Making the invisible visible with SWIR and UV cameras

By integrating new short-wave infrared (SWIR) and ultraviolet (UV) image sensors into the proven GigE and USB3 cameras, Balluff has expanded its vision application possibilities to frequency ranges beyond visible light.

While most image processing applications are performed in the visible light range (380 nm –780 nm), some applications benefit from image capture outside of this range. Our new camera models utilize the expanded range of Sony Pregius S CMOS sensors with global shutter technology, allowing them to produce high resolution, detailed images from 200 nm (UV range) up to 1700 nm (SWIR range).

The use of the existing GigE, 10GigE and USB3 camera platforms makes the use of SWIR and UV technology particularly easy. There are no changes to the integration and handling of the cameras compared to previous models. You also benefit from GigE Vision, USB3 Vision and GenICam compatibility with these SWIR and UV models.

The wide range of applications in the ultraviolet range includes wafer inspection, differentiation of transparent plastics in waste sorting, and the detection of corona discharges in insulation defects on high-voltage cables.

In the SWIR light range, agricultural products, for example, can be inspected, as can fill levels in opaque plastic containers. When producing medical products such as transdermal patches, the amount of active ingredient applied can also be controlled. SWIR sensors offer advantages in monitoring tasks, as the objects of interest can still be easily recognized even in smoke or fog, which become transparent. SWIR sensors are also used in semiconductor inspection, as silicon also appears transparent in SWIR light ranges.

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