May 27 2009
Xenics, the leading developer of innovative infrared detection solutions for a wide range of applications headquartered in Europe, presents a secure and non-invasive countermeasure to the uncontrolled spreading of the respiratory disease, sometimes called swine flue, caused by the potentially pandemic virus AN1H1. Easily installed and operated at airports and border stations, Xenics offers the new Raven, an uncooled microbolometer infrared camera, which measures, from a safe distance and in real time, crucial differences in body temperature at an accuracy of up to 0.2°C - pinpointing any suspicious fevers in passing travelers.
With this IR camera solution for simple, reliable and stable operation in public places such as airports, bus, railway and metro stations, Xenics is opening up an urgently sought and practical way to detect, at an early stage, dangerous viral diseases indicated by fever. As a diagnostic tool the Xenics Raven captures and displays on a PC screen linked via a simple Ethernet connection a high-definition infrared image at a high frame rate of 50Hz.
Temperature differences as small as 0.2°C can be detected, at a measuring sensitivity of 0.05°C. By using the reference method, putting a precisely controlled temperature reference in the field of view, Xenics eliminates the
stability problem that microbolometer cameras usually have to cope with, thereby providing a stable and reliable screening. The high-definition image permits accurate fever detection in both individuals and crowds.
Generally, the measurement of body temperature from a distance is carried out with an infrared camera that detects the heat emitted from the human skin producing a temperature map like a camera in the visual realm recording a life scene. The result is a color image whose various color contours represent temperature gradients. Temperatures above a certain preset level can be highlighted.
Enabling reliable measurements, the Xenics Raven requires only minimal set up and examination time. The Raven can be flexibly operated on a tripod or installed for permanent use. Xenics recommends the body temperature to be checked at the corner of an individual's eye, where the temperature approaches the core body temperature. The examination takes no longer than a fraction of a second. Setup of the Raven is very simple. It requires minimum operator training of less than one hour before being fully operational.
Even a systematic, collected crowd screening is feasible via the Raven's high-definition image. Automatic alerts can be triggered by adjustable thresholds preferably set at 1°C above average temperature, with visual and/or audible alarms. Operation of the Raven is discrete -at a 50Hz frame rate, there is no hampering of pedestrian flow. The Raven provides accurate and stable temperature measurement via precisely controlled black-body reference.
"We are broadening our product portfolio as well as our strategic presence in the world markets, changing from a mainly technology-driven to a fully market-driven approach," says Xenics founder and CEO Bob Grietens. "In addition to our fast growing business in advanced InGaAs SWIR imagers we are entering the markets for uncooled bolometer solutions based on our application oriented R&D portfolio."
As the sole European-based manufacturer of InGaAs sensors and a leading provider of advanced IR solutions worldwide, Xenics provides distribution coverage throughout the U.S., India, South Africa and Asia. Xenics' business outlook focuses on mass production of high-quality IR cameras in lower price ranges, as well as on smart IR cameras offering advanced functionality and easy integration into customer systems.