New Sensors Unlimited 2048-pixel InGaAs Linescan Camera for 3-D Optical Coherence Tomography

Feb. 1, 2013 - PRLog -- UTC Aerospace Systems, a unit of United Technologies Corp. , announces the next generation Sensors Unlimited shortwave infrared (SWIR) digital Linescan camera for Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT).  The new high-resolution, indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) SWIR camera will be showcased during SPIE’s BiOS and Photonics West Exhibitions, February 2-7, 2013, in UTC Aerospace Systems booths (# 8811 for BiOS and #811 for Photonics West) at The Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA.  

   This camera breaks new ground for SD-OCT when used at the center wavelengths of 1.05, 1.31 or 1.55 microns by delivering A-line rates of >76,000 lps, which is near the maximum for Base Camera Link® interfaces.  With 10 micron pitch, this development achieves the highest optical and spectral resolution available for any InGaAs camera.  This pitch also enables ophthalmic OCT instrumentation companies to easily adapt their current 0.84 micron SD-OCT spectrometers, which use the same pitch.  The pixel height, or imaging aperture, is 210 microns, providing easier alignment for fiber-optic based spectrometers, and high-sensitivity for machine vision applications.  A square pixel version will be available in the future.

   The new SWIR camera, model GL2048L-10A, shrinks the depth needed behind the optical path, as its total thickness is 0.64 inches (16.3 mm); this enables easy integration into spectrometers and lens based imaging systems.  Ideally suited for high-line rate applications, the camera also supports rates down to 100 lps for inspection applications that need up to 10 ms integration times.  Multiple pixel gain settings enable the user to tradeoff between the highest sensitivity and the best dynamic range, as their particular application may need.  User commands include digital scaling, exposure, line-rate, and the ability to create non-uniformity corrections as needed.  External triggering and exposure control are also possible, via the Camera Link cable.

   The first attached image shows the whole front of an eye in 3-D, captured in-vivo with the new Sensors Unlimited camera at 1310 nm, imaging 8 mm from the eyelid to the lens below the iris, with a resolution of 1.3 microns.  The second image shows the retina, acquired at 1.05 microns and demonstrating 6 mm depth range with 11 micron resolution (images and use of the Telesto SD-OCT system courtesy of ThorLabs GmbH).

   UTC Aerospace Systems designs, manufactures and services integrated systems and components for the aerospace and defense industries. UTC Aerospace Systems supports a global customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and customer service facilities.

   United Technologies Corp., based in Hartford, Connecticut, is a diversified company providing high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.