ORLANDO, Fla., 28 April 2011. Optics and sensors specialist Clear Align in Eagleville, Pa., is introducing lightweight lenses optimized for shortwave infrared (SWIR) applications called the Featherlight line for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and man-portable electro-optics applications. The Featherlight family of SWIR lenses builds on Clear Align's INSPIRE line of lenses.

Clear Align announced the new line of SWIR lenses this week at the SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensors conference and trade show in Orlando, Fla.

SWIR sensors have particular strengths in night-vision optics over longer-wavelength thermal-imaging infrared sensors, such as SWIR's ability to see through windows and provide resolution sufficient to recognized faces. SWIR performs poorly in total darkness, however, and is becoming popular in sensor-fusion applications when paired with longwave infrared thermal imaging.

The pre-engineered, high-performance Featherweight SWIR lenses have F-numbers as low as 1.0, and are 25 to 50 percent lighter weight than competing lenses, says Michael Finlan, vice president of imaging at Clear Align. The SWIR lenses are for night vision, search and rescue, infrared tracking, and other applications operating in the 0.6-to-1.7-micron focal length. The lenses are athermalized from temperatures from -40 to 75 degrees Celsius.

For more information contact Clear Align online at www.clearalign.com.