Q1：What are the advantages of mid-wave infrared (MWIR) compared to long-wave infrared (LWIR)?

Under the same conditions, MWIR can detect targets at about 2.5 times the distance of LWIR;It is less sensitive to the atmospheric environment and performs well in good weather;It is highly sensitive to temperature differences of high-temperature targets (like engine exhaust or hot components), has strong thermal contrast, and is suitable for detecting targets in dynamic scenes.

Q2：What is an MCT detector? Why do mid-wave infrared detectors have to use a cooled module?

MCT stands for Mercury Cadmium Telluride, which is a photon-type infrared detection material. It’s optimized for the 3.7–4.8 μm mid-wave infrared range, offering excellent sensitivity and response speed, making it suitable for high-performance thermal imaging. Mid-wave infrared photons have relatively high energy, so a Stirling cooler is needed to bring the focal plane down to a low temperature, reducing the detector’s own thermal noise. This allows for high-sensitivity imaging of ≤20 mK. Uncooled vanadium oxide detectors can’t work in the mid-wave infrared range.

Q3：What does cooling time mean, and how should we understand a refrigeration unit lifespan of ≥15,000 hours?

Cooling time: ≤8 minutes in a 20°C environment, ≤12 minutes in a 60°C high-temperature environment. This represents the time it takes from startup for the detector to reach its rated operating low temperature. The ≥15,000 hours refers to the designed service life of the refrigeration components, not the unconditional lifespan of the entire machine; vibrations, high temperatures, and frequent start-stop cycles can shorten the actual service life of the unit.

0.33MP 15μm Pixels, 3.7–4.8μm MCT MWIR Camera Core

Overview

Specification

Dimensions

CamerLink timing & parameter line

Physical Interfaces

Software

FAQ

Feedback

MWIR1503MCL Thermal Imaging Camera Core

This cooled MWIR camera core features a high-performance MCT detector with 640×512 resolution and 15 μm pixel pitch, delivering crisp thermal imagery. It achieves a fast cool‑down time of ≤8 minutes at 20 °C and ≤12 minutes at 60 °C, ensuring rapid operational readiness even in elevated ambient temperatures. With a dead pixel rate of ≤0.5 %, the core provides excellent image uniformity and reliability.

Features

3.7 – 4.8 µm spectral range

640 × 512 resolution

15 μm × 15 μm pixel size

Linear Stirling Cryocooler

With RS422/RS232 interface

Digital output is provided via Camera Link

Applications of the MWIR1503TCL

Attostek’s MWIR thermal imaging modules are engineered for demanding defense and industrial applications. They are widely deployed in long-range surveillance systems, enhanced flight vision systems, and multi-sensor payloads. Key use cases include soldier night vision solutions, thermal imaging sights, weapon identification, airspace monitoring, and infrared signature recognition. With reliable MCT detector technology and efficient linear Stirling cooling, MWIR1503MCL deliver critical thermal intelligence for mission-critical operations around the clock.

Detector Type	MCT
Resolution	640×512
F-Number	4.0
Pixel Size	15 μm×15 μm
Response Band	3.7 μm～4.8 μm
Cold Shield Distance	20.0±0.2mm
Cooling Method	Linear Stirling Cryocooler
Cool-Down Time	≤8min@20℃，≤12min@60℃
Mean Time To Failure (MTTF)	≥15000h (lifespan of cooler-related components)
NETD	≤20 mk
Dead Pixels	≤0.5％
Frame frequency	Default 50Hz, user-selectable range
Electrical Interfaces	Camera Link video; RS422/RS232 communication; BT656 power supply
Stable Power Consumption	≤ 16W @ 20°C
Peak Power Consumption	≤ 24W @ 20°C
Maximum Power Consumption	≤ 32W
Power Supply	DC 12-32V
Video Output	PAL (resolution 720×576, effective 640×512) BT656 (progressive or interlaced, default interlaced) Camera Link (14-bit Base mode)
Expandable Video	Network, SDI
Common Functions	Auto/Manual AGC, Two-point Correction, Shutter Correction, Scene Correction, Zoom, Image Freeze, Polarity & False Color, DDE, Defect Correction, External Sync, Image Flip
Operating Temperature	-40°C ~ +70°C
Storage Temperature	-50℃～+70℃
Vibration (Random Vibration)	5Hz ~ 28Hz, 0.0036 g²/Hz ~ 0.08 g²/Hz 28Hz ~ 250Hz, 0.08 g²/Hz 250Hz ~ 2000Hz, 0.08 g²/Hz ~ 0.0012 g²/Hz 3 axes (x, y, z), 1 hour per axis
Shock	Half-sine, 50g, 6ms (3 axes, 3 shocks per axis) Half-sine, 40g, 18ms (3 axes, 3 shocks per axis) Half-sine, 25g, 6ms (3 axes, 3 shocks per axis)
Dimensions	L148mm×W75mm×H98mm
Weight	≤1150g

Dimensions

The Cameralink interface timing is shown in the following Figure; When the parameter line is enabled, the digital video transmission size is 640*513, where the parameter line is the last line, with 16bits per pixel. The camerlink parameter line information is shown in the following Table:

Cameralink timing diagram

Parameter row Correspondence Table

Pixels	Data (bit15-0)	Notes
pix0	55AA	Frame header
pix1	AA55
pix2	AAAA
pix3	5555
pix4	Low position	Frame number
pix5	High position	Frame number
pix6	DATA	Synchronous mode (Bit8:0 inside, 1 outside) + system mode (bit1-0)
pix7	DATA	Current base range (Bit15-12) + total temperature range (Bit11-8) + current integral range (Bit7-4) + total integral range (Bit3-0)
pix8	Low position	Integral clock count
pix9	High position	Integral clock count
pix10	DATA	Focal length
pix11	DATA	Detector power-on status (bit0:0: power-off, 1 power-on)
pix12	DATA	This cooling completion time unit: s
pix13	DATA	Ambient temperature, magnified 10 times, signed number
pix14	DATA	Focal plane temperature, magnification 10
pix15	DATA	Polarity/pseudo-color (bit2-0)
pix16	DATA	Digital video mode (BIT1-0, 0: Y14, 1: Y8, 2: X14)
pix17	DATA	Frame rate, magnify 100 times
pix18	DATA	Electronic doubling (bit1-0)
pix19	DATA	Sharpening level (bit3-0)
pix20	DATA	Mirror mode (bit1-0)
pix21	DATA	Time-domain filtering mode (bit0, 0: off, 1: on)
pix22	DATA	Time-domain filtering parameters
pix23	DATA	Airspace filter switch (bit0, 0: off, 1: on)
pix24	DATA	Spatial filtering threshold
pix25	DATA	Brightness (Bit 7-0)
pix26	DATA	Contrast (bit7-0)

Pixels	Data (bit15-0)	Notes
pix0	55AA	Frame header
pix1	AA55
pix2	AAAA
pix3	5555
pix4	Low position	Frame number
pix5	High position	Frame number
pix6	DATA	Synchronous mode (Bit8:0 inside, 1 outside) + system mode (bit1-0)
pix7	DATA	Current base range (Bit15-12) + total temperature range (Bit11-8) + current integral range (Bit7-4) + total integral range (Bit3-0)
pix8	Low position	Integral clock count
pix9	High position	Integral clock count
pix10	DATA	Focal length
pix11	DATA	Detector power-on status (bit0:0: power-off, 1 power-on)
pix12	DATA	This cooling completion time unit: s
pix13	DATA	Ambient temperature, magnified 10 times, signed number
pix14	DATA	Focal plane temperature, magnification 10
pix15	DATA	Polarity/pseudo-color (bit2-0)
pix16	DATA	Digital video mode (BIT1-0, 0: Y14, 1: Y8, 2: X14)
pix17	DATA	Frame rate, magnify 100 times
pix18	DATA	Electronic doubling (bit1-0)
pix19	DATA	Sharpening level (bit3-0)
pix20	DATA	Mirror mode (bit1-0)
pix21	DATA	Time-domain filtering mode (bit0, 0: off, 1: on)
pix22	DATA	Time-domain filtering parameters
pix23	DATA	Airspace filter switch (bit0, 0: off, 1: on)
pix24	DATA	Spatial filtering threshold
pix25	DATA	Brightness (Bit 7-0)
pix26	DATA	Contrast (bit7-0)

The core’s external interfaces include: power interface, RS422 external control interface, analog video interface, digital video CameraLink interface, BT656 interface, and control lens interface. The first four physical interfaces are connected via a 25-pin connector, while the BT656 interface is connected via a 20-pin 0.5mm pitch FPC connector (pull-down type). The model of the 25-pin connector on the circuit board is J30JZLN25ZKWA000, and the corresponding mating connector’s model and definitions are shown in Table 1. The FPC connector pin definitions are shown in Table 2.

Table 1: J30JZ/XN25TJCAL01

Pin Number	Name	Definition
1,2	POWER+	Power Positive
14,15	POWER-	Power Ground
3	RS422_A1	Core Receive +
4	RS422_B1	Core Receive –
5	RS422_Y1	Core Transmit +
6	RS422_Z1	Core Transmit –
7	GND	RS422 Serial Port Ground
8	RS422_A2	External Sync Receive +
9	RS422_B2	External Sync Receive –
10	PAL_OUT1	Analog Video
11	AGND_ADV7179	Analog Video Ground
12	PAL_OUT2	Backup Analog Video
13	AGND_ADV7179	Backup Analog Video Ground
16	Tx285OUT0+	Digital Video
17	Tx285OUT0-
18	Tx285OUT1+
19	Tx285OUT1-
20	Tx285OUT2+
21	Tx285OUT2-
22	Tx285OUT3+
23	Tx285OUT3-
24	Tx285CLK+
25	Tx285CLK-

Table 2: 20-Pin FPC Pull-Down Connector

Pin Number	Name	Definition
20	BT656_CLK	Clock
19	BT656_D0	Data Bit 0
18	BT656_D1	Data Bit 1
17	BT656_D2	Data Bit 2
16	BT656_D3	Data Bit 3
15	BT656_D4	Data Bit 4
14	BT656_D5	Data Bit 5
13	BT656_D6	Data Bit 6
12	BT656_D7	Data Bit 7
11/10/9	DGND	Ground

The control serial port of the upper computer for the infrared movement is “SSCOM_INF_EN English new version.exe” (referred to as the control serial port). Double-clicking the file will generate the control interface.

The software operation steps are:

1) : Correctly select the port number of the serial port (depending on the computer being used), set the baud rate (115200 BPS), and then click “Open Serial Port”. After the correct Settings, the control serial port interface changes to the one shown in the figure on the right. The green box in the figure turns green, indicating that the control serial port is working properly.

2) Introduction to the control serial interface, with the red box representing quick commands, users can control the MWIR1503MCL infrared movement by clicking the buttons inside the box.

Quick Commands	Meanings	Quick Commands	Meanings
Menu	User menu, with only a few control functions	Expert Menu	Unavailable
Parameter +	Forward adjustment of parameters in the image	Parameter	Reverse adjustment of parameters in the image
Menu left shift	Move the parameters in the image left and right	Move the menu right	Move the parameters in the image left and right
FAR	Focus close	NEAR	Focus far
ZOOM_IN	Zoom in length	ZOOM_OUT	Push out the focal length
Serial pass-through	Click this command to release the serial communication to the lens serial port	Set the focal length	The focal length can be set manually
Focal length Query	Query lens focal length

Q1：What are the advantages of mid-wave infrared (MWIR) compared to long-wave infrared (LWIR)?
Under the same conditions, MWIR can detect targets at about 2.5 times the distance of LWIR;
It is less sensitive to the atmospheric environment and performs well in good weather;
It is highly sensitive to temperature differences of high-temperature targets (like engine exhaust or hot components), has strong thermal contrast, and is suitable for detecting targets in dynamic scenes.
Q2：What is an MCT detector? Why do mid-wave infrared detectors have to use a cooled module?
MCT stands for Mercury Cadmium Telluride, which is a photon-type infrared detection material. It’s optimized for the 3.7–4.8 μm mid-wave infrared range, offering excellent sensitivity and response speed, making it suitable for high-performance thermal imaging. Mid-wave infrared photons have relatively high energy, so a Stirling cooler is needed to bring the focal plane down to a low temperature, reducing the detector’s own thermal noise. This allows for high-sensitivity imaging of ≤20 mK. Uncooled vanadium oxide detectors can’t work in the mid-wave infrared range.
Q3：What does cooling time mean, and how should we understand a refrigeration unit lifespan of ≥15,000 hours?
Cooling time: ≤8 minutes in a 20°C environment, ≤12 minutes in a 60°C high-temperature environment. This represents the time it takes from startup for the detector to reach its rated operating low temperature. The ≥15,000 hours refers to the designed service life of the refrigeration components, not the unconditional lifespan of the entire machine; vibrations, high temperatures, and frequent start-stop cycles can shorten the actual service life of the unit.

640 X 512 MWIR Cooled MCT Infrared Camera Core

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MWIR1503MCL

MWIR Thermal Cameras Core with MCT Detector, 15 µm Pixel

2 Weeks

$26,500.00

Optional accessories – MWIR Lenses

Our Mid-Wave Infrared (MWIR) lens offers a wide range of optical solutions to enhance your thermal imaging system. They are designed to meet a wide range of detection, recognition, and identification requirements . Available as optional accessories, the lineup includes continuous zoom lenses covering ranges from 15‑300mm up to 60‑1200mm with aperture options of f/4.0 or f/5.5 depending on the model.

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