20 years of high-speed imaging innovation

In 2003, Specialised Imaging embarked on a journey to bring new innovations to ultra-high-speed imaging instruments and to create systems that are more intuitive to the user and offer a world class level of reliability and support.

Co-founder and Managing Director, Wai Chan commented: “Our road map was to start with a simple image intensifier system that would allow universal interface to all cameras, ranging from a standard SLR to complex framing cameras. The building blocks from this product allowed us to design an intensified camera that was aimed at the outdoor market, so it had to be robust and weatherproof. Following requests from our customers we developed the SIR2 which was the world’s first double shot image intensifier coupled to a high resolution (12 MPixel) sensor. This enabled the capture of two successive images of the same event within a fraction of a second. Our next product was the multiple framing camera (SIM) which incorporated a novel 8-way beam splitter in a small footprint, whilst still maintaining an f2.8 aperture, plus an innovative additional optical split to share the same viewpoint with other auxiliary imaging devices, such as a spectrograph or streak camera. Over the years this product has evolved to allow 16 channels, double shot image intensifiers, gigabyte interface, optional canon mount interface and sophisticated velocity trap triggering. All additions have been developed as a result of customer feedback. The Queens Award for Innovation in 2011 was awarded to the company in recognition of the innovations in the SIM camera.

Director, Wayne Smethurst continued: “In 2007 we developed a Trajectory Tracker system, that allowed the predictive tracking of a projectile in flight. While we were not the first to market with this product, our innovations, reliability, and support has made this product the world leader in this marketplace. We have and will continue to develop and improve this product.”

Technical Director and Co-founder, Keith Taylor added: “Part of our original roadmap was to develop an Ultra high speed video camera. In partnership with the UK Science and Technology Facilities Council. From this project we developed the sensor that is used on the Kirana Camera. The camera has the fastest sensor at the highest resolution and frame storage. Currently the Kirana is capable of 7 million frames per second, at 924x764 with 180 frames making it the fastest camera in its class. The effort of the team won another Queens Award for innovation in 2016.”

Concluding, Wai Chan said: “In the 20 years since Specialised Imaging’s humble beginnings with 4 people working from a garage in Tring UK, we have grown to today operate from a purpose-built office/factory with 30 staff in Pitstone, UK plus offices in Temecula USA, Munich Germany, and Beijing China.  The company also has specialist sales channels spread across the world, from Australia, to South Africa and Japan. Specialised Imaging business has been and will continue to be based around offering the highest quality cameras for our customer’s applications, backed with our vast experience and expertise. The success of our business is a result of the immense dedication of all the people associated with us, from our employees right through the supply chain, who work to provide products to the standards that our customer’s demand. With our own image sensor and camera development teams, we are going to continue re-defining ultra-high-speed cameras to provide engineers and scientists worldwide with better tools to analyse their fundamental research.”