
The effort by Isonics Corp. to develop an uncooled focal plane array by partnering with Alcatel-Lucent Bell Labs has hit a funding road block after Isonics and its subsidiary SensIT failed to make a recent installment payment on the $12 million development program.
Axsys Sells Distributed Products Business
Axsys Technologies has sold its Distributed Products business for $15 million. The divestiture of this business (which supplies bearings) allows Axsys to concentrate on its infrared and optics businesses which it is reorganizing into the following segments:
Teledyne to Acquire Judson
Teledyne Scientific & Imaging, LLC has entered into an agreement to acquire Judson Technologies, LLC.
December 2007
Autoliv Plans New Night Vision Product Launch
Autoliv is preparing to introduce its new Night Vision 2 system to aid drivers of passenger cars when driving at night. The new system will offer significant new capabilities while simultaneously lowering the cost to automakers.
ICx Launches IPO
ICx Technologies launched an Initial Public Offering of 5 million shares of its common stock at a price of $16.00 per share on the NASDAQ market. However, the company was caught in the volatility of the markets and shares dropped to under $8 before recovering to over $9 on November 27.
November 2007
A-Si Matches VOx
Amorphous silicon (a-Si) uncooled microbolometers made by ULIS are increasingly reaching performance levels previously attained only by VOx microbolometers.
Halfway Between an FPA and a Spot Sensor
Researchers at Ritsumeikan University have developed a very low-cost thermal array that is more than a spot thermal sensor, but not quite a staring focal plane array. The device, dubbed Infrared Position Sensitive Detector (IRPSD), is an array of uncooled thermopiles, which is not intended to form an image, but provide position information on the object being viewed.
FLIR Systems Buys Extech
October 2007
FLIR Buying Cedip
FLIR Systems has entered into an agreement to acquire a controlling interest in Cedip Infrared Systems in a deal that values the French company at 62.7 million euros (approximately $86.4 million).
New Uncooled EVS Systems
Max-Viz is introducing upgraded versions of its uncooled Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for aircraft pilots. The company is now making use of 25 µm pixel microbolometers in all of its new products.
September 2007
Schneider Electric Buys Pelco
Multispectral Imaging Improves Performance of Microcantilever Arrays
Multispectral Imaging, Inc., MII is making significant progress in the performance of its uncooled bi-material microcantilever arrays.
August 2007
Obzerv Range-Gated Camera Combined with Radar
Obzerv Technologies’ range gated camera has been integrated with radar in order to provide maritime security for a critical application in Asia. The integrated system allows long range detection of threats by the radar which then cues the Obzerv ARGC-2400 range-gated camera, which makes use of a Diode Laser Illumination System (DALIS™) operating at 808 or 860 nm.
Fluke Acquires Ircon
Fluke has acquired Ircon from Spectris plc for $33 million on a debt and cash-free basis and subject to a working capital adjustment. Ircon specializes in spot infrared sensors including on-line IR thermometers, portable spot thermometers and line scanners.
Changes in Firefighter Grant Guidelines
Low-End EVS Market Starts to Take Off
Amateur-built aircraft in the U.S. are giving a lift to a new class of low-end Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for use by the pilots of these planes when flying at night or in reduced visibility. This growth is being driven by the fact that under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Regulations, no certification is required to use an EVS on amateur-built “experimental” aircraft.
July 2007
New Border Sensors Fired Up
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s SBInet sensor network on the Mexican border went into operation along a 28 mile stretch southwest of Tucson. The first section of the “virtual fence” consists of nine 98 foot towers with visible and infrared cameras that send images to a command center and to specially equipped Border Patrol vehicles.
FLIR Systems Introduces New Marine Thermal Imagers
FLIR Commercial Vision Systems is introducing the latest in its line of thermal imaging systems for marine use. The company’s Navigator™ is now available in three configurations: fixed, 360º pan, or full pan/tilt.
June 2007
The Status of Novel Uncooled Sensors
Uncooled infrared focal plane arrays based on vanadium oxide and amorphous silicon microbolometers are now well established. But new technologies are around the corner.
NoblePeak Develops New Monolithic Visible to SWIR FPA
NoblePeak Vision Corp. - a venture funded start-up - has developed a new high performance FPA with response from the visible (0.4 µm) to SWIR (1.65 µm) wavelength region.
DRS Splits-Out Former Nytech Unit
DRS Technologies has split-out its former Nytech unit which was acquired in 2002. The new company, called N2 Imaging Systems, will continue to operate out of its original Irvine, California offices.
May 2007
Judson Enters FPA Market
Judson Technologies LLC, which has traditionally focused on single-element and linear array infrared detectors, is entering the infrared FPA and camera market.
April 2007
L-3 IR Products’ New Strategy on Auto Night Vision
L-3 Infrared Products is taking aim at the military driver’s vision enhancement (DVE) market with a new system intended to be used on tactical wheeled vehicles. The Diver’s Vision System (DVS) makes use of the company’s uncooled BST FPAs which are also used in its commercial automotive night vision system.
LumaSense Buying Mikron
Mikron Infrared is being acquired by LumaSense Technologies, Inc. for approximately $65 million.
Ann Arbor Sensor Develops New Ultra Low-Cost Thermopile
Ann Arbor Sensor Systems has developed a new ultra low-cost uncooled thermopile array.
Sofradir Awarded Contract for Space Sensors
Sofradir has been awarded a EUR 3.2 million (USD 4.2 million) contract by NEC Toshiba Space for an infrared detector to be used on the Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) satellite of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
March 2007
Acreo Spins Off QWIP Business
Acreo AB is spinning off its QWIP (Quantum Well Infrared Photodetector) business to a new company called IRnova AB.
SPIE’s Infrared Technologies and Applications Conference
SPIE’s Infrared Technology and Applications XXXIII Conference – a part of SPIE’s DSS - Defense & Security Symposium - will feature the latest developments in IR technology and sensor systems. The five day conference will be held from April 9 to April 13 at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
Esterline Corp. to Buy CMC Electronics
Esterline Corp. has agreed to buy CMC Electronics for $335 million. CMC Electronics (formerly Canadian Marconi Canada) is a leading supplier of avionics systems including both cooled and uncooled infrared Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for pilots.
February 2007
World Infrared Markets
The combined world commercial and dual-use infrared imaging and spot infrared thermometry market grew at a blistering nearly 20% pace in 2006.
Israel Adopting New Export Control Act
Israel is changing its export control policies and will adhere to the Wassenaar Arrangement’s Control Lists for both Munitions items and for Dual-Use items. According to the Wassenaar agreements, dual-use products go through a licensing procedure that is usually administered by a commerce department or ministry.
Boeing Business Jets to Feature New Uncooled EVS
Rockwell Collins is introducing a new infrared Enhanced Vision System (EVS) - based on a Max-Viz uncooled EVS - for use on Boeing Business Jets. The EVS presents an image on Rockwell Collins’ Head-up Guidance System (HGS®) and head-down displays to enhance pilot situational awareness of terrain and the airport environment in low-visibility situations.
Export Control Hurdles for 2007
Several recent provisions in the Wassenaar List of Dual-Use infrared equipment must be renewed or they will expire at the end of this year. The most important of these refer to the control of uncooled amorphous silicon microbolometers.
January 2007
BMW Gives OK to Next Gen Auto Night Vision
After a thorough evaluation of both passive thermal and active near infrared (NIR) automotive night vision systems, German luxury car maker BMW has decided to stay with thermal imaging (called “FIR” or “Far Infrared” in the automotive industry).
SCD Ramping Up Production of Uncooled VOx Microbolometers
SCD Semi Conductor Devices is ramping up production of its “BIRD” 384 x 288 (25 µm) microbolometers after encountering process issues at the beginning of 2006.
Power Plants a Good Market for Thermal Rifle Sights
Requirements by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for increased security at power plants has provided EMX a ready market for thermal rifle sights.
Cantronic Acquisition of QWIP Systems
The acquisition by Cantronic Systems, Inc. of QWIP Systems (the Canadian parent of QWIPTECH in the U.S.) has been completed. Both companies are publicly traded in Canada.
December 2006
Longwave Superlattice FPA
Type II Superlattice (T2SL) FPAs have made great progress over the last three years. Some are even heralding these detectors as the successor to mercury cadmium telluride.
Isonics Spins Off Uncooled Business
Isonics Corp., which is partnering with Lucent Technologies Bell Labs in the development of an uncooled focal plane array based on a capacitive MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems) technology, has spun off the technology to a company called SensIT.
Sofradir Building New Fab to Increase Production
Sofradir is starting construction on a new Fab near Grenoble that will double its production capacity of cooled infrared focal plane arrays and position the company to supply 3rd Gen FPAs. The new facility will produce mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) FPAs by Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) on 4” germanium substrates (compared to the currently used 2” CZT substrates).
Image Fusion 2007
The Image Fusion 2007 conference to be held between January 22 and 24 in Alexandria, Virginia is expected to cover a wide range of topics that are increasingly important for a wide number of applications.
November 2006
FLIR Systems Scaling Up
FLIR Systems has reached an agreement with AMI Semiconductor in which AMIS will be the foundry for the production of FLIR’s uncooled VOx microbolometers. The microbolometers will be produced in AMIS’ Class 1 facility on 8” wafers.
CMC Electronics Ships 100th EVS
CMC Electronics has shipped its 100th EVS (Enhanced Vision System) for aircraft. Most of these are the SureSight® I-Series.
Delphi
Delphi is proposing an automotive active night vision system with pedestrian warning that also uses the same camera to carry out several additional vision tasks, including lane departure warning and intelligent headlight control.
October 2006
Kollsman Readying Uncooled EVS
Kollsman is preparing to roll out its uncooled enhanced vision system for general aviation aircraft, GAViS™ (General Aviation Vision System).
Siemens to Acquire VistaScape
Siemens Building Technologies has signed an agreement to acquire VistaScape Security Systems as a wholly owned subsidiary.
Boeing Wins Secure Borders Initiative
The Department of Homeland Security has awarded the first phase of the Secure Border Initiative (SBInet) contract to a team led by Boeing. The program is intended to help secure both America’s southern and northern borders with a network of sensors.
Firefighter Grant Awards Start in October
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s fiscal year 2006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) awards are expected to start being issued in October. The late start in making the awards under the $540 million FY2006 AFG program has resulted in some hesitation on the part of local fire departments to purchase thermal imagers while they waited for the outcome of the grant awards.
September 2006
Turmoil in Auto Night Vision
An attempt to gain economies of scale in the automotive night vision market has fallen through. Negotiations on the potential acquisition by Autoliv of the L-3 Infrared Products automotive night vision business have been discontinued. The move would have combined the two leading suppliers of passive LWIR automotive night vision systems.
Auto Night Vision in Europe
A proposed European Union regulation to enhance pedestrian safety may help to significantly expand the use of automotive infrared night vision systems. The proposed regulation will require a specific active safety system called Brake Assist on all new vehicles starting on July 1, 2008. In addition, new types of equipment, such as collision avoidance, will be recognized as alternatives to Brake Assist.
Max-Viz Wins Certification on Bell 206/407
Max-Viz has obtained an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for its EVS-1000 Enhanced Vision System on Bell 206/407 helicopters. The EVS-1000 makes use of a 320 x 240 VOx microbolometer in order to give pilots situational awareness in fog, haze and other reduced visibility conditions.
August 2006
Land Instruments Acquired by Ametek
Land Instruments International Ltd. has been acquired by Ametek, Inc., a diversified manufacturer of industrial instruments and electromechanical devices. Land, with annual sales of £22 million ($41 million) will be part of the process analytical business of Ametek’s Electronic Instruments Group.
Cantronic to Buy QWIP Systems
Cantronic Systems, Inc. has agreed to merge with QWIP Systems (the Canadian company which is the parent of QWIPTECH in the U.S.) Both companies are publicly traded in Canada.
Teledyne to Acquire Rockwell Scientific
Teledyne Technologies, Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire Rockwell Scientific Co., RSC, Los Angeles, California) for $167.5 million in cash from Rockwell Collins and Rockwell Automation.
FLIR Systems Robot Churning out InfraCAMs
FLIR Systems’ new robot is now up and running at the company’s Danderyd, Sweden facility. The robot is intended to automate the labor intensive and time-consuming testing and calibration of FLIR’s new line of low-cost InfraCAM cameras.
July 2006
CEDIP Launches IPO
CEDIP Infrared has launched an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Alternext market of the Euronext Exchange. The company’s existing 2,500,000 shares of stock have been admitted on Alternext. In addition, a maximum of 712,500 new shares have been issued and admitted to the exchange.
June 2006
Siemens Invests in Thermosensorik
Siemens AG has acquired a minority stake in thermal imaging company Thermosensorik GmbH. The investment was made through Siemens Venture Capital and Siemens Technology Accelerator.
Uncooled Thermopiles
A recent press release by the Malaysian company MEMS Technology Bhd has caused a flurry of activity recently in the world of infrared. The company had claimed that it had signed a multi-year contract with Bullard for infrared FPAs to be used in a firefighting camera to be introduced in September.
RedShift Systems Optimizing Process
RedShift Systems is readying its uncooled Thermal Light Valve™ (TLV) camera cores for additional demonstrations to customers.
May 2006
Ferroelectrics Come Back to Life
L-3 Infrared Products is finally on the road to rolling out its uncooled thin-film ferroelectric (TFFE) focal plane arrays. The company has exerted a concentrated effort during the last year to make its process more robust and expects to show samples to customers during the third quarter of this year.
FLIR Reorganizes Imaging Business
FLIR Systems has re-organized its Imaging business into two separate Divisions: a commercial imaging division and a government imaging division. The company also plans to invest $15 million to significantly increase the capacity of its uncooled VOx microbolometer production facility in Santa Barbara.
Raytheon Launches New Security System for Airports and Other Infrastructure
Raytheon’s Airspace Management and Homeland Security business is launching an Integrated Airport Security System (IASS) that makes it easier for airports to ensure the safety of passengers from their arrival at the airport to departure in the aircraft. .
April 2006
Nippon Avionics Acquiring NEC San-ei Instruments
Nippon Avionics is acquiring NEC San-ei Instruments. After the completion of the transaction on June 30, 2006, NEC San-ei will be a 100% subsidiary of Nippon Avionics.
Ann Arbor Sensor Systems
Ann Arbor Sensor Systems has used an old technology to make very low cost uncooled cameras (less than $5K). The company’s AXT100 Thermal Imaging Camera makes use of 32 x 31 thermopile arrays that the company designed and are manufactured for it by MEMSTech.
Standards for Infrared in Firefighting
The use of infrared cameras by firefighters has been growing at double digit rates. In fact, the rate at which new technologies are being incorporated into these cameras may affect firefighter safety.
Mitsubishi Develops Chip-Scale Vacuum Package for Uncooled SOI Sensor
Mitsubishi Electric has developed a chip-scale vacuum package for its 160 x 120 (25 µm pixels) uncooled SOI FPAs.
SCD Improves VOx Microbolometers
SCD Semi Conductor Devices has improved its “BIRD” 384 x 288 VOx (25 µm pitch) microbolometers.
SBInet Holds Out Hope for Infrared Strategic Border Initiative
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Strategic Border Initiative program (SBInet) is shaping up to be a boon for infrared technology. SBInet has two major themes: controlling the border and immigration enforcement.
Avio Develops IR Helmet Goggle for Firefighters
Nippon Avionics has developed an integral helmet-mounted uncooled infrared imager for firefighters.
March 2006
New Infrared Cameras Push the Boundaries at the Low End
The introduction of infrared cameras at aggressive low price points are pushing infrared imaging into new markets and applications. Three manufacturers have recently introduced such cameras, two of them after extensive test marketing during 2005.
NEC Enters VOx Merchant Market with Mid and Large Format FPAs
NEC is entering the merchant market with two VOx microbolometers having 320 x 240 and 640 x 480 formats. The two microbolometers have the smallest pixel sizes (23.5 µm) currently available for either the commercial or military markets.
World Infrared Markets
The combined world commercial and dual-use infrared imaging and spot infrared thermometry market is growing rapidly. Uncooled infrared focal plane array technology used in a broad range of applications continues to be the major driving factor.
Opgal Partnering with WinSoft to Penetrate the U.S. Market
Opgal is partnering with WinSoft on infrared systems. Opgal cameras will be available with the WinSoft ThermaVu software development kit for image analysis, camera control and thermal analysis.
SPIE’s Infrared Technology and Applications Conference
SPIE’s Infrared Technology and Applications XXXII Conference – a part of SPIE’s DSS - Defense & Security Symposium - will feature the latest developments in IR technology and sensor systems. The five day conference will be held from April 17 to April 21 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center, Orlando, Florida.
February 2006
RedShift Gets VC Funding
RedShift Systems has landed $12 million in first round venture capital financing. The round was led by InterWest Partners and also included strong participation from existing shareholders who sponsored the 2005 spin-off of RedShift from Aegis Semiconductor, Inc.
CardioOptics Receives $26.5 Million Investment
A New Market for SWIR Cameras
January 2006
A New Honeywell License
Honeywell is continuing its bid to license a broad swath of uncooled microbolometer technologies. In the latest agreement, L-3 Communications has reached a license agreement for the amorphous silicon microbolometers being made by its L-3 Infrared Products unit (formerly Raytheon Commercial Infrared).
ULIS Large FPA Goes into Production
ULIS has moved it’s large format (640 x 480 with 25 µm pixels) amorphous silicon uncooled microbolometers into production. The chip is based on a single-level microbridge, thus avoiding the complexity and expense of dual-level designs.
Bell Labs and Isonics Partner
Lucent Technologies Bell Labs and Isonics Corp. are partnering to develop a “next-generation” infrared imaging and night surveillance technology. The intent is to develop a high-performance, low-cost uncooled focal plane array based on MEMS (micro electro-mechanical systems) technology.
IRCAM Introduces New Product
IRCAM GmbH, the new company founded in May 2005, by former managers of Thermosensorik GmbH has introduced a new dual-band QWIP camera. The GEMINIS 110k ML makes use of a dual-band 384 x 288 QWIP FPA made by AIM Infrarot-Module.
First Infrared Special Comprehensive License
The first “Special Comprehensive License” (SCL) for exporting thermal imaging cameras has been granted by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The four-year license is for shipments of predictive maintenance cameras based on 160 x 120 pixel uncooled microbolometers to European Union countries.
Extreme CCTV and Obzerv Cancel Second Investment
Extreme CCTV has declined to make a second investment of $3 million in Obzerv Technologies Ltd. However, the two companies continue to work together to develop a new high-end security camera, LX300, based on Obzerv’s range-gated laser camera.
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