Oxford Instruments C-RED 2 Lite InGaAs SWIR Camera
| Brand | Oxford Instruments |
|---|---|
| Origin | France |
| Model | C-RED 2 Lite |
| Effective Resolution | 640 × 512 |
| Pixel Size | 15 µm |
| Detector Type | InGaAs PIN photodiode array |
| Electronic Shutter Pulse Width | < 5 µs |
| Cooling | Passive thermoelectric stabilization (fanless) + optional water-cooled cold plate |
Overview
The Oxford Instruments C-RED 2 Lite is a high-performance, short-wave infrared (SWIR) scientific camera engineered for quantitative imaging applications requiring exceptional thermal stability, low noise, and precise temporal control. As a temperature-stabilized variant of the C-RED 2 platform, the C-RED 2 Lite eliminates mechanical fan-based cooling to achieve ultra-low vibration and electromagnetic interference—critical for interferometric measurements, laser diagnostics, and beam profiling in sensitive optical setups. Its core sensor is a 640 × 512 InGaAs PIN photodiode array with 15 µm square pixels, delivering high spatial fidelity across the 0.9–1.7 µm spectral range. The integrated thermoelectric cooler (TEC) employs closed-loop feedback algorithms to maintain sensor temperature within ±0.05 °C over ambient fluctuations, ensuring long-term gain and offset stability without recalibration. Unlike conventional SWIR cameras relying on active air convection, the C-RED 2 Lite’s fanless architecture supports integration into vacuum chambers, cryogenic enclosures, or vibration-isolated optical tables where acoustic or airflow perturbations are unacceptable.
Key Features
- Fanless thermoelectric stabilization with real-time PID-controlled TEC for sub-0.1 °C sensor temperature regulation
- Optional water-cooled cold plate interface (standard SMA port) enabling extended operation at −40 °C sensor temperature for dark current suppression
- Ultrafast electronic shutter with programmable pulse width down to < 5 µs—ideal for time-resolved laser-induced phenomena and gated imaging
- High quantum efficiency (> 70% at 1.55 µm) and low read noise (< 12 e⁻ rms at 300 fps) optimized for photon-starved SWIR applications
- 16-bit digitization with full-well capacity > 30,000 e⁻ and linearity error < 0.5% across dynamic range
- GenICam-compliant USB3 Vision and Camera Link interfaces supporting deterministic frame timing and hardware trigger synchronization
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The C-RED 2 Lite is compatible with standard C-mount and F-mount optical assemblies, and integrates seamlessly with motorized filter wheels, spectrographs, and beam samplers used in laser characterization labs. Its hermetically sealed, dry-nitrogen-purged housing meets IP52 environmental rating standards. From a regulatory standpoint, the device complies with CE marking requirements for electromagnetic compatibility (EN 61326-1) and low-voltage safety (EN 61010-1). Firmware and acquisition software support audit trails, user access levels, and metadata embedding aligned with GLP and ISO/IEC 17025 documentation workflows. While not FDA-cleared as a medical device, its calibrated radiometric output mode enables traceable irradiance measurements compliant with ASTM E1318 and ISO 15529 standards for optical power density mapping.
Software & Data Management
Oxford Instruments provides the C-RED Control Suite—a cross-platform application (Windows/Linux) built on HALCON and OpenCV foundations—to configure acquisition parameters, perform non-uniformity correction (NUC), and export calibrated data in HDF5, TIFF, or FITS formats. The SDK includes C++, Python (PyCRED), and MATLAB bindings with full access to low-level registers for custom pipeline development. All firmware updates are digitally signed and validated during boot; configuration changes are logged with timestamped user ID and parameter hash. For regulated environments, optional software validation packages (IQ/OQ documentation, 21 CFR Part 11-compliant electronic signature module) are available upon request.
Applications
- Laser beam profiling and M² measurement in industrial and research-grade fiber laser systems
- Quantitative hyperspectral imaging in agricultural phenotyping and pharmaceutical tablet coating analysis
- Thermal emission mapping of semiconductor devices and microelectronic packages under operational bias
- Time-resolved combustion diagnostics using gated SWIR imaging synchronized to pulsed ignition sources
- Non-destructive testing (NDT) of composite materials via transmission SWIR imaging at 1.3–1.5 µm water absorption bands
- Free-space optical communication link monitoring with real-time centroid tracking and jitter analysis
FAQ
What is the maximum sustained frame rate at full resolution?
The C-RED 2 Lite achieves 300 fps at 640 × 512 with 16-bit depth via Camera Link; USB3 Vision supports up to 200 fps with lossless compression enabled.
Does the camera support radiometric calibration out of the box?
Yes—factory-applied NUC and responsivity maps are embedded in firmware; absolute radiometric calibration certificates (traceable to NIST standards) are provided optionally.
Can the C-RED 2 Lite be operated inside a vacuum chamber?
The standard housing is not vacuum-rated, but a vacuum-compatible variant (C-RED 2 Lite-V) with CF-35 flange and feedthrough connectors is available for UHV environments down to 10⁻⁷ mbar.
Is there hardware support for external triggering and synchronization?
Yes—the camera features TTL-compatible input/output ports for master/slave synchronization, including programmable delay generators and exposure gating with < 100 ns jitter.
How is sensor temperature stability verified during qualification?
Each unit undergoes 72-hour thermal soak testing across −10 °C to +40 °C ambient, with continuous logging of sensor temperature, dark current drift, and gain stability per ISO 10110-9 Annex B protocols.
