The descriptions of the new products listed in this section are based on information supplied to us by the manufacturers. Physics Today can assume no responsibility for their accuracy. For more information about a particular product, visit the website at the end of the product description.
Imaging Converter
The ADCDS-1410 from C&D Technologies is a new application-specific video signal processor designed for electronic-imaging applications that use CCDs as their photodetector. It incorporates a user-configurable input amplifier, a correlated double sampler (CDS), and a sampling A/D converter in a single package to deliver 14-bit resolution and a throughput rate of 10 megapixels per second. The CDS circuit eliminates the effects of residual charge, charge injection, and “kT/C” noise on the CCD’s output floating capacitor to produce a valid video output signal. The ADCDS-1410 requires only the rising edge of a start-convert pulse to initiate its conversion process. The device includes a gain adjuster, an offset adjuster, a precision 2.4-V reference, and a programmable analog bandwidth function. C&D Technologies Inc, 3400 East Britannia Drive, Suite 122, Tucson, AZ 85706, http://www.cdtechno.com
Electron Detection Unit
Hamamatsu Corp has introduced the H8770 electron detector unit, which incorporates an extremely fast decay phosphor and a highly sensitive compact photomultiplier tube (PMT). The device is well suited for use in semiconductor inspection systems, scanning electron microscopes, mass spectrometry, and general electron detection applications. The phosphor (decay time of 2.3 ns) has low degradation against electron irradiation, so it has a long life. The PMT has a gain range of 1 × 102 to 1 × 106 and achieves a detectable-input electron-energy range of 5-12 keV; typical noise level is 20 mV. Designed as a module, the H8770 features a built-in high-voltage power supply, voltage divider circuit, and a high-speed amplifier with a bandwidth up to 150 MHz; it has an operating temperature range from 5 to 45 °C. Hamamatsu Corporation, 360 Foothill Road, P.O. Box 6910, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, http://www.hamamatsu.com
Machine Vision camera
Toshiba America Information Systems has announced the IK-TF7 three-chip CCD progressive-scan color camera with 1024 × 768 resolution. It features a small form factor, an advantage in space-sensitive machine vision applications. The new model has a smaller pixel size (4.65 × 4.65 μm) than the company’s earlier progressive-scan model and features a field-removable IR filter. The TF camera series design has effectively eliminated image jitter through the use of three -inch progressive-scan CCDs. The co-site sampling arrangement of the CCDs eliminates red-green-blue shift. The IK-TF7 offers a variable-speed, electronic, nine-step shutter ranging from 10 ms to 10 μs and an advanced trigger function. In the partial-scan mode, the camera provides up to 90 frames per second. Toshiba America Information Systems Inc, 9740 Irvine Boulevard, Irvine, CA 92618, http://www.toshiba.com/taisis/indmed/products.htm
Lens-Testing System
Wells Research and Development has launched the OS200, the newest version of the company’s OpticStudio family of lens-testing systems. It includes a CCD video camera, image analysis software, optical bench, and light source. Enhancements include a smaller, lighter, 12-bit CCD camera that provides standard 640 × 480 resolution and optional 1024 × 768; a larger rotary stage to handle centered loads up to 10 kg and a 0.1° vernier for precise angular settings; a more robust x-y-z stage assembly that permits more precise adjustments; an optional digital micrometer with 1-μm resolution; and a new optical rail that can be mounted either horizontally or vertically. The OS200 comes with the latest version of the company’s Pixel-Scope image analysis software. Wells Research and Development, 15A Lewis Street, Lincoln, MA 01773, http://www.wellsresearch.com
Progressive-Scan Camera
JAI PULNIX has developed the TM-6740GE dual-tap AccuPixel progressive-scan CCD camera with both analog and gigabit Ethernet output that is 8-bit or 10-bit software-selectable. The camera provides up to 200 frames per second at full resolution and partial scan and binning modes for up to 3205 fps. The camera features full synchronous reset with electronic shutter or pulse-width exposure control, which allows triggered image capture and processing: It incorporates a 640 × 480 resolution imager that uses 7.4-μm square pixels. Other features include automatic dual-channel compensation and a built-in pattern generator. The graphical user interface of the TM-6740GE gives the user control of all camera settings and acquisition modes, including gain, A/D reference, partial scan, and binning. JAI PULNIX Inc, 625 River Oaks Parkway, San Jose, CA 95134, http://www.jaipulnix.com
Laser Wavelength Meters
Bristol Instruments’ model 621 series laser wavelength meters enable users to determine the exact wavelength of their CW lasers. The new instruments incorporate optical interferometer technology and cover a wavelength range from 350 nm to 4.0 μm. The 621A can measure absolute wavelength to ±0.2 ppm (±0.0002 nm at 1000 nm); for less demanding applications, the lower-priced model 621B offers an accuracy of ±1.0 ppm (±0.001 nm at 1000 nm). To ensure accuracy, the 621A uses a stabilized, single-frequency, helium—neon laser as a wavelength reference, and the 621B uses a standard HeNe laser; the meters require a minimum optical input of only 1 μW. In addition to wavelength, the 621 series instruments measure total optical power for a more complete analysis of laser performance. Bristol Instruments Inc, 10 East Main Street, Victor, NY 14564, http://www.bristol-inst.com
Microscopy Camera
Photometries has introduced the Cascade II:512 microscopy camera that uses EMCCD (electron-multiplying CCD) technology for bioscience applications. Incorporating a thermoelectric-cooled detector that operates at −80 °C in a stainless-steel vacuum chamber, the new 16-bit high-resolution camera features a 512 × 512 pixel array with a 1.6-μm pixel pitch. Two independent readout amplifiers allow the Cascade II:512 to be operated either as an EMCCD camera (with on-chip multiplication gain) for low-light intensity or as a traditional, non-electron-multiplying CCD camera for the precise measurement of small signal variations. The new camera includes the company’s PVCAM application-programming interface, which offers plug-and-play compatibility with many third-party software packages. Photometrics, 3440 East Britannia Drive, Tucson, AZ 85706, http://www.photomet.com
40-GHz Optical Sampler
The Center for Integrated Photonics has released the 40G-PS-EAM-1550, a novel component that provides a sampling function operating at rates up to 40 GHz in the 1550-nm wave-band. The indium phosphide device can generate temporal windows of less than 5 ps duration with a low po-larization loss of typically 0.7 dB, a modulation depth of about 28 dB, and fine control over window shape and frequency. Based on an electro-absorption modulator, the device can be used in a variety of optical applications, including optical networks that use advanced attributes such as return-to-zero data modulation, pulse shaping, and optical time-division-multiplexing. The 40G-PS-EAM-1550 is fabricated using multiple quantum-well technology. Center for Integrated Photonics Ltd, B55 Adastral Park, Martlesham Heath, Ipswich, IP5 3RE, UK, http://www.ciphotonics.com
Cameras for X-Ray Applications
The PIXIS-XO camera line from Princeton Instruments/Acton targets applications such as x-ray microscopy, imaging, spectroscopy, and plasma diagnostics, and extreme-UV lithography. The cameras feature high sensitivity and a thermoelectric cooling system designed with special back-illuminated CCDs, without antireflection coating, for direct imaging of very-low-energy × rays (less than 30 eV). They can incorporate 1340 × 100 and 1340 × 400 formats and each can operate at 100 kHz and 2 MHz. When used with the software-programmable, high-capacity or high-sensitivity amplifier, the system can provide x-ray photon counting capability with up to a 16-bit dynamic range. With its USB 2.0 interface, the camera can run from a laptop computer. Princeton Instruments/Acton, 3660 Quakerbridge Road, Trenton, NJ 08619-9797, http://www.piacton.com
High-Power IR Light-Emitting Diode
OSRAM Opto Semiconductors has announced the Ostar Observation IR LED, designed for night-vision illumination systems that require performance from nonvisible light. The device comprises 10 thin-film chips that emit IR light with an output of 5 W at 1 A forward current. At a wavelength of 850 nm, the light is well suited for sensors in CMOS and CCD cameras. The Ostar Observation measures 3 cm × 1 cm and incorporates two rows of five 1-mm2 chips that emit almost all of its internally generated light from the top to produce an output ideal for external optics. The high output ensures that in a vehicle’s night-vision system, for example, the Ostar achieves a range of up to 150 m. In contrast to previously used halogen lamps, the IR LED does not need a filter. OSRAM Opto Semiconductors, 3870 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134, http://www.osram-os.com
Digital Color Camera
Optic Valley Photonics has developed the Opus I digital color camera, which uses the company’s Foveon X3 Pro 10M direct image CMOS sensor to enable electronic zoom and brilliant photocopy color imaging. The sensor contains 10.2 megapixels in a 2268 × 1512 three-layer matrix with a 9.12-μm pitch. The new three-layer technology produces in a 1-inch diagonal chip high resolution with no red-green-blue spatial sampling “holes.” It thus offers true color images free of the artifacts that are generated by traditional sensors with color filter arrays. The OPUS I features a 14-bit digital color output for each channel, still or video mode, real-time color processing, and a USB 2.0 interface that enables plug-and-play compatibility and does not require a frame grabber. Optic Valley Photonics Inc, 1250 West Panorama Road, Tucson, AZ 85704, http://www.opticvalleyphotonics.com
Photodiode Energy Detectors
Ophir Optronics has introduced the PD10 and PD10-pJ photodiode energy heads, improved to handle higher repetition rates up to 10 kHz on low-energy, high-repetition-rate lasers. Both heads include a spectral response from 0.19 to 1.1 μm, a built-in calibration in 1-nm increments, a damage threshold of 0.1 J/cm2, and a calibration accuracy of ±5%. The PD10 can measure pulse energies from 1 nJ to 20 μJ, and the PD10-pJ can make those measurements from 10 pJ to 200 nJ, both up to 10 kHz. The new energy detectors are compatible with the company’s Nova, Nova II handheld, LaserStar, dual-channel LaserStar, and Orion PE handheld smart displays. The displays’ plug-and-play instruments can operate with Ophir’s thermopile, pyroelectric, and photodetector heads. Ophir Optronics Inc, 260-A Fordham Road, Wilmington, MA 01887, http://www.ophiropt.com
CCD Cameras
The A630 and A640 series cameras from Basler Vision Technologies are based on progressive-scan CCD sensors. They are the first cameras in which the company has used CCD sensors in its A600 housings. The model A631f/fc incorporates 1.45 megapixels (1392 × 1040 pixels) in its sensor and runs at nearly 19 frames per second; the A641f/fc uses 2 megapixels (1624 × 1236) and operates at 14 fps. The suffix-f models are monochrome; color models are de-noted by suffix fc. The cameras can be triggered via an external sync signal or can operate in a free-run mode. The A630 and A640 series have the advantages of the standard cabling and adapter requirements of IEEE-1394. As with other Basler cameras, the maximum frame rate of the new models can be increased by using the area-of-interest feature. Basler Vision Technologies, An der Strusbek 60-62, 22926 Ahrensburg, Germany, http://www.basler-vc.com
Terahertz Emitter
Gigaoptics has released the Tera-SED 10, a gallium arsenide—based photo-conducting terahertz emitter for generating broadband THz-radiation derived from femtosecond laser pulses. The optical excitation power ranges from 50 μW/mm2 to 8 W/mm2. The device features a novel interdigitated electrode structure (see photo) that allows for a large active device area (10 mm × 10 mm) and a low bias voltage of 1-65 V at the same time, which eliminates the need for a pulsed, high-voltage supply. The Tera-SED 10 operates at a peak emission frequency of 1.0-1.5 THz with a spectral width of 1.5-2.0 THz, at a pulsed output field amplitude up to 85 V/cm, and with a bias modulation frequency of DC to 100 MHz. The device comes attached to a special mount that fits it on standard 1-inch optics holders. Gigaoptics GmbH, Blarerstrasse 56, 78462 Konstanz, Germany, http://www.gigaoptics.com
Digital CCD Camera
The Qlmaging Retiga 4000R digital camera has 4.19-megapixel resolution (2048 × 2048) with an aspect ratio of 1:1 in a 12-bit output. It is well suited for the 22-mm light column provided by many microscope camera mounts so that applications such as brightfield, darkfield, phase-contrast, and metallurgical microscopy are possible. High-speed, low-noise electronics enable linear digital data for rapid image capture. The IEEE-1394 FireWire interface facilitates easy single-wire installation to connect each camera to a computer. The Retiga 4000R is available in monochrome or color models, with or without cooling, and includes the company’s QCapture software. No frame grabber or external power supply is needed. QImaging, 4190 Still Creek Drive, Suite 180, Burnaby, BC, Canada V5C 6C6, http://www.qimaging.com
New Literature
Melles Griot has published Catalog X, a product and technology guide with more than 25 000 individual parts, 1100 new items, and an extensively expanded tutorial section with detailed theoretical and practical information on lasers, vibration-isolation systems, beam and spectral measurement, and optomechanical hardware. Melles Griot, Photonic Components Group, 2951 Palomar Airport Road, 200, Carlsbad, CA 92011, http://www.mellesgriot.com
