Thermal imager proves to be first for smartphones

The incorporated thermal imager allows users the unprecedented ability to see the world in a way the naked eye cannot, including in complete darkness. This thermal Imager will be available at a targeted MSRP of $349, which is more than two times cheaper than the lowest price thermal camera. This affordable pricing drastically enlarges the scope of thermal imager users to any consumer who wants to see in the dark to detect intruders, to homeowners who want to identify heat or cooling leaks in buildings, or outdoor enthusiasts who want to observe wildlife. Those applications have been perfectly identified and analyzed with the technology & market study performed by Yole Développement in its last Uncooled IR imaging report.

According to Yole Développement’s report, “Uncooled Infrared Imaging Technology & Market Trends”, published in September 2013, smartphones are becoming a new business driver for the IR imaging market. Yole Développement’s analysts anticipated this market entry and plan a very significant growth in the next 5 years. In this report they also announced a strong market impact similar to the image sensor introduction in mobile phones more than 10 years ago.

With this new product introduction, Yole Développement expects this market will grow rapidly until 2018, and proposes two development scenarii. Under the conservative approach, sales volumes for 2018 will reach up to 100,000 units, and up to several million units with the optimistic scenario.