QHY990 Scientific CMOS Camera

The new QHY990 camera is a cooled, short wavelength infrared camera that sports Sony's IMX990 InGaAs sensor with an amazing 5μm pixel array! This sensor has 1.31 megapixels and a wide band response (0.4μm-1.7μm), along with high sensitivity. With Cu-Cu interconnect technology, the IMX990 sensor has a very low FPN noise and low defect pixel ratio.

The QHY990 comes with a 25mm filter holder, which is a common filter size for most laboratory applications. The SWIR (Short Wavelength Infrared) filter can be easily inside the camera. With this adapter, the camera has the standard 17.5mm C-mount back focal distance.

There are both air cooling and liquid cooling options available for the QHY990 camera. With the air cooling method, the camera can achieve a delta of -35C degrees below ambient temperature. Alternatively, with room temperature liquid cooling, a delta of -45C degrees below ambient is achieved and with chilled liquid you can reach a delta of -60C to -80C below ambient! The liquid cooling version of this camera is recommended for applications that would require exposures to be longer than 5 seconds or more.

IMX990 InGaAs Sensor

The QHY990 camera is fitted with Sony's original SenSWIR technology, where photodiodes are formed on an indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) compound semiconductor layer. These photodiodes are connected via Cu-Cu connection with the silicon (Si) layer, which forms the readout circuit. This design enables high sensitivity over a broad range of wavelengths. All of this results in a SWIR image sensor that is both compact and capable of delivering seamless image capture over a broad range of wavelengths, covering from the visible to invisible light spectrum in the short-wavelength infrared range (0.4μm to 1.7μm). This technology is especially important because it is able to sense even in wavelengths that are not visible to the human eye, which makes the development of cameras and testing equipment for various applications possible, while also contributing to the development of diversifying industrial equipment.

Left: Ceramic LGA Package

Right: Ceramic PGA package with built-in thermoelectric cooling

Sony's new sensors employ stacking technology using Cu-Cu connection that has been developed by Sony for years, along with Sony's original SWIR image sensor technology. This leads to high image quality and a more compact sensor size (thank you miniaturization!) as well as high sensitivity imaging in a broad range of wavelengths that cover both the visible and invisible spectrums. This is particularly useful due to the recent demand to reduce manpower and ensure standardization in the industrial equipment field, where sensors capable of capturing images in the invisible light spectrum of the short-wavelength infrared range is a must. The IMX990 also supports digital output, which matches the performance of current CMOS image sensors for industrial equipment.

When bonding the InGaAs layer that forms the light receiving photodiodes and the Si layer that forms the readout circuit, using conventional bump connections makes it necessary to secure a particular bump pitch. This makes it difficult to achieve a smaller pixel size compared to current CMOS industrial CMOS sensors. Therefore, miniaturization has been a major challenge. Sony's new sensors feature a smaller pixel pitch that is made possible by the Cu-Cu connection, resulting in the industry's smallest 5μm pixel size. In turn, it is possible to reduce camera size while maintaining SXGA resolution, which contributes to improved testing precision.

Left: Bump Connection     ;     Right: Cu-Cu Connection

SWIR Image Sensor Technology

Sony's original SWIR (Short Wavelength Infrared) image sensor technology is employed to make the top InP layer, which absorbs visible light thinner, making it possible to transmit light to the InGaAs layer underneath. This process delivers high quantum efficiency, even in the visible range. This particular design enable imaging in a broad range of wavelengths from 0.4μm to 1.7μm, enabling the use of a single camera rather than the conventional multiple that were required to capture visible light and SWIR. /this leads to lower system costs and faster speeds, thanks to the reduced image processing load, allowing for a dramatic expansion in testing range.

Digital Output

While conventional SWIR image sensors usually have analog output, the IMX990 supports digital output and deliver the same performance as current industrial CMOS image sensors. Analog output sensors typically require a digital conversion circuit or other functionality for industrial equipment on the camera, but the IMX990 has this technology built in. This reduces the number of steps in camera development, making multifunction camera development easier than ever!

Detailed Specifications

Visualize the Specs

• Cooled, shortwave infrared (SWIR) camera using Sony's IMX990 InGaAs sensor
• Wide band response (0.4μm to 1.7μm) with high sensitivity and 77% QE at 1200nm
• 1.3 megapixels and square 5μm pixel size makes it perfect for industrial equipment use
• Up to -60C to -80C below ambient using chilled liquid cooling