L-3 launches amorphous silicon thermal sensors at SPIE Defense & Security show

ORLANDO, Fla., 19 March 2008.L-3 Infrared Products in Dallas is introducing amorphous silicon-based thermal imaging sensors called Thermal-Eye Series 17 this week at the SPIE Defense and Security conference and trade show in Orlando, Fla.

The uncooled thermal sensors announcement was part of symposium addressing "The Age of Amorphous Silicon" at SPIE Defense and Security. Amorphous silicon is the non-crystalline allotropic form of silicon. In amorphous silicon, long range order is not present and the atoms form a random network.

One of the main advantages of amorphous silicon when compared to other infrared detector materials is its common usage in a variety of high-volume products, L-3 officials say. Crystalline silicon -- the same material in a different form -- is the standard material used worldwide to make semiconductor chips.

Amorphous silicon is for large-area electronics such as liquid-crystal displays (LCDs) and photovoltaic solar cells. L-3's approach builds on two previous generations of amorphous silicon based sensor modules.

L-3's product line is based on its newest generation of 17-micron amorphous silicon technology and offers 640-by-480-pixel resolution. The 17-micron metric is the figure of merit for measuring pixel-to-pixel spacing on imaging detectors.

For more information contact L-3 online at www.L-3Com.com.