Mid IR sensors can measure chemical composition of materials and gas. The efficiency is unmatched by any other technology, cost is increasingly competitive. Mid IR is extending use beyond military applications to commercial systems, including the Internet of things where sensors become part of network systems.
Mid-IR QCL systems have achieved price performance levels that are increasingly attractive. Vendors bring sensing capabilities to a broad range of applications, including: spectroscopic and bio-medical imaging; materials characterization; standoff explosive detection; microscopy; and non-destructive testing. Spectroscopy and imaging measurements are easier, faster and more cost-effective leveraging advances in Mid IR sensing.
Quantum Cascade Laser (QCL) technology is very promising. Mid-infrared sensors and imaging applications depend on quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology. Daylight Solutions quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology has been delivered to more systems for more customers in more applications than all other QCL-based solutions combined.
Advances in QC laser technology and spectrometer hardware are combined with spectroscopic techniques.
Intra pulse spectroscopy and similar techniques provide a major step change in sensitivity, speed of operation, fingerprinting capability, size and cost. They offer a major improvement on methods of gas detection. Recent advances in spectrometer hardware relate to QC gas sensors. Advances exploit recent technological advances including miniaturized integrated electronic systems, plug and play interfaces and micro optics. These will progressively replace unwieldy, fragile and expensive instrumentation.
The lasing wavelength for QCL's is determined by the choice of semiconductor material. By adjusting the physical thickness of the semiconductor layers new functionality is achieved. This removes the material barriers associated with conventional semiconductor laser technology.
An infrared spectroscopic laser source has no need for cryogenic cooling, provides high output powers, has large spectral coverage, provides excellent spectral quality, and has good tuneability.
Homeland security, military communications, infrared countermeasures, chemical warfare agent detection, explosives detection, medical diagnostics, imaging and industrial process controls, fire detection and remote gas leak detection, pollution monitoring, and real-time combustion controls are uses for the mid IR sensors.
According to Susan Eustis, "Taking mid-IR QCL systems to new price to performance levels, vendors bring new capabilities to a broad range of applications. Applications anticipated to gain market traction include: spectroscopic and bio-medical imaging; materials characterization; standoff explosive detection; microscopy; and non-destructive testing. Spectroscopy and imaging measurements are now easier, faster and more cost-effective than ever before."
Mid IR sensor markets at $789 million in 2012 are anticipated to reach $7 billion by 2019 as price performance increases and unit costs decrease from $3,000 per unit to $300 and even to $8 or less per unit on average drive further interest from commercial buyers. The decrease in size of units from bench size devices to portable units makes them more useful across the board in every industry.
Companies Profiled
Market Leaders
FLIR
Daylight Solutions
Structured Materials Industries
Maxion Technologies
SenseAir
Sofradir
Cascade Technologies
Market Participants
AdTechoptics
Aerocrine
Alpes Lasers / ALTechnologies
Block Engineering
Bosch
Cymbet
Northrop Grumman
Digi International
Directed Vapor Technology
Dust Networks
EnOcean GmbH
Ekips Technologies
Elliot Scientific
Finmeccanica
SELEX Galileo Inc.
Ferro Solutions
Flexible Electronics Concepts
Sensors 5
General Electric (GE)
Hamamatsu
II-VI incorporated / Marlow Industries
ILX Lightwave
IPG Photonics
Sensor Products
Johnson Controls
JonDeTech
Kidde Products Limited / Airsense Technology
Lockheed-Martin
M Squared
MIRTHE National Science Foundation
Mirthe Mid IR Sensor Breath Analyzers
Nanophase Technologies
Opto Solutions
PNNL Electronics and Systems Integration
Power Technology
Raytheon
Sensor Switch
Sentinel Photonics
Thermo Fischer Scientific / NovaWave Technologies
VIASPACE / Ionfinity
Check Out These Key Topics
Mid Infrared (IR) Sensors
Electro-magnetic spectrum
QC laser technology
Spectrometer hardware
Wireless Sensor Network
Wireless Nodes
Homeland security
Military communications
Infrared countermeasures
Chemical warfare agent detection
Explosives detection
Medical diagnostics
Industrial process controls
Remote gas leak detection
Pollution monitoring
Real-time combustion controls
Mid IR sensor
Microcontroller
Energy Harvesting
Vibration-Based Wireless Energy
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters
Thermoelectrics
Generating Power From Heat
Smart Computing
Wireless Sensor Networks
Smart Cities
Smart Buildings
Military Remote Energy Applications
Off-Grid Special Sensors
Pipeline Monitoring
Navigational aids
Thermoelectric cooling
Automotive Sensors
Sensor Lighting
Manganese dioxide
Nanoparticles, Nanotechnology Graphene
Self-assembly, Nanostructured Thin Films
Microgenerator Sensors
Vibration Sensors
Piezoelectricity
Solid State Technology
Microgenerator
Power Source Of Sensor
Sensor node
