SWIR Imaging in Degraded Environments
Extended SWIR imaging can improve visibility through obscurants such as smoke or fog and can support surveillance, search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and industrial inspection.
Extended SWIR Infrared Camera
ZephIR 2.5e Extended SWIR Camera for 1000-2500 nm Imaging
ZephIR 2.5e is a deeply cooled extended-SWIR infrared camera designed for demanding scientific, industrial, and defense imaging applications requiring sensitivity beyond the standard 1700 nm InGaAs range.
With a 640 x 512 T2SL focal plane array, 15 um pixels, thermoelectric cooling to -80°C, USB 3.0 and Camera Link interfaces, and 16-bit image formats, the ZephIR 2.5e is well suited for low-noise extended SWIR imaging, laser profiling, degraded-environment imaging, spectroscopy-related imaging, and R&D applications.
ZephIR 2.5e Extended-SWIR Camera Overview
The ZephIR 2.5e extends infrared imaging performance to 2500 nm using a T2SL sensor and deep thermoelectric cooling. It is designed for users who need low-noise imaging, high operability, scientific file formats, and reliable extended-SWIR performance in a compact camera platform.
1000-2500 nmSpectral range
640 x 512T2SL sensor format
-80°CCooling temperature
240 fpsFull-frame rate
14-bitDigitization
USB 3.0 / Camera LinkComputer interfaces
Main Advantages of the TEC + Forced-Air Cooling System
- Compact extended-SWIR camera design for laboratory, industrial, and field-oriented setups.
- No maintenance cooling architecture compared with liquid-nitrogen or cryogenic approaches.
- Low dark current and low readout noise for demanding measurements.
- Highly reliable design with long lifetime and simplified system integration.
ZephIR 2.5e Technical Specifications
The following specifications are summarized from the ZephIR 2.5e datasheet supplied for this page rebuild.
| Sensor | T2SL FPA |
|---|---|
| Sensor Format | 640 x 512 |
| Pixel Size | 15 um |
| Spectral Range | 1000-2500 nm |
| Peak Quantum Efficiency | 55% |
| Typical Operability | >99% |
| Cooling Temperature @ 20°C Ambient | -80°C |
| Cooling Method | TEC + forced air |
| Typical Dark Current | 30 M#/px/s |
| Frame Rate | 240 fps |
| ROI Frame Rate | Up to 4000 fps |
| Integration Time Range | From 1 us to full well capacity |
| Digitization | 14 bits |
| Image Format | 16-bit HDF5, FITS, and TIFF |
| Software | PHySpec control and analysis software; SDK for C++ and Python |
| Computer Interface | USB 3.0 and CameraLink |
| External Control | Trigger IN/OUT |
| Ambient Temperature Range | 10°C to 35°C |
| Power Supply | 12 VDC |
| Dimensions | 169 mm x 130 mm x 97.25 mm |
| Weight | 2.9 kg |
Gain, Readout Noise, and Full-Well Capacity
The ZephIR 2.5e provides selectable gain settings to balance sensitivity, dynamic range, and full-well capacity for different imaging conditions.
| Gain Mode | Typical Gain Setting | Typical Readout Noise | Typical Full-Well Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| High | 2.3 e-/ADU | 45 e- | 28 ke- |
| Medium | 7.4 e-/ADU | 75 e- | 110 ke- |
| Low | 90 e-/ADU | 300 e- | 1400 ke- |
Applications for ZephIR 2.5e Extended SWIR Imaging
Extended SWIR imaging to 2500 nm opens additional contrast mechanisms beyond standard InGaAs cameras. The ZephIR 2.5e is especially useful when longer SWIR wavelengths provide better material contrast, improved visibility, or laser measurement capability.
2-D Intensity Profiling
The ZephIR 2.5e can be used for 2-D intensity profiling of collimated supercontinuum sources and other SWIR laser or broadband sources where spatial energy distribution must be measured.
Scientific and Industrial R&D
Use extended-SWIR imaging for material studies, spectroscopy-related imaging, laboratory measurements, thermal-background-sensitive experiments, and advanced optical system development.
Software, Interfaces, and Integration
The ZephIR 2.5e is designed for scientific imaging workflows and system integration. USB 3.0 and Camera Link interfaces support flexible connection to laboratory computers and machine-vision style acquisition setups, while the included software and SDK support camera control, analysis, and custom integration.
PHySpec Software
Control and analysis software for camera setup, acquisition, and measurement workflows.
SDK Support
C++ and Python SDK support for custom software development and automated acquisition.
Scientific Formats
16-bit HDF5, FITS, and TIFF formats support scientific imaging, analysis, and data archiving.
Need Help Selecting an Extended-SWIR Camera?
Pembroke Instruments can help you evaluate whether ZephIR 2.5e is the right camera for your wavelength range, sensitivity, exposure time, optics, illumination, interface, and software requirements.
Request Technical Support
Send your wavelength range, field of view, working distance, frame rate, exposure time, and software requirements so we can recommend the best camera configuration.
Contact Pembroke Instruments ->Compare with Standard SWIR Cameras
If your application does not require 2500 nm response, a standard 900-1700 nm InGaAs SWIR camera may offer a better cost/performance match.
Compare SWIR Cameras ->