The ZephIR 1.7 from Photon etc. is a sophisticated, scientific-grade InGaAs camera with 640 x 512 pixels resolution. The camera couples performance with reliability. It features extremely high efficiency, low noise levels and a quick frame rate compatible with an external trigger.
All these features are achieved by a combination of the latest control electronics and a four-stage thermoelectric cooler (TEC), which can retain an operating temperature as low as −80 °C. In return, the TEC makes use of forced air cooling, which needs none of the maintenance required by a water-cooled or liquid nitrogen-cooled unit.
The ZephIR 1.7 is considered to be one of the most sensitive and dependable InGaAs cameras commercially available.
Key Features
- Spectral range covers fro0.45 to 1.7 µm
- InGaAs FPA
- Low noise level
- Most sensitive high-end NIR-SWIR camera
- Four-stage thermoelectric cooling
Applications Overview
- Biochemistry and nanosensors: To push the development of NIR-I and NIR-II biomarkers for NIR-II imaging applications, the company should have the correct tools to detect the fluorescence signal in this area that is different from traditional silicon-based CCD technologies.
- Pharmacology: In vivo NIR-II monitoring pharmacokinetics and biodistribution in real-time improves and substitutes current techniques utilized in the NIR-I and visible wavelengths.
- Physiology: Users can study the physiological activity in vivo like the endocrine system, the nervous system, the heart blood circulation, the gastrointestinal motility and digestive system, the oxygen delivery to utilization matching, the water and salt balance, etc.
- Clinical: Perfect for image-guided surgery as in NIR-II than NIR-I offers greater tumor-detection sensitivity, a higher tumor-to-normal-tissue signal ratio and an improved tumor-detection rate.
- Remote sensing: Aerial imagery offers foundational context and visualization of ground conditions. This empowers organizations to make crucial and time-sensitive decisions.
- Process monitoring and inline sorting: Classifying systems for plastic vs biocomposite or paper vs cardboard helps enhance the secondary material quality.
- Mining and geology: Geologists spend less time in logging data and more on interpretation while enhancing the consistency, quality and timeliness of geological data captured.
- Agribusiness: Soil or food quality can be enhanced by examining the contaminants in soils, the sugar or water content of fruits or fat and protein levels in liquid.
Cooling Swir Sensors: An Overview
Dark current is known to be a crucial parameter in the search for ways to obtain a scientific imaging camera, particularly in the short-wave infrared (SWIR) region. Great attention should be paid to the cooling technique utilized to improve this parameter.
There are multiple cooling technologies, each having a few advantages and disadvantages. In its ZephIR and Alizé line of SWIR cameras, Photon etc. makes use of a four-stage thermoelectric (TE4) air-cooled system to improve the sensitivity of its imaging sensors.
Product Specifications
Source: Photon etc
| |
ZephIR 1.7x |
ZephIR 1.7s |
| Focal plane array (FPA) |
InGaAs |
InGaAs |
| FPA size (px) |
640 x 512 |
640 x 512 |
| Pixel size (µm) |
15 |
15 |
| Spectral range (QE > 10%) |
0.45 - 1.70 µm |
0.95 - 1.70 µm |
| FPA operating temperature |
-80 °C |
-80 °C |
| Dark current (sensor at -80 °C) |
Target at 21 °C: <300
(Typ. ~235) ē/px/s. |
Target at 21 °C: <300 (Typ. ~250) ē/px/s. |
| Gain setting (ē/ADU) |
High: 2.67 | Low: 47.5 |
High: 2.2 | Med: 7.7 | Low: 93 |
| Readout noise (ē) |
High: 22 | Low: 135 |
High: 35 | Med: 75 | Low: 350 |
| Frame rate in CameraLink™ (fps) |
High: 105 | Low: 210 |
Up to 240 full frame. 1900 for a 128x128 px ROI |
| Frame rate in USB 3.0 (fps) |
High: 110 | Low: 220 |
Up to 250 full frame. 1900 for a 128x128 px ROI |
| Digitization (bits) |
13 |
14 |
| Quantum efficiency |
>70% 0.95 - 1.67 µm at 25 °C and
>70% 0.87 - 1.60 µm at -80 °C |
>70% 1.00 - 1.65 µm at 25 °C and
>70% 0.95 - 1.56 µm at -80 °C |
| Computer interface |
CameraLink™ or USB 3.0 |
CameraLink™ or USB 3.0 |
| Dimensions |
169 mm x 130 mm x 97.25 mm |
169 mm x 130 mm x 97.25 mm |
| Weight |
2.6 kg |
2.6 kg |