Midwave Infrared Detector features digital interface.

Sofradir Jun 16, 2010

Press Release Summary:

Suited for military handheld devices, LEO MW is compact 15 micron pitch midwave IR detector with digital interface. Including digital interface board, device measures 120 x 55 x 72 mm, has power consumption of 4.5 W, and weighs 350 g. Two small coolers provide energy saving operation. LEO MW is suited for IR equipment manufacturers who design, upgrade and retrofit thermal imaging equipment to satisfy SWaP (reduce system size, weight and power) requirements in military applications.

Original Press Release:

Sofradir Launches LEO MW, a New Midwave Infrared Detector with Digital Interface

LEO MW responds to needs for more compact, lower weight and lower power consumption military handheld thermal imaging gear.

Sofradir will exhibit its line of advanced Infrared detectors at Eurosatory, Paris, June 14 - 18, Hall 6 booth E311.

Paris, June 11, 2010 - Sofradir, a leading developer and manufacturer of advanced infrared detectors for military, space and industrial applications, announced today the launch of LEO MW, a compact 15-micron pitch MW TV format IR detector with digital interface. It is well suited for military handheld devices that have to be compact, lightweight and consume as little power as possible.

LEO MW, including its digital interface board, measures 120 x 55 x 72mm, has a power consumption of 4.5W and weighs 350 grams. These features draw on the same design know-how used in Sofradir's flagship 15-micron midwave IR detector that set the industry standard for size and performance in IR detection. LEO MW's compactness and energy-saving features are also enabled by its ability to use two of the smallest coolers on the market, which can only be used with selected IR detectors.

Another major advantage of LEO MW is its digital interface. Previously, IR system engineers would have to design a complex analogical electronic board and then integrate it into an IR imaging system to make the IR detector run. By removing this complicated step, where a system engineer would have to try and find room to squeeze in an electronic board, integrating LEO MW with its digital interface makes that IR system design process easier and frees up space.

"LEO MW provides our customers with a simplified interface that saves them time and money, since they no longer need to design the proximity electronic board themselves," says Philippe Bensussan, Chairman and CEO of Sofradir. "LEO MW is also ideal for IR equipment manufacturers who design, upgrade and retrofit thermal imaging equipment to satisfy SWaP (reduce system size, weight and power) requirements in military applications."

LEO MW extends Sofradir's flagship product line of compact, high-performance and low power consumption 15-micron pixel pitch IR detectors.

About Sofradir

Sofradir develops and manufactures advanced infrared detectors (IR) for military, space and commercial applications. It specializes in cooled IR detectors based on a sophisticated high performance technology, Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT), and its vast product portfolio of scanning and staring arrays covers the entire infrared spectrum. Sofradir also offers QWIP detectors developed in cooperation with Thales.

Sofradir's headquarters are located in Chtenay-Malabry, near Paris, France. Its manufacturing facilities and those of ULIS, its subsidiary that manufactures uncooled IR detectors, are located in Veurey-Voroize, near Grenoble, in France. Sofradir EC, the company's US subsidiary, operates in Fairfield, NJ. Sofradir, ULIS and Sofradir EC employ more than 500 people. For more information, visit www.sofradir.com