Cost-Benefit Analysis of SWIR Imaging Lens Technologies

Choosing the right imaging optics can be challenging when developing a machine vision system for a short-wave infrared (SWIR) application. Typical SWIR lenses require additional lens elements and groups to chromatically correct the lenses across the entire visible (VIS)-SWIR spectrum. This increase in materials can be costly and require additional considerations for design and machining, causing the prices of these lenses to increase dramatically compared to their visible counterparts.

However, a great number of SWIR applications do not require the versatility of the full VIS-SWIR spectrum to gather a complete image and instead rely on narrow SWIR bands. By applying a simple antireflective (AR) coating to a visible lens and utilizing a bandpass filter, you can reduce the cost of your system by an order of magnitude while achieving all system requirements. Razze conducts a cost-benefit analysis comparing the pros and cons of these two approaches to SWIR imaging, illuminating where each approach shines.

About the presenter
Christopher Razze is a machine vision sales engineer at Edmund Optics, where he helps customers source the right lenses, cameras, and illumination for their machine vision systems. After several technical sales roles at Edmund Optics, Razze began specializing in imaging lens technology and machine vision. He previously was a chemical process operator at Hikma Pharmaceuticals and received a BA in Chemical Engineering from Rowan University.