JULY 7--The Indigo Systems (Goleta, CA; www.indigosystems.com) Omega camera, reportedly the world's smallest, high-performance infrared camera, is now available with a FireWire option to increase modularity and extend the flexible architecture for custom configurations. The ultracompact, lightweight, thermal-imaging unit is shipping in quantities now.
The traditional thermoelectric stabilization has been completely eliminated in the Omega camera, allowing for ultralow power consumption (less than 1.5 W) and instant turn-on time of less than 2 s from turn-on to first image. The Omega's vanadium oxide microbolometer detectors are Indigo Systems' proprietary on-focal-plane signal processing, which outputs high image quality and advanced thermal resolution of less than 40 mK when normalized to f/1.0.
The tiny camera has both analog RS-170A (CCIR-optional) and 14-bit digital outputs for direct support of machine-vision and imaging applications. The Omega features an automatic function to switch into extended temperature range mode, allowing scenes to be imaged in temperatures up to 400°C.
The camera can be used in firefighting, search and rescue operations, security and surveillance, utility inspection, UAV payloads, and high-profile target surveillance. It is available in volume quantities, ready to ship.
