Optical Thermal Imaging

The expanding use of thermal imaging technology for maintenance technicians, contractors, facilities managers, firefighters, law enforcement officers and security personnel is saving lives, property and money today.  The applications for thermal imaging are virtually unlimited.  But despite the benefits of thermal imaging, it has been adopted only on a limited basis because of the high price.  How can the benefits of thermal imaging be experienced by more users?  The adoption of optical thermal imaging solutions, as compared to electronic thermal imaging solutions, is the fastest, most reliable path to ensure that users of thermal imaging technology have the tools they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.

The heart of RedShift's Optical Thermal Imaging platform is the Thermal Light Valve (TLV).  A microbolometer, the incumbent thermal imaging technology, is an electrically read-out sensor and is built with a low-yield, multi-step process requiring specialized materials, IP licenses, dedicated foundries, time consuming calibration and expensive packaging.

The TLV, however, translates difficult-to-image thermal radiation into light which can be imaged by standard digital camera electronics.  The TLV chip itself is a passive optical component with no electronics or moving parts.  It is simple to manufacture in standard foundries with only a handful of mask steps.  And since it essentially converts a standard digital camera into a thermal camera, the whole system can be made in high volumes and at very low costs using standard components and assembly techniques.

Benefits of RedShift's Optical Thermal Imaging platform include: 

• Core component cost reduction by a factor of 10x
• Transition to consumer-electronics manufacturing model using COTS components, third-party foundries and contract manufacturers
• No technology license required
• Wide OEM availability, commercial product mind-set and fast time to market for new products
• World’s first thermal imaging camera with built-in visible image blending
• Leveraging of CMOS imaging industry for continuous price / performance leadership

When compared to existing thermal imaging technologies, there is no question that RedShift's Optical Thermal Imaging platform offers unbeatable cost and capacity advantage making it the right choice for OEMs looking to introduce new mass-market thermal imaging products today.

Download our newest whitepaper to learn more about how the Optical Thermal Imaging platform compares to the microbolometer: Optical Thermal Imaging: The Case for Universal Deployment.