Latest developments at FLIR have led to a new camera design spectrally tuned for the near infrared (NIR) range (900-1700 nm). Based on a French-made indium-gallium-arsenide (InGaAs) focal plane array (FPA) photovoltaic detector, the latter being also available as a VisGaAs detector (covering the 0.4 – 1.7 ?m spectrum), the FLIR SC2500 offers an outstanding image quality. The FLIR SC2500 is a high-end nearinfrared camera that perfectly complements FLIR’s range of products for R&D and automation applications.

Wide Range of Applications
When it comes to NIR applications, fields of study are almost endless. The camera embeds all necessary images processing in order to deliver ready to use, sharp images for applications, such as:

• Non Destructive Testing (NDT) of e.g. solar cells, wafers, and silicon materials
  
• High temperature thermography (steel plants, furnaces)
  
• NIR spectroscopy
  
• Low light conditions imagery
  
• Laser beam profiling, eye-safe laser detection
  
• Paint analysis
  
• Water or ice detection
  
• Astronomy
  
• Medical applications (dental inspections, see-through-blood surgery, skin damage evaluation)

With its extensive product offer, FLIR now covers the full infrared spectrum, from 0.9 μm up to 12 μm. This new camera is based on a European InGaAs detector, and comes with unique features such as triggering capability (In & Out), high speed frame rate, a filter holder, an embedded Lock-In input ready for any application requiring image correlation process and a user-selectable integration times up to 1 second. “The SC2500-N is a versatile camera that will open new markets in the fields of industrial and scientific imaging applications, while being perfectly suited for high-temperatures thermography applications by using state-of-the-art FLIR’s embedded calibration”, says Karsten Eggert, VP Sales & Marketing EMEA.

Powerful and Versatile
The new SC2500-N camera is not “just another NIR camera” : small, lightweight, easy to carry, easy to setup, yet powerful and versatile, it features some unseen and sought features, like a snap-in filter holder, a Lock-In input and an ultra fast frame rate up to 15 kHz. Fitted with state-of-the-art capabilities, the SC2500-N will perfectly find its place in a lab performing spectra data collection of chemicals, integrated into an inline process for food inspection, or in severe industrial environments for furnaces temperatures measurements.

The embedded French InGaAs detector offers a real added value when compared to coated CCD and lead-oxysulfide detectors (vidicons). Spectral sensitivity is all the way up to 1700 nm, unlike coated CCD detectors or vidicons whose quantum efficiency drops to 1-2% in the 1100-1700 nm range.

Its removable lens interface makes it easy to integrate with custom devices or spectrometers, while a Gigabit Ethernet digital interface ensures a seamless connection to standard PC and laptops. With almost 10 years of experience in the design and fabrication of InGaAs detectors and cameras, FLIR has grown an extensive knowledge in this technology, thus offering a first-rate partnership to develop your application.