Tamron announces the launch of Two New Models of Industrial-Use Lens Covering a Wide Spectral Band from Visible to SWIR Band (SMA11F16 / SMA11F25)

Dec. 10, 2021, Saitama, Japan - Tamron Co., Ltd. (President & CEO: Shiro Ajisaka; Headquarters: Saitama City, Japan), a leading manufacturer of optics for diverse applications, announces the release of new industrial-usefixed-focal lenses. The new SMA11F16 and SMA11F25 feature high spectral transmittance over a wide band from the visible-light band to the SWIR band* focus-shift suppressed to an absolute minimum over the entire band.
* Corresponding to 400nm ~ 1700nm

High-resolution machine-vision cameras have become indispensable for the industry applications such as inspection of external views of components and products, and inspection of electrical components mounted on boards. Most cameras employ the visible-light band for inspection.

On the other hand, industrial-use cameras employing the SWIR (Short-Wave IR) band have gained a predominant position for applications that are not easily tractable in the visible-light spectrum. Such applications include inspection of defects in products and foods, detection of contaminating substances, and identification of materials under test. In recent years, a single camera solution that allows imaging in the wide spectrum including both the visible-light and the SWIR band has become commercially available.The new industrial-use camera enabling imaging in the wide spectrum contributes, in addition to the benefit of using a single camera instead of plural cameras, to improving the inspection and detection accuracy owing to the use of a larger bandwidth for imaging.

To address the growing need in the market, Tamron currently offers a single-unit industrial-use 12mm 1” 5μm pixel-pitch fixed-focal lens (Model: SMA11F12) compatible with the wide spectrum covering both the visible-light and the SWIR band. Two new models (16mm Model: SMA11F16 and 25mm Model: SMA11F25) are now introduced to meet soaring demands in the area of product inspection.

SMA11F Series Lineup

In addition to a new proprietary optical technology that makes the new lenses compatible with the wider spectrum covering both the visible-light and the SWIR band, the focus-shift in between the different bands is reduced to an absolute minimum, thus eliminating the need of re-focusing over the entire band. A new advanced lens coating technology also assures high and constant spectral transmittance over the whole spectrum from the visible-light to the SWIR band.

Tamron continues to pursue high optical performance that delivers superb image details, and excellent user utility, addressing customers’ critical requirements and needs for industrial-use machine-vision fixed-focal lenses.

1. Significant Reduction of Focus-Shift in between the Visible-Light and the SWIR Band

Focus-shift occurring in between different bands is effectively reduced over the whole spectrum corresponding to the wave-length of 400 nm to 1700 nm.The new lenses offer an optimum optical component for a machine-vision camera operating in the visible-light band, an industrial-use camera operating in the SWIR band, and an industrial-use camera operating in both bands.

2. Industry-Leading Spectrum Transmittance

Tamron’s new proprietary lens coating technology assures an approx. 80% constant spectrum transmittance over the whole spectrum from the visible-light to the SWIR* band.
* Band corresponding to the wavelength of 400 – 1700 nm

3. Enhanced Imaging Performance at Close-Up Distances

Imaging contrast is substantially enhanced at commonly-used close-up distances.
The new lenses are compatible with imagers of a pixel-pitch of 5μm. The lenses are also compatible with IMX990/IMX991*.
* Products of Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation