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021-589305601. Infrared detectors are widely used in military and civilian fields
1.1 Infrared refrigeration and non-refrigeration detectors are widely used in military and civilian fields
Infrared concept and characteristics: Infrared is one of the many invisible rays in the sun's rays, also known as infrared light and infrared thermal radiation. It is an electromagnetic wave with a wavelength between microwave and visible light, with a wavelength between 0.76 and 1,000 microns. Infrared is the most widespread radiation in nature. All materials with a temperature above absolute zero (-273¡ãC) continuously radiate infrared. The amount of infrared energy is directly related to the surface temperature and material properties of the object. The higher the temperature, the infrared energy The bigger.
Infrared has two characteristics: 1) Correlation with the temperature of the object: Infrared radiation is based on the thermal movement of the molecules of the object. All substances whose temperature is above absolute zero (£273.15¡æ), the molecules and atoms inside are constantly moving The higher the temperature, the more intense the thermal motion and the greater the radiated energy. The amount of infrared heat radiation energy is directly related to the temperature of the object. The infrared camera developed with this feature can clearly display the temperature difference of the object in the video through the image, so that the object can be used for non-contact temperature measurement and thermal status analysis Environmental protection and other aspects provide an important detection method and diagnostic tool, which can be widely used in civilian fields. 2) Penetrability: The energy of infrared radiation will be lost in atmospheric transmission, especially under some severe weather conditions. But in infrared, there are two bands with strong penetrability and high transparency, namely 3-5 microns and 8-14 microns infrared, which is called "atmospheric window". Among them, infrared rays in the 3-5 micron band are particularly permeable to weather conditions with high humidity such as rainy and foggy days, while infrared rays in the 8-14 micron band are longer in sand and dust than the other bands. The infrared thermal imager developed with this feature can be widely used in military fields and civil fields such as fire protection.
The principle of using infrared characteristics to make infrared thermal imager: infrared thermal imager is also called infrared imaging system or infrared detection system. It is a kind of infrared radiation used to detect the target object, and through the photoelectric conversion, electrical signal processing and other means, the target A high-tech product that converts an image of the temperature distribution of an object into a video image. The conversion of infrared images into visible images is carried out in three steps. The first step is to use infrared detectors that are sensitive to infrared radiation to convert infrared radiation into a weak electrical signal. The size of the signal can reflect the strength of infrared radiation; the second step is Use the follow-up circuit to amplify and process the weak electrical signal to clearly collect the temperature distribution of the target object; the third step is to process the amplified electrical signal through image processing software to obtain an electronic video signal and TV display The system displays the electronic video signal reflecting the infrared radiation distribution of the target on the screen to obtain a visible image.
Infrared focal plane detector is the core component of infrared thermal imager: infrared thermal imager components and technologies include infrared optical system, infrared focal plane detector, follow-up circuit, image processing software. Among them, the infrared focal plane detector is the core component of the infrared camera, and the level of the detector directly determines the clarity and sensitivity of the final visible image. It is a sensor that detects the infrared radiation using the physical effect of the interaction between infrared radiation and matter. In most cases, it uses the electrical effect of this interaction. It is also the main cost component of thermal imaging cameras. In the case of cooling thermal imaging cameras, the cost of detectors is as high as 70%. In uncooled thermal imaging cameras, the cost of detectors accounts for about 1/3-1/2.
Infrared detectors have undergone three generations of development: the design, production, and R&D of infrared detectors involve materials, integrated circuit design, refrigeration, and packaging. They are technically difficult. Since the development of lead sulfide detectors in Germany in the 1940s, infrared technology has developed greatly. The development of infrared detectors can be divided into three generations so far. The first generation is mainly of discrete type, with an element number of less than 103 yuan, with a linear array and a small area array structure; the second generation is a scanning and staring focal plane structure, which appears in the United States The focal plane array developed on the basis of the application of LADA¢ñ, LADA¢ò, LADA¢ó arrays, with a scale of 103-106 yuan; the third generation is mainly staring, with a scale of more than 106 yuan, and emphasizes dual wavelength (dual color) or multi-wavelength (Multi-color) Responsive and stronger intelligent logic processing functions, as well as lower-cost uncooled focal plane arrays, etc.
Infrared detectors can be classified according to different dimensions: according to different detection mechanisms, infrared detectors can be divided into photon infrared detectors and thermal infrared detectors; according to operating temperature and cooling needs, they are divided into cooled and uncooled infrared detectors; According to the response wavelength, it can be divided into near infrared, mid infrared, far infrared and very far infrared detectors. The divided dimensions are not completely separated from each other, but the dimensions are different. In practice, a detector often has the above-mentioned characteristics.
Uncooled detectors and cooled detectors have their own advantages: the advantages of cooled infrared focal plane detectors are high sensitivity, the ability to distinguish more subtle temperature differences, and a long detection distance, but their complex structure and high cost are mainly used in high-end military Equipment; uncooled infrared focal plane detector does not require a cooling device, can work at room temperature, has many advantages such as fast startup, low power consumption, small size, light weight, long life, low cost and so on. Can meet general military needs and most civilian needs.
Wafer-level packaging determines the cost of infrared detectors: metal shell and tube packaging is the earliest packaging technology, the technology is very mature, due to the use of metal shell, TEC and getter and other costly components, resulting in The cost of shell packaging has been high, which limits its application to low-cost devices. Ceramic package is an infrared detector packaging technology that has been popularized in recent years. It can significantly reduce the volume and weight of the packaged detector, and it is much lower than the traditional metal package in terms of raw material cost and manufacturing cost. Mass production of electronic components, but the size is still too large and the cost is still relatively high.
Compared with ceramic package technology, wafer-level packaging is more integrated and has simplified process steps, making it more suitable for mass production and low-cost production. The application of wafer-level packaging technology provides detectors with sufficient cost performance for the large-scale market of infrared thermal imaging (such as in-vehicle, surveillance, handheld devices, etc.). The implementation of wafer-level packaging technology can improve packaging efficiency, reduce the size of core devices, achieve miniaturization, low power consumption, and low cost, and provide more possibilities for expanding the civil field. Application areas include personal vision, industrial inspection, inspection and quarantine, smart home, consumer electronics, police enforcement, etc.
1.2 The world's infrared imaging market is dominated by Europe and the United States, with different military and civilian focuses
The infrared thermal imager was first used in the military field: the infrared thermal imager can detect objects in a completely dark environment. Even in the presence of smoke and dust, it does not require a visible light source, so it can be used around the clock. Infrared thermal imagers detect infrared radiation emitted by objects in a passive manner, which is more concealed than other active imaging systems with light sources. Infrared thermal imaging has the characteristics of good concealment, strong anti-interference, strong target recognition ability, all-weather work, etc., so it is used in military reconnaissance, surveillance and guidance, and is widely used in weapons and equipment.
The future military infrared market in the world is dominated by Europe and the United States: due to the military sensitivity of infrared thermal imaging cameras, military products often implement product and technology monopolies in units of countries, especially the leading countries of the technology are highly confidential about military infrared thermal imaging products and technologies Infrared thermal imager companies in different countries generally do not have direct market competition in the military field. Specifically, the main players in this industry are concentrated in the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and Israel. Among them, the United States maintains its leading position with strong scientific research advantages and occupies an absolute dominant position in the international military product market. According to statistics from Maxtech International, among the top ten suppliers in the global military infrared thermal imager market in 2014, US manufacturers occupied 7 seats, and the top 3 Lockheed Martin Corporation, Raytheon Company, L3 Technologies, Inc. accounted for more than 45% The shares ranked four to ten are: Thales Group, SAGEM, Northrop Grumman Corporation, FLIR, United Technologies Corporation, BAE Systems plc and Elbit Systems Ltd.
The future market space of the world's military infrared: military infrared products have been gradually used in the sea, land and air battlefields since the 1970s and 1980s. After years of technological iteration and product replacement, the current penetration rate of infrared products in the United States, France and other developed countries Higher, the market tends to be stable. At the same time, western developed countries have adopted strict technical blockade and product embargo policies for infrared imaging, which has also restricted the substantial growth of the global military market. According to the prediction of Maxtech International and Beijing Olixin Consulting Center, the global military infrared market will reach USD 10.795 billion in 2023. At present, the international military infrared thermal imager market is mainly occupied by companies from developed countries in Europe and the United States. Because countries maintain a high degree of military sensitivity and restrict or prohibit export to foreign countries, most markets are concentrated in Europe and the United States. According to statistics from Maxtech International, North America accounted for 50% of the global market for military thermal imaging systems in 2014, Europe accounted for 18%, and Asia's current market share accounted for 12%. The future market space is huge.
my country's military infrared market has huge potential: Compared with the international market, my country's military market is still in a strong catch-up stage because of its thin foundation. In recent years, the application of infrared thermal imaging cameras in my country's military field is in a stage of rapid improvement. The infrared equipment market, including individual soldiers, tank armored vehicles, ships, military aircraft, and infrared guided weapons, will usher in a rapid development stage. The domestic military infrared thermal imaging camera market is developing rapidly, and it belongs to the sunrise industry with a huge market capacity. The scale of China's military infrared market is about 34 billion: the number of our military personnel is about 2 million. If 10% of our military's troops are equipped with infrared thermal imaging cameras in the future, the market capacity of China's individual military thermal imaging cameras can reach 200,000 sets Calculated based on 20,000 yuan per set, its market capacity can reach 4 billion yuan. In addition, considering the military aircraft, tanks and other markets, the total capacity of my country's military infrared market may reach more than 30 billion yuan, assuming that the infrared system update cycle is 10 years, and the annual market size averages more than 3 billion yuan.
Infrared is more widely used in the civilian field: In the civilian field, the infrared thermal imager industry has fully achieved market-based competition, and various enterprises face free competition in the market. With the development of uncooled infrared thermal imaging technology, infrared thermal imagers have been widely used in the civilian field, and their civilian market has maintained a rapid growth rate, the growth rate is much greater than the military field. The rapid growth of infrared thermal imager consumption in the civilian market is mainly due to the continuous expansion of new application fields caused by the reduction in product costs. The civil infrared thermal imager industry will usher in a period of rapid growth in market demand.
According to predictions by Maxtech International and Beijing Olixin Consulting Center, the global civilian infrared market will reach USD 7.465 billion in 2023. According to Yole research and forecast, among the main segments of the global civil infrared market, the fastest growing is the personal consumption field. The compound annual growth rate from 2014 to 2019 is expected to reach 17.41%, of which the smartphone thermal imager will reach 40.99 %. The compound annual growth rate of the security monitoring and assisted driving market is also above 10%.
