Learn more about Homeland Defense - Detecting Disguises at Border and Immigration Security Checkpoints Using Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) Cameras

Maintenance and repair work is costly to residential and commercial building owners. Each interior and exterior wall can contain valuable information below the paint surface. Quickly identify studs and structural elements and detailed information about your electrical, HVAC, water and security systems with IR inspection cameras

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SWIR cameras detect reflected light similar to visible cameras. Due to the high absorption of SWIR light in water, the swimmers shown in the SWIR image exhibit high image contrast making them easier to detect.

3D cerebrovasculature of mouse sensorimotor cortex (2.0×0.5 ×1.4mm3) acquired by 1310nm contrast-enhanced µODT. Right panel: statistical distribution of microvasculatural density (fill factor) as a function of depth below cortical surface. Arrows: penetrating pial vessels

SWIR cameras can detect hot temperatures similar to those observed in hot glass inspection. Using a SWIR camera, the hot wine glass is false colored to show the evenness of the heated areas of the glass. Additionally, SWIR light passes through glass, as demonstrated by the business card behind the wine glass. Sensors Unlimited SWIR cameras can be used for industrial inspection of glass manufacturing to detect defects and reduce scrap. Learn more about using Sensors Unlimited SWIR cameras for glass inspection

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Thermal imagers detect contrasts in temperature. Because the swimmers have similar temperature to the water they easily blend in with the background. This is called thermal crossover.

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Wide field-of-view high-speed SD-OCT image of the retina showing the structural detail of the retina and the choroid (the blood vessel layer under the retina).  These images assist in diagnosing, monitoring and treating eye diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy.

High-speed SD-OCT en-face map of the retinal blood vessel network called the choroid.  This illustrates a new level in eye diagnostics called OCT-Angiography where blood flow can be measured to determine tissue health.  In the above image the vessels in nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer of the retina are in red, those in the inner plexiform layer are in green, and in the outer plexiform layer are in blue.

Learn more about Near/Short wave Infrared Sensors for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) High Resolution Imaging in Tissue

SWIR image of the same scene using the high definition 1280x1024 JSX camera. SWIR cameras detect longer wavelength light than visible cameras, making the various layers of paint on the water tower appear in the SWIR image. SWIR cameras can be used to image artwork for authenticity and changes in design.

High-speed SD-OCT image of the front of the eye from the top of the Cornea to the bottom of the lens.  This slice of a 3D image capture assists eye surgeons to assess the cornea and lens before Lasic or lens replacement surgeries and to assess the potential for glaucoma as a result of the angle between the cornea and the iris.

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Image: SWIR thunderstorm cloud base near Lebanon, Indiana on 15 June 2016, showing the higher dynamic range and enhanced cloud texture details in the SWIR image. Researchers at Purdue University’s Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Department conducted a test program to determine the practicality of using Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) imaging to improve detection of poorly-visible tornadoes in supercell thunderstorms. The research concluded that there is a distinct possibility that SWIR video imagery can be beneficial to storm spotters. In particular it found that, “an ambiguous, non-tornadic cloud base lowering was quickly dismissed by a participant viewing the scene in SWIR, while a participant viewing the same scene in VIS light had a more difficult time determining that the feature was non-tornadic. Because SWIR light is less susceptible to scattering by intervening haze, allowing cloud base features to be more easily discerned.” Read more about the 1280JSX -30 fps and 1280JSX - 60 fps Mini SWIR Camera.

In vivo 3D CBFv networks on mouse sensorimotor cortex (2.4×2.0mm2) imaged by 800nm µODT vs. 1310nm µODT. (a, b): 3D rendering to illustrate dramatically enhanced image depth by 1310nm µODT; (a’, b’): the corresponding MIP images; (e-f): en-face CBFv images of sub-stack cortex at different depths from 0 -1.4mm; g) capillary CBFv at different depths. CTX: cortex, CC: corpus callosum. Low dose intralipid (0.5mg/kg/h) was given to the animal intravenously (i.v.) as optical contrast agent to enhance capillary flow sensitivity for panels a) and b).

Longer wavelengths of light pass more easily through atmospheric obscurants such as dust, haze, and smoke. Because the SWIR band has a longer wavelength than visible, Sensors Unlimited SWIR cameras are able to image scenes behind light smoke as seen in the forest fire image above.

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Longer wavelengths of light pass more easily through atmospheric obscurants such as dust, haze, and smoke. Because the SWIR band has a longer wavelength than visible, Sensors Unlimited SWIR cameras are able to image scenes behind light smoke as seen in the forest fire image above.

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The SWIR image easily defeats the disguise worn by the actor. Human hair and natural fabrics such as cotton are highly reflective in SWIR. Notice in the SWIR image where the actor’s natural hair meets the artificial facial hair worn in the disguise. Further note the actor’s black suit and shirt appear white in SWIR.

Thermal image of a glass window using a Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) imager. Thermal imagers detect contrasts in temperature, therefore the thermal camera produces an image of the temperature of the glass window and nothing behind the window.

Short wave infrared InGaAs cameras have the ability to take pictures through rain, haze, smog and other obscurants. The visible image above cannot be detected. However, a SWIR camera from Sensors Unlimited, Inc. is able to pentrate through atmospheric obscurants to determine what is behind it. This image was taken in late afternoon before dusk about 150 feet from the ground. The hotel that is shown here is around 1.5 miles away from the camera. Learn more about SWIR cameras.

SWIR image of the same scene using a Sensors Unlimited SWIR camera. SWIR light interacts with objects similar to visible light, therefore producing a familiar image through the glass window. Notice the cars in the parking lot have shadows similar to those produced by visible cameras. Because SWIR light passes through glass, commercial visible lenses can be used to produce SWIR imagery. However, imagery can be enhanced greater using a SWIR optimized lens.

The image above was taken 2 hours after sunset on a full moon night at a range of 250 m. The visible image was captured using a Canon 5D Mark iii with a 115 mm f/4.5 lens with exposure forced to 1/30 sec and ISO 12800.

Our short wave infrared (SWIR) cameras can extend vision into wavebands normally invisible to the eye and other types of thermal imaging. These near and shortwave IR images reveal details in clear, lifelike form. Click on an image below to enlarge it.

Visible and SWIR image of an apple. SWIR light has high absorption in water, making the bruised section of the apple easily detected in SWIR.

Short wave infrared InGaAs cameras have the ability to take pictures through rain, haze, smog and other obscurants. The visible image above cannot be detected. However, a SWIR camera from Sensors Unlimited, Inc. is able to pentrate through atmospheric obscurants to determine what is behind it. This image was taken in late afternoon before dusk about 150 feet from the ground. The hotel that is shown here is around 1.5 miles away from the camera. Learn more about SWIR cameras.

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Visible and SWIR image of an apple. SWIR light has high absorption in water, making the bruised section of the apple easily detected in SWIR. Learn more about using Sensors Unlimited SWIR cameras for agriculture inspection

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The visible image above is taken of an actor wearing artificial facial hair which is virtually undetectable with the visible camera.

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3D volumetric rendering of whole  OCT volume illustrating the ability of high-speed  SD-OCT to map the complete back of the eye in one capture.

Image: Visible thunderstorm cloud base near Lebanon, Indiana on 15 June 2016. Researchers at Purdue University’s Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Department conducted a test program to determine the practicality of using Shortwave Infrared (SWIR) imaging to improve detection of poorly-visible tornadoes in supercell thunderstorms. The research concluded that there is a distinct possibility that SWIR video imagery can be beneficial to storm spotters. In particular it found that, “an ambiguous, non-tornadic cloud base lowering was quickly dismissed by a participant viewing the scene in SWIR, while a participant viewing the same scene in VIS light had a more difficult time determining that the feature was non-tornadic. Because SWIR light is less susceptible to scattering by intervening haze, allowing cloud base features to be more easily discerned.”

SWIR cameras can detect hot temperatures similar to those observed in hot glass inspection. Using a SWIR camera, the hot wine glass is false colored to show the evenness of the heated areas of the glass. Additionally, SWIR light passes through glass, as demonstrated by the business card behind the wine glass. Sensors Unlimited SWIR cameras can be used for industrial inspection of glass manufacturing to detect defects and reduce scrap.

Find hidden moisture patterns identifying potential pipe or exteriors leaks before they spread. Our infrared cameras can help you perform building diagnostics and forensic analysis giving you clear images without performing destructive inspections.

SWIR direct image close-ups of the human eye, as shown above, demonstrates the level of detail captured. The transparency of the cornea extends well into the SWIR band and combined with reduced tissue scattering improves the fine detail captured over that of visible based cameras. This fine structure is a unique identifier of the individual so biometric matching algorithms and databases acquired in the visible should be fully applicable to the SWIR images. This opens up new flexibility in capturing iris images. Most importantly, SWIR offers the ability to capture iris images at distance with controlled lighting sources that are eyesafe and essentially undetectable as they don’t even trigger closure of the iris. SWIR offers the unique capability to capture iris images even when the individual wears regular eye glasses or even sunglasses.

The image above was taken 2 hours after sunset on a full moon night at a range of 250 m. The SWIR image above was taken using the high definition 1280x1024 JSX camera. The image was captured using a 50 mm f/1.4 SWIR optimized lens with exposure set to 1/30 sec. Due to ambient irradiance of the night sky, Sensors Unlimited’s high gain SWIR cameras are able to produce clear nighttime imagery over visible imagery.

Enface view of retinal blood vessel network. The vessels in nerve fiber layer and ganglion cell layer are in red, in inner plexiform layer are in green, and in outer plexiform layer are in blue. The large blood vessels which come across different layers.

SWIR image of the same scene using a SWIR illuminator which is not detectable with the human eye. Sensors Unlimited SWIR cameras can be equipped to vehicle platforms to provide driver vision enhancement in total darkness.