IR Photodetectors manufacturers are facing new Challenges …

This report covers technologies and applications of Infrared Imaging Photodetectors, cameras and related systems.

For more than 50 years, Infrared Photodetectors have been at the heart of critical defense and security night vision systems. They have also been used in commercial products (such as cameras for thermography) as well as in military and civil satellites.

Most IR Photodetectors are cooled and require cryogenic devices to achieve operating temperature.

IR Photodetectors manufacturers have been facing new Challenges in the last years:

- Continuing decline of military spending in many countries due to budget constraints (especially in US and Europe).

- Market entry of uncooled thermal detectors such as microbolometers, which are competitive for low/medium performance applications in LWIR.

- Unfulfilled needs for night vision equipment in terms of Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP).

… But addressing these challenges allows them to reach new market opportunities

These challenges have caused manufacturers of IR Photodetectors and systems as well as their R&D partners to intensify efforts:

To improve products performances while reducing cost and SWaP,

- To provide advanced and added functionalities such as multiband, multicolor, active imaging, integrated optics …

- To adapt their business models to reach new IR imaging applications and explore new markets.

Photodetectors are still the preferred components for IR military systems due to limitations of thermal detectors in terms of sensibility, frame rate and wavelengths. Infrared Photodetectors manufacturers also managed to respond to the endless need for greater mission capabilities in the area of Night Vision. Infrared Photodetectors are reaching new Opportunities in Defense but also in commercial and industrial markets (see figure below).

Along with market forecasts, this report details current and future trends in IR imaging Photodetectors and Systems.

Content of the report

1. Introduction
2. Overview of Infrared Imaging Technologies and Applications
3. IR Cameras and Systems Applications and Market Analysis
4. Infrared Photodetectors FPA Market Analysis
5. Infrared Photodetectors FPA Technologies
6. Conclusions
7. Appendix : IR Photodetectors Companies