About Us
About Us
Last Updated (Thursday, 01 May 2008 13:03) Written by Sandstone Digital Monday, 09 October 2006 07:49
QWIP Technologies uses Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors to produce QWIP-Chip TM Focal Plane Arrays. These FPAs excel in both commercial and military applications requiring long wavelength operation, large formats, exceptional image quality and the utmost in thermal sensitivity.
QWIP Technologies holds a worldwide exclusive license (granted by the California Institute of Technology) for the technology of bound-to-quasibound QWIP detectors.
Why bound-to-quasibound QWIPs?
Bound-to-quasibound QWIP detectors have been demonstrated to have the highest quantum efficiencies. This type of QWIP was pioneered at the Jet Propulsion Laboratories (at CalTech) and is being commercialized by the team at QWIP Tech.
Why QWIP?
- LWIR Imaging (more photons in the long wave)
QWIPs allow infrared imaging and detection in the long wave portion of the spectrum (LWIR). Many objects of interest radiate strongest in the LWIR, giving of more photons - Very Uniform (ideal for large and very large formats)
QWIPS are very uniform and therefore ideal for large and very large formats due to the fact that they are made out of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) (see below). Large formats allow high resolution, which when coupled with the QWIP's high sensitivity, result in sharp, clear, highly detailed images - Mature Material System (GaAs) - Mature Process Technology
GaAs processing is well understood, stable and inexpensive. GaAs integrated circuits are used routinely in the cellular communications industry and can be found in nearly every cell phone - High Thermal Sensitivity
QWIPs offer excellent sensitivity to temperature changes and can easily detect changes as small as 0.03 degrees Celsius. QWIPs offer excellent image quality at a lower cost than other high performance LWIR wave detectors
All these characteristics result in
excellent image quality at a very low cost –
the best cost/performance ratio in the infrared sensor industry.