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C-RED One

C-RED One is a ultra high-speed photon counting SWIR camera using a unique 320 x 256 pixels HgCdTe e-APD array with 24 μm pixel pitch.

C-RED One by First Light Imaging

The discovery of electron initiated avalanche photodiodes (e-APD) using mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) semiconductor materials permitted a significant breakthrough in SWIR imaging. C-RED One uses an unique 320 x 256 pixels HgCdTe e- APD array with 24 μm pixel pitch with a wide spectral response over J, H and K bands, and outstanding cosmetics.

The sensor delivers unprecedented sub-electron readout noise, taking advantage of the e-APD noise free multiplication gain and non-destructive readout ability.

C-RED One is capable of capturing up to 3500 full frames per second, without compromising on subelectron readout noise or very low background. The camera can also capture multiple regions of interest (ROI) readout allowing faster image rate (10’s of KHz) while maintaining sub-electron readout noise.

C-RED One offers multiple readout modes:

  • Global reset
  • Rolling Reset
  • Single read, CDS or multiple non destructive reads.

C-RED One is an autonomous system: the sensor is placed in a sealed vacuum environment and cooled down to cryogenic temperature (90 K) using an integrated pulse tube with a high reliability. The vacuum regeneration is managed by the camera.

A vibration control system allows for the reduction of vibrations by x10 is available for integration in highly sensitive systems. C-RED One is opening new opportunities for high sensitivity and high speed SWIR imaging.

Sensor Specifications C-Red One
Maximum speed Full Frame single readout 3500 fps
Readout Noise at 1720 fps CDS readout and gain x50, looking at a black body at a
temperature of 90 K
<1e-
Dark current looking at a black body at a temperature of 90 K and e-APD gain x10 <80 e-/p/s
Quantization 16 bit
Detector Operating Temperature (No LN2) 90 K
Flat Quantum Efficiency from 1.1 μm to 2.4 μm (J, H, K) at 100 K >60%
Operability due to signal response / pixels with signal <0.8*median at bias of 9 V and
integration time of 10 ms
<0.1%
Operability due to CDS noise / pixels with noise <2*median at bias of 9V and integration
time of 10 ms
<0.1%
Excess noise Factor F <1.25
Pulse tube cooling, vibration imparted to the detector with respect to the front flange of
the camera (RMS along each detector axis)
<1 μm