High performance SWIR cameras for the telecom industry

The need for higher performance short wave length infrared (SWIR) cameras for the telecom industry is becoming increasingly important. This paper will discuss the measured performance and capabilities of Indigo Systems' near infrared cameras. These cameras are ideally suited for telecom applications because of their high quantum efficiency, uniformity, and linearity over the 1.0 to 1.65 mum wavelength band. The cameras' high dynamic range and high damage threshold to laser light also make them ideally suited for testing and characterizing S-Band, C-band, and L-band fiber optic systems used in DWDM. Measurements of the camera's sensitivity, linearity, uniformity, and dynamic range will be presented and compared to what is currently considered the industry standard, pyroelectric vidicon cameras. The performance improvement resulting from Indigo's approach for reducing the effects of the sensor package window when imaging coherent light will be demonstated. In addition, an analysis of the camera's tolerance to high levels of laser light will be discussed.