0.33 MP 15µm Pixels CQD SWIR Camera

Cooled CQDs CMOS SWIR Cameras

The SWIRQ series cameras are equipped with CQD CMOS sensors, delivering exceptional imaging performance. With 0.33MP resolution and 15 µm pixel size, combined with a TEC cooling design, the cameras offer high sensitivity and low noise performance, ensuring clear, stable, and high-quality imaging in widely applicable in innovative fields such as scientific research, medical imaging, and semiconductor inspection.

Features
400-1700 nm ultra-wide spectral response
USB 3.0 high-speed data interface
TEC cooling design
Global shutter, high-speed acquisition
12/14-bit selectable ADC
Hardware ROI & external triggering
512MB large cache buffer
CE/FCC Cerifcation,Multi-platform SDK
Software

AttosView supports Windows® 7 (64-bit),10 and 11 operating systems.
The SDK supports development languages such as C/C++, C #/VB.net, Python, Java, etc,
Third-party support including LabVIEW, MATLAB, Micro-Manager, DirectShow, and TWAIN.

Images acquired by the SWIR camera

The CQD CMOS SWIR cameras are extensively applied in machine vision, material sorting, scientific experiments and industrial inspection. The SWIR camera enabling high-precision quality control for semiconductor defect detection, plastic/food/pharmaceutical sorting, and printing inspection. They also excel in complex environments, capturing clear images through haze, smoke, and dust.

Common Specifications
Product ModelSWIR1503QU1, SWIR1503QU2
Camera seriesSWIRQ Series
Sensor typeCQD CMOS
Color TypeMonochrome
Pixel Size15µm x 15µm
Sensor Size3/4″
ADC14-bit 
Image Buffer512MByte
QE40%
Exposure Time Range16µs~5s
Shutter ModeGlobal Shutter
Data interfaceUSB3.0
Digital I/O1 channel of optically isolated input,
1 channel of optically isolated output
Data FormatMono 12 / Mono 14
Cooling Temperature Difference40°C below ambient temperature
Optical Filter 400-1800nm (Standard); 1030-1800nm (Optional)
Power consumption8.4W(TEC OFF)/ <16W(TEC ON)
Operating Temperature-30 °C to +60 °C
Storage Temperature-40 °C to +85 °C
Humidity20%-80%,no condensation
Size68mm×68mm×90.3mm
Weight485g
Lens mountC-mount
SoftwareAttosView / SDK
CertificationCE, FCC
Swir1503qu1 Qe
Quantum Efficiency Curve of SWIR1503QU1
As Swir1503qu2 Qe
Quantum Efficiency Curve of SWIR1503QU2
Optical Filter
Optical Filter
The SWIRQ series USB3.0 Interface Refrigerated Camera Dimensions & Port
ParameterSpecification
Size68*68*90.3mm 
MountC mount
ItemSpecification
1DC 12V power
2External IO connection port
3USB3.0 port
SWIR Camera Pin Signal
Table1: USB port, GigE port, CL port refrigerated camera pin signal definitions
Swir051 Series Camera Pin SignalColorPinSignalDescription of the signal
White1GDNDirect-coupled signal ground
Red212V12VDC power input
Blue3OPTO_GNDOpto-isolated signal ground
Yellow4DIR_GPIO0Direct-coupled General Purpose I/O (Software configurable input/output) (line2)
Black5DIR_GPIO1Direct-coupled General Purpose I/O (Software configurable input/output) (line3)
Green6OPTO_INOpto-isolated input signal (line0)
Pink7OPTO_OUTOpto-isolated output signal (line1)
I/O electrical characteristics

Opto-isolated input circuit (line0)

Logic 0 input level: 0~2.2VDC (OPTO_IN pin)
Logic 1 input level: 3.3~24VDC (OPTO_IN pin)
Maximum input current:30mA

When the input level is between 2.2V and 3.2V, the circuit operation state is uncertain, please do not let SWIR camera work within this voltage range.

Input rise delay (TDR): 6us
Input fall delay (TDF): 6us

Figure 1:Input logic levels

Opto-isolated output circuit (line1)

The opto-isolated output maximum current is 30mA.

Figure 2: Output logic levels

The electrical characteristics of the opto-isolated output (external voltage 5V, external resistor 1K) are shown in Table 2.

Table 2: Opto-isolated output signal’s electrical characteristics
Parameter nameParameter notationParameter value
Output logic lowVL742mV
Output logic highVH4.134V
Output rise timeTR4us
Output fall timeTF1.8us
Output rise delayTDR12us
Output fall delayTDF2us

The output of the corresponding output current and VL when using different voltages and resistors in externalcircuit are shown in Table 3.

Table 3:Opto-isolated output logic’s low levels parameters
External voltageExternal resistorVLOutput current
3.3V1KΩ510mV2.82mA
5V1KΩ742mV4.31mA
12V2.4KΩ795mV4.68mA
24V4.7KΩ850mV4.97mA

Input and output I/O circuit (line2/line3)

1. Line2/line3 is set as input pin
Logic 0 input level: 0~0.6VDC (DIR_GPIO0/DIR_GPIO1 pins)
Logic 1 input level: 2.0~24VDC (DIR_GPIO0/DIR_GPIO1 pins)
Maximum input current: 25mA
When the input level is between 0.6V and 2.0V, the circuit action state is uncertain, please avoid the input voltage range working in this range.

To prevent damage to the GPIO pins, please connect the pin GND first, and then input voltage to the Line2 pin.
Input rise delay (TDR): 0.02us
Input fall delay (TDF): 0.02us

Figure 3: Input logic levels

2. Line2/line3 are set as output pins
The maximum current allowed through this pin is 25mA.

The external pull-up voltage is 5V, the pull-up resistor is 1KΩ, and the GPIO is configured to output the logic level and electrical characteristics as shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4: Output logic levels

When the ambient temperature is 25 degrees Celsius, the relationship between the external voltage, resistance and low-level voltage output is shown in Table 4.

Table 4:Non-isolated output Logic’s low level parameters
External voltageExternal resistorVL(GPIO)
3.3V1KΩ0.11V
5V1KΩ0.167V
12V2.4KΩ0.184V
24V4.7KΩ0.385V
Table 5: Non-isolated output electrical characteristics
Parameter nameParameter notationParameter value 
Output rise time TR 0.08us 
output fall time TF 0.02us 
Output rise delay TDR 0.1us 
Output fall delay TDF 0.04u
AttosView

AttosView support all Attostek UV-VISion and SWIR cameras ,it is a professional software that integrates camera control, image acquisition and processing, image browsing and analysis functions.

AttosView has the following characteristics:

  • x86: XP SP3 and above; CPU support SSE2 and above
  • x64: Win7 and above
  • Support video mode and Trigger Mode (Raw format or RGB format)
  • Automatic capture and quick recording capabilities
  • Support multiple languages
  • Hardware ROI and digital binning capabilities
  • Rich image processing functions, such as image stitching, real-time overlay, flat field correction, dark field correction, etc.
Introduction to SDK content

ascamsdk support a variety of APIs, including: Native C/C++,.NET/C#/VB.NET, Python, Java, DirectShow, Twain, LabView, Matlab, etc. Compared with other APIs, Native C/C++ API as a low-level API is characterized by using pure C/C++ development without relying on other runtime libraries. The interface is simple and the control is flexible.

SDK support platform
  • Win32:
    x86: XP SP3 and above; the CPU needs to support at least the SSE2 instruction set.
    x64: Win7 and above.
    arm: Win10 and above.
    arm64: Win10 and above.
  • WinRT: x86, x64, arm, arm64; Windows 10 and above.
  • macOS: x86 and x64 bundle; macOS 10.10 and above.
  • Linux: core 2.6.27 and above.
    x86: The CPU needs to support at least the SSE3 instruction set; GLIBC 2.8 and above.
    x64: GLIBC 2.14 and above.
    armel: GLIBC 2.17 and above; compiled by toolchain arm-linux-gnueabi (version 4.9.2).
    armhf: GLIBC 2.17 and above; compiled by toolchain arm-linux-gnueabihf (version 4.9.2).
    arm64: GLIBC 2.17 and above; compiled by toolchain aarch64-linux-gnu (version 4.9.2).
  • Android: arm, arm64, x86, x64; compiled by android-ndk-r18b
Third-party interface software

The SWIR cameras supports a variety of third-party interface software to facilitate user integration and development. Specifically, it includes SDK and demo programs for LabVIEW and MATLAB, as well as DirectShow plugins, Micro-Manager plugins, and TWAIN SDK plugins. These enable seamless compatibility with mainstream development environments and third-party software, significantly streamlining system integration and secondary development workflows.

CameraLink Frame Grabber Driver (Only supports SWIR051ACL model)

For CameraLink interface cameras, we recommend using frame grabbers from the following brands: Magewell, FIREBIRD, and Hikvision.

AttosView

Support all Attostek UV-VISion and SWIR cameras.

Click the button below to download the camera software.

SDK

Support a variety of APIs. 

Click the button below to download the SDK.

Third-party software

LabVIEW SDK and demo programs:

MatLab SDK demo program:

DirectShow plugin:

Micromanager plugin:

TWAIN SDK plugin:

CameraLink driver

Only supports SWIR051ACL model

Magewell:

FIREBIRD:

Hikvision:

AttosView Recommended System Requirements

Operating System

Microsoft® Windows® XP / Vista / 7 / 8 /10 /11(32 & 64 bit), Mac OSX, Linux

Processor (CPU)

≥3.0 GHz Intel Core i5 or Higher

Memory (RAM)

≥8 GB

Hard Drive

NVMe Solid State Drive (SSD)

Graphics Card

Dedicated Adapter with ≥256 MB RAM

Motherboard

USB 3.0 (-USB) Cameras: Integrated Intel USB 3.0 Controller or One Unused One Unused PCle3.0*16 Slot

Connectivity

Internet Connectivity for Driver Installation

User interface design

The image below shows the interface of the Attosview software. For more detailed information, please download the product manual.

As User Interface Design

Function

Function description

Operating mode

Operating mode: video mode or trigger mode
Trigger mode: soft trigger mode or external trigger mode

Denoise

The camera hardware incorporates denoise

Automatic exposure

Automatic exposure or manual exposure function

Gain

HG, MG, LG 3 gain modes

Frame rate

Supports precise frame rate control

ROI

Supports single-zone ROI with a maximum frame rate of 8000fps after ROI

Flip

Supports Vertical/horizontal flip

Custom dark field
correction

The hardware supports up to 12 groups of user-defined dark field correction image functions

Timestamp function

Timestamps can be turned on or off. After the timestamp function is enabled, the low 8bits of 1-8 pixels, 9-16 pixels, and 17-24 pixels will be modified to: 0-7: frame number; 8-15: Frame time; 16-23: trigger signal count

Firmware update

Supports firmware online update

Pipette function

Supports the display of the gray value of the mouse pixel position

Histogram display

Supports histogram display and statistics

Plane line function

Supports the function of viewing surface data

Regional gray statistics

Support the average gray statistics function of user-defined areas

Cooling system

1) The cooling system of the camera uses a built-in TEC cooling chip for the sensor, with external heat dissipation structure and fan auxiliary heat dissipation, the working temperature can be adjusted to a specific value, the effective cooling temperature can be lower than the ambient temperature of 40℃, and the high-efficiency cooling system ensures extremely low dark current level;
2) The TEC system adopts PID algorithm control, so that TEC can accurately adjust the sensor to the target temperature, and the temperature deviation is 0.3℃;

Q1 : Which parameters are the most important to consider when selecting a product?

Resolution and Pixel Size: Resolution determines detail, while pixel size affects sensitivity and dynamic range. Smaller pixels are better for high resolution, whereas larger pixels provide higher sensitivity.

Sensitivity and Readout Noise: These are crucial for low-light imaging.

Frame Rate and Interface: USB3.0, GigE, CoaXPress, Camera Link, etc., determine determine data transfer speed.

Q2 : What are the advantages of SWIR imaging over visible light sensors?

Compared to visible light sensors, SWIR imaging offers:

  • The ability to penetrate fog, smoke, glass, and other obstructions;
  • The capacity to differentiate materials with similar visible colors but different compositions;
  • High‑quality imaging in low‑light conditions (aided by its sensitivity and night‑glow illumination);
  • Detection of specific substances (e.g., water, silicon) distribution.
Q3 : What are the applications of SWIR cameras in scientific research?

Fluorescence imaging, spectral analysis, laser beam analysis, etc.

0.33 MP SWIRQ Series CQDs CMOS SWIR Cameras

ModelSWIR1503QU1SWIR1503QU2
SensorCQD CMOS
QE40%
Pixel Size15µm x 15µm
Spectral Range 800nm-1700nm 400nm-1700nm
FPS/Resolution8/12/14bit:110 @640×512200 @ 640 × 512 
Conversion Gain45 e-/DNTBD
Dynamic Range 71.6dBTBD
Readout Noise< 180e-TBD
Full Well690ke-TBD
Maximum SNR58.4dB TBD

Item

Docs
Available
Price
Qty
800-1700nm CQD CMOS Camera, 0.33 MP 15µm Pixels, USB 3.0 Interface
2 Weeks
$5,700.00
400-1700nm CQD CMOS Camera, 0.33 MP 15µm Pixels, USB 3.0 Interface
2 Weeks
$5,700.00

Optional accessories – lenses

To meet the diverse application demands of short-wave infrared (SWIR) imaging, Attostek offer a series of high-performance SWIR lenses. This lineup covers focal lengths from 6mm to 100mm and features a wide aperture range of F1.4 to F2.0 as standard, ensuring high signal-to-noise ratio and superior image quality even in low-light conditions. Users can flexibly select different models based on field of view, working distance, and resolution requirements, providing high sensitivity and versatile scene adaptability for SWIR cameras in applications such as security surveillance, industrial inspection, and scientific research.

Item

Docs
Available
Price
Qty
6mm Focal Length, f1.8, C-Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$600.00
8mm Focal Length, f1.4, C-Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$600.00
12mm Focal Length, f1.4, C-Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$600.00
16mm Focal Length, f1.4, C-Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$600.00
25mm Focal Length, f1.4, C-Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$600.00
35mm Focal Length, f1.4, C-Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$600.00
50mm Focal Length, f1.4, C Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$1,500.00
100mm Focal Length, f2.0, C-Mount SWIR Camera Lenses
2 Weeks
$1,500.00