Please see our About section for the full story!
Yes, we have led and been partners within multiple R&D projects. If you’re keen to collaborate with us, please get in touch.
The PF32 offers in-pixel timing and counting of single photons. The timing accuracy of 55ps coupled with the ultra-high speed data throughput is unparalleled in the marketplace.
Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
The key advantage of our SPAD arrays is the ability to detect individual photons, which are digitally counted or time-stamped with 55ps accuracy at ultra-high rates.
CCDs do not offer single-photon sensitivity, nor do they offer the ability to time-stamp the arrival of photons.
EMCCDs have been shown to provide single-photon resolution but are subject to noise issues such as charge-smearing. The high gains at which these need to be operated at for single-photon detection also degrades the performance over time.
A SPAD array provides digital detection of single photons with no degradation over time.
Yes. Contact us to discuss a trial of our products.
Our product range is broad and can be customised to your individual needs, please contact us for a quote.
Depending on where you are based, delivery takes between 1 day and 3 weeks.
We can ship your product within 3 weeks.
The PF32 is an array of SPADs, capable of capturing images. Should you wish to increase the resolution, a scanning system can be employed. The PF32 has inputs for scanning signals to synchronise the data with the scanning system.
The active area of the pixel is circular and 6.95um in diameter.
Single-Photon Counting (SPC) and Time-Correlated Single-Photon Counting (TCSPC).
Each pixel can timestamp a photon with 55ps accuracy. Other TCSPC systems may offer finer temporal resolution but not across 1024 channels simultaneously.
In TCSPC mode, the PF32 can either accept a synchronisation signal from a light source (usually a laser, and most commonly 3.3V), or the PF32 can provide a pulse to trigger a light source which is also routed internally for the TCSPC measurement.
Yes. This is a unique feature of the PF32 camera – in every frame, each pixel can record a timestamp for a detected photon, relative to a synchronisation signal (usually from a laser source)
Up to half a million frames per second, and beyond! Readout rates depend on the model purchased, and the specific operating conditions.
See our PF32 Product Range Page for more details or get in touch with a Photon Force expert to learn more.
| ENVIRONMENT | |
|---|---|
| Storage Temperature | 0°C to 40°C |
| Operating Temperature | 10°C to 30°C |
| Relative Humidity | ≤ 70% |
| Altitude | ≤ 2000 m |
| Indoor/Outdoor | Indoor use only |
| Pollution Degree | Pollution Degree 2 |
| Ingress Protection (IP) Rating | IP20 |
| Electromagnetic Compatibility (PF32-USBC only) | EN IEC 61326-1 : 2021 47CFR Part 15, Sub Part B |
| EMC Class (PF32-USBC only) | Class A Equipment |
The optical fill factor is 1.5% due to the in-pixel timing and counting circuitry that surrounds the active area. The MLA version has an effective fill factor of >12%
We have a basic Java GUI for camera testing and initial setup. Our driver can be used with any of the main programming languages, although most customers tend to use our Matlab wrapper as the basis for their data collection and analysis.
Our software package includes a basic GUI to connect to your new PF32 camera, explore the settings and start getting images quickly. You’ll find all the details in our getting started guide. Alternatively, check out our Matlab guide to see how to get time-resolved image data into Matlab in minutes!
At Photon Force, our firmware team are able to customise the in-camera processing to meet your data processing requirements.
There is no single answer, as the required PC specifications will depend on the required camera frame rate, and whether you want to store the acquired data to RAM, to disk, or to analyse the data in real-time. Generally, though, a high-spec machine should be used with 32GB of RAM for buffering of data. A dedicated USB3 channel should be reserved for each PF32 in order to achieve the highest possible frame rates.
The maximum achievable frame rate depends on the camera model and the bit-depth of the data requested by the user. At the highest bit-depth, a frame rate of 160kfps is the maximum. At the lowest bit-depth, the 1M model offers a maximum frame rate of around 700kfps, or higher if a subset of pixels are selected for readout. Please see the following link for a more in-depth breakdown – The PF32-1M readout modes and frame rates
Please get in touch and we can schedule a phone or video chat to learn more about your application and how Photon Force products can help to accelerate your application.
Please contact us to discuss your frame rate needs, and we will advise you on which model is best for your application.
The PF32 was primarily developed for FLIM, but customers are now using it in a wide range of applications including, but not limited to, Diffuse Correlation Spectroscopy (DCS), LiDAR and experimental LiDAR (tracking hidden objects), imaging within and through scattering media, plasma and transient discharge imaging, quantum (HOM, comms, entangled photon correlation measurements), with more being added to this list every year!
The PF32 is a compact and easy-to-integrate unit with high data throughput, coupled with exceptional timing resolution of 55ps, making it an excellent platform for LiDAR research.
The ability to detect single photons is at the core of many quantum applications. Customers have used the PF32 for quantum communications, HOM-type measurements and photon correlations.
The PF32 not only detects single photons, but it timestamps their arrival with an accuracy of 55ps, something that other scientific cameras cannot do. This unique and powerful capability enables clever computational techniques to be played with the data. Please see the applications section of the website where you’ll find links to journal publications showing these techniques in action.
Browse around our website or head straight to the Collateral area of our Resources section where you’ll find our brochure, application notes and so much more.
