The French infrared laboratory LETI/LIR has developed its first uncooled 320 x 240 amorphous silicon (a-Si) microbolometer with 25 µm pixels.
A digital fused weapon sight based on an uncooled VOx microbolometer and a Gen III image intensifier will undergo customer testing starting in November.
Thales Research & Technology, TRT, is preparing to move 640 x 512 pixel QWIPs into production. Researchers have already acquired dedicated production equipment for each process step and will move into new facilities (which will be shared with Alcatel in Palaiseau) in the second half of 2005.
The 2005 French Defense budget will include an order for 1,089 FELIN future infantry networked soldier systems. The FELIN systems will include uncooled infrared FPA-based weapon sights and a thermal goggle.
The U.S. Commerce Department processed a record number of export licenses for thermal imaging cameras during Fiscal 2004.
BAE Systems Avionics has become the European camera distributor for BAE Systems IR Imaging Systems line of uncooled VOx microbolometer cameras and modules.
Emerson Process Management CSI is making good use of two U.S. infrared patents issued in the mid 1990s. The company is pursuing companies for licenses in a broad range of applications involving infrared cameras.
Sensors Unlimited has found some machine vision applications that are uniquely suited to shortwave infrared (SWIR) cameras.