Very High Frame Rate Event-Based Imaging

Quantum Imaging (an SCD-USA company) is launching its next-generation SWIR camera, the MIRA 02Y-E, at the SPIE Defense + Commercial Sensing conference, the company announced on 27 April.

Enabling event-based imaging at very high frame rates, MIRA leverages capabilities SCD’s SWIFT-EI detector – the world’s first SWIR detector with a state-of-the-art read-out integrated circuit (ROIC) that addresses increasing demand for compact, lightweight, efficient components. The revolutionary ROIC enables VGA image format with SWIR imaging, multi-spot asynchronous laser pulse detection (ALPD), and a fast-imaging frame rate up to 1,600 frames per second. It also allows MIRA to offer an independent second stream of neuromorphic imaging for event detection, thereby reducing data communication volume while tracking ‘what changed in the scene’. MIRA adds coded spot tracking (CST) to provide the most flexibility in a SWIR imaging camera.

Ideal for advanced, low SWaP-C applications, the MIRA camera can be integrated into various air platforms, missiles, vehicles, and hand-held devices, making it uniquely versatile. Other advantages include an InGaAs focal plane array with a pixel pitch of 10µm, improved background-independence enabling operation with highly-illuminated scenes, and a low noise imaging mode (LNIM) for low light level (LLL) imaging and improved situational awareness.

“Now, for the first time, customers can benefit from a SWIR camera with built-in technology that can provide event analytics of numerous details. The MIRA expands and enhances the range of potential SWIR applications, such as hostile fire detection and identification, event-based imaging capabilities, and more,” stated CEO Mark Fydenkevez.