• Technology Engine
• Sensing Materials
• Infrared & Radar
  • ABCs of Radar
  • Radar Terminology
  • Ground Surveillance
  • Radar Spectral Bands
  • FMCW Radars
  • Radar in Rain
  • Radar Performance
  • History of Radar
  • Radar Security Systems
  • Slew-to-Cue Surveillance
  • Airport Perimeters
• Software & Systems
• Compact Design
• Labs & Manufacturing

Sensing and Projecting Power at Different Electromagnetic Wavelengths

Our surveillance products sense and project power across a range of electromagnetic wavelengths to enable better surveillance and response. We believe we are a world leader in developing devices and surfaces that allow the tuning of infrared emission, absorption and transmission. Our photonic crystal technology allows precise tuning of the wavelength of infrared light emitted or absorbed by a silicon surface. Our SensorChip product implements this technology in a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). The SensorChip enables single-chip gas sensors to detect potentially dangerous gases, such as methane.

We believe that we have developed the first commercial ground-level surveillance radar operating in the very high frequency MMW bands. Conventional radar systems operate at much lower frequencies and are less able to discern small, slow and soft targets. Millimeter wave radar presents very different technical challenges, requiring fundamentally different signal processing and data analysis while optimizing the design of all key components - antennas, electrical circuitry, firmware and software. We combine these proprietary circuits with real time operational and signal processing software. Our millimeter wave technology improves image resolution by four fold or more over conventional microwave radar and penetrates light rain, fog and smoke—conditions that often defeat infrared technologies. Advanced software algorithms provide object recognition and can control and direct visible and infrared cameras to point toward radar-identified targets.

Our infrared technology consists of the key imaging processing electronics and software to rapidly transform the latest infrared detectors into functioning products. Our pan-and-tilt, forward-looking units operate in the 8 to12 micron spectral range - the infrared band in which humans and animals radiate much of their heat - and wavelengths that readily pass through fog and dust. Our versatile software is incorporated on a modular, scalable, flexible and fully programmable electronics card set that can be used with many detectors. The card set can be readily adapted to interface with new and higher resolution detectors as they are developed by outside vendors. Complete cameras can be readily customized to customer specifications.