WDI, a leader in advanced microscopy automation technology, today announced the launch of its new modular short-wave infrared (SWIR) microscope system and various SWIR and visible light illuminators. The platform expands the boundaries of light microscopy by enabling customers to see through opaque materials that are optically transparent to SWIR light. 

Unlike conventional microscopes that operate only in visible range (400-700 nm), SWIR instruments extend into wavelengths up to 1700 nm. At these wavelengths, many materials become transparent, which allows non-destructive imaging. 

SWIR imaging is gaining traction across multiple sectors. Semiconductor manufacturers use it to inspect buried interconnects in stacked packages, while MEMS makers rely on SWIR to detect bubbles and voids in Silicon membranes. In life sciences, NIR-II fluorescence imaging benefits from deeper tissue penetration and reduced scattering. 

“We designed our system to deliver visible to SWIR imaging in a single, configurable microscope,” said Tedd Kelemen VP of Sales and Marketing at WDI.  “Customers can replace halogen-based illuminators for WDI’s LED illumination, select from high resolution CMOS or InGaAs cameras, and choose objectives optimized for research or industrial inspection.” 

Key Features and Benefits:

• SWIR Optimization: WDI’s MMS components are engineered for both SWIR and visible light imaging, including optics, sensors, and illumination, delivering unmatched image quality and superior performance.
• Surface and Depth Autofocus: Combining WDI’s PFA-LN autofocus sensor and Optical Offset Adjuster (OOA) on the SWIR MMS, the system enables fast autofocus tracking of the surface while simultaneously imaging the internal features at depth.
• Long-lasting Stability: SWIR LED-based illuminators provide consistent, and spectrally stable output and long-lasting performance, ensuring reproducible imaging over time and eliminating the need for halogen bulb replacement.
• Single or Dual-mode Illumination: Single-wavelength SWIR or combined SWIR and visible illumination through a single optical package, eliminating the need for separate light sources, frequent reconfiguration, or bulky external solutions.

WDI believes by combining more than 20 years of experience in automated microscopy with the latest technology, the barrier to entry to SWIR imaging is lowered and various modules and system configurations will empower engineers and scientists to reveal the unseen and make discoveries that were previously out of reach. 

For more information about the new SWIR microscopes and illuminators, contact sales at sales@wdidevice.com