Optics and sensors specialist Clear Align introduced its Featherlight line of lightweight lenses optimized for shortwave infrared (SWIR) applications for UAS and man-portable electro-optics applications at the SPIE Defence, Security, and Sensors conference and trade show in Orlando, Florida.
The Featherlight family of SWIR lenses builds on the company’s INSPIRE line of lenses. SWIR sensors have particular strengths in night-vision optics over longer-wavelength thermal-imaging infrared sensors, such as SWIR’s ability to see through windows and provide resolution sufficient to recognized faces. SWIR performs poorly in total darkness, however, and is becoming popular in sensor-fusion applications when paired with long-wave infrared thermal imaging.
The pre-engineered, high-performance Featherweight SWIR lenses have F-numbers as low as 1.0, and are 25 to 50 percent lighter weight than competing lenses, says Michael Finlan, vice president of imaging at Clear Align. The SWIR lenses are for night vision, search and rescue, infrared tracking, and other applications operating in the 0.6-to-1.7-micron focal length. The lenses are athermalized from temperatures from -40 to 75 degrees Celsius.