Photonis-DEP - Imaging Sensors for Night Vision

On the 9th of February 2005 PHOTONIS (France) and Delft Electronic Products bv (the Netherlands) announced the merger of their activities which results in the creation of the global leader in the design, development and manufacturing of state-of-the-art image intensifiers, low light level detectors, photon counters and accompanying services, with the aim to provide our customers the best of breed products in the marketplace.

The continuous development of new applications and services by our R&D teams in close co-operation with our customers in the night vision segment (system integrators, MOD and law enforcement agencies) and the industrial segment (industrial instrumentation, analytical instrumentation, medical and spectroscopy and science and space) has led to a multi purpose product portfolio that fit your requirements.

We set the standard with the LOW HALO XR5™ image intensifiers which provide users with extremely high-resolution image and contrast in combination with extended operational usability in close combat operations (e.g. urban areas with rapid changing light levels). Dazzling is now suppressed as a result of the implementation of Auto-Gating feature.

Photonis-DEP XR5™ AND XD-4™ IMAGE INTENSIFIERS

The XR5™ image intensifier, successor to the well-known XD-4™ image intensifier, reveals even more details of the dark through it's extended range (XR) capability.

To secure your past investment we made the XR5™ available in a variety of inverting and non-inverting 18mm formats to upgrade or replace current inventory.

The XR5™ image intensifier enables the user to be more effective during his missions thanks to the integrated proprietary Auto-Gating unit (IRIS), which optimizes the image when the image intensifier is exposed to rapid changing light levels (urban combat and close combat operations) and during day-night-day transitions.

XR5™ and XD-4™ image intensifiers perform extremely well in all environmental conditions. Its wide spectral sensitivity range makes that a perfect picture is obtained, regardless of the area in which area the user operates his equipment (foliage, on water, snow, desert, rocky and barren land).

The base for the unique performance of the XR5™ and XD-4™ is a result of the technology used to create the right solution for our individual customers. This resulted in greatly improved performance parameters that are crucial for good observation, such as the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), the Modulation Transfer Function (MTF) and Resolution (LP/MM) under any given circumstance.

Add to this the very long lifetime throughout its complete luminance dynamic range and you will be convinced of its unique performance.

INVERTER TUBES FOR VEHICLE SIGHTS

With three different families of products, Photonis-DEP offers the widest range of 2nd generation inverter IITs for vehicles sights, fitting all the European and American equipment.

In particular, Photonis-DEP tubes equip the day and night driving sight of the French Leclerc main battle tank, the night driving sights of the VAB, AMX10 and AMX30 French armored fighting vehicles, the UK Challenger 2 MBT, Piranha III, Stormer 30 and Warrior armored fighting vehicles and the German Leopard 2 MBT.

Inverter tubes for vehicle sights can also be used for artillery systems like the 155mm Howitzer 2000.

In 1999, we introduced a new high performance 25mm inverter tube for the American VVS driving sights family, this is also used in the medium machine gun weapon sight PVS-4 and the crew-served weapon sight TVS-5.

CAMERA PRODUCTS: INTENSIFIED CCDs AND INTENSIFIED CMOS

Photonis-DEP developed new CCD and CMOS coupling technique which can be applied to a wide range of CMOS and CCD sensors.

High resolution ICCDs can now be proposed at competitive pricing in many different configurations, with or without dedicated video processing boards, for integration into your system. Photonis-DEP ICCDs have been used in the French and British Soldier of the Future technology demonstrator projects (ECAD and FIST programs).

The optional integration of the IRIS (Auto-Gating) feature guarantees an excellent picture quality in a wide light range. IRIS is the first available Auto-Gating supply which can be extended with a set of programmable external controls for synchronization with external light sources such as lasers, providing you affordable freedom of operation, calibration and modification of your device.

The unique combination of characteristics combined in an ultra small housing makes the devices the ideal core component for small digital camera systems. It targets the market for Soldier Modernization Programs, high-speed vision-systems in process control environments, or even high-end consumer products.

These products can be customized to fit your needs:

• Standard night vision cameras for observation systems
• Night and day helmet mounted cameras (infantry, avionics)
• Night and day cameras for UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles)
• Weapon targeting night sights
• Vehicle, submarine observation/targeting systems

JOIN THE EXPERTS ! Early Vision™

The concept of finding solutions together with our customers is an important element in Photonis-DEP's company culture and philosophy. The revolutionary Early Vision™ Co-Development Program has been established to provide you with our latest know-how and to shorten your time-to-market for new products. Close co-operation already exists with distinguished customers, night-vision labs and universities. Contact us to materialize your ideas and concepts!