SWIR Vision Systems
SWIR Vision Systems designs and manufactures colloidal quantum dot (CQD) shortwave infrared (SWIR) image sensors and cameras under the Acuros brand, serving semiconductor inspection, battery manufacturing, automotive, defense, industrial machine vision, and consumer electronics markets globally. Acquired by onsemi in July 2024.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersMorrisville, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SWIR Vision Systems does
SWIR Vision Systems designs and manufactures shortwave infrared (SWIR) image sensors and cameras based on proprietary colloidal quantum dot (CQD) technology. Founded in 2018 as a spin-out from RTI International and headquartered in Morrisville, North Carolina, the company's patented CQD process fabricates thin-film photodiodes monolithically on silicon readout wafers, eliminating the hybridization and epitaxial growth required by conventional InGaAs SWIR sensors. The resulting Acuros product family spans standard SWIR (400–1700nm), extended SWIR/eSWIR (400–2100nm), a portable handheld camera (Acuros GO), specialized laser profiling cameras, and standalone CQD sensor dies ranging from VGA to 6.3 megapixels — making Acuros the highest-resolution commercially available CQD SWIR camera line globally.
The company serves eight documented end-market verticals: semiconductor and electronics manufacturing (silicon wafer and die inspection), battery and EV manufacturing (lithium-ion layer alignment and contamination detection), industrial machine vision (plastic and food packaging QC), automotive and autonomous vehicles (fog/rain penetration), defense and security (U.S. DoD ALPD program and surveillance), public safety and law enforcement, consumer electronics (smartphone facial recognition and AR/VR), and solar/renewable energy inspection. Customers include the U.S. Department of Defense (Direct to Phase II SBIR award) and unnamed industrial OEMs.
SWIR Vision Systems operates a distribution-led go-to-market model, selling exclusively through authorized global distributors (Arrow Electronics, Avnet, DigiKey, Future Electronics, Mouser Electronics); pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set per quote based on resolution, interface, and spectral range. All products carry EAR-99 export classification, enabling frictionless international shipment. Following onsemi's July 2024 acquisition, the SWIR Vision Systems product line is integrated into onsemi's CMOS sensor platform and sold through onsemi's combined sales channels, with prior standalone distribution arrangements preserved.
SWIR Vision Systems firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SWIR Vision Systems
- Legal name
- SWIR Vision Systems Inc.
- Website
- https://swirvisionsystems.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SWIR Vision Systems designs and manufactures colloidal quantum dot (CQD) shortwave infrared (SWIR) image sensors and cameras under the Acuros brand, serving semiconductor inspection, battery manufacturing, automotive, defense, industrial machine vision, and consumer electronics markets globally. Acquired by onsemi in July 2024.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SWIR Vision Systems industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Infrared Imaging Hardware
- NAICS
- Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth) (HDAHALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Photodiodes & Discrete Photodetectors (HDAHAHAL), Optical & Light Sensors (Photodiodes/ALS/Color/UV) (HDAHALAE)
Keywords
Where SWIR Vision Systems is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Morrisville
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
SWIR Vision Systems business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- SWIR Cameras and Sensors: SWIR Vision Systems generates revenue primarily from the sale of SWIR cameras, extended SWIR cameras, handheld cameras, laser profiling cameras, and SWIR sensor dies. Products are sold through authorized distributors globally. As a hardware company acquired by onsemi, the revenue model centers on product hardware sales with varying price points based on resolution, interface type, and spectral range.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
SWIR Vision Systems product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SWIR Vision Systems designs, manufactures, and sells Acuros-branded shortwave infrared (SWIR) and extended SWIR cameras and colloidal quantum dot (CQD) image sensors. Its proprietary CQD thin-film photodiode sensors are fabricated monolithically on silicon wafers, delivering high-resolution (up to 5.9 MP) infrared imaging across 400–2100 nm for industrial machine vision, semiconductor inspection, defense, automotive, and scientific markets.
Product overview
SWIR Vision Systems offers a unified portfolio of colloidal quantum dot (CQD) based shortwave infrared (SWIR) imaging products centered on the Acuros camera and sensor platform. The core offering consists of Acuros CQD SWIR cameras (standard 400-1700nm models), Acuros CQD eSWIR cameras (extended range 400-2100nm models), and Acuros GO handheld cameras—all sharing the same proprietary CQD sensor technology. Specialized variants include Laser Profiling cameras for laser beam diagnostics and profiling applications. The product line spans multiple resolution tiers from VGA (640x512) to 6MP (2908x2040), with corresponding CQD sensor components available separately. Supporting accessories include SWIR-optimized lenses in C-mount and M42 configurations. All products operate on the patented CQD Sensor Technology platform, which enables higher resolution and lower cost compared to traditional InGaAs sensors while maintaining room-temperature operation and EAR-99 export classification.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Acuros: Brand name for SWIR Vision Systems' camera products, including Acuros SWIR Cameras, Acuros eSWIR Cameras, Acuros Handheld Cameras, and Acuros Sensors. The Acuros CQD SWIR cameras deliver high-resolution imaging and sensing capabilities across the visible, NIR, and SWIR spectrum.
- CQD
Products and services
- Acuros CQD SWIR Cameras High-resolution shortwave infrared cameras covering 400–1700 nm in resolutions from 640x512 (VGA) up to 1920x1080 (2.1 MP). Available with USB3 Vision or GigE Vision interfaces, global shutter, TEC cooling, and EAR-99 export classification for industrial, defense, and scientific imaging applications.
- Acuros CQD eSWIR Cameras Extended SWIR cameras with spectral response from 400 nm to 2100 nm and room-temperature dark current densities around 5 nA/cm². Delivers superior sensitivity to traditional epitaxial IR sensors in the 1600–2000 nm band for applications such as laser profiling, chemical imaging, and scientific instrumentation.
- Acuros GO Handheld Camera Portable, battery-powered 6 MP handheld SWIR camera (2908x2040) with IP65 ruggedization, SD card storage, micro-HDMI output, and touch-screen GUI. Captures images through smoke, haze, rain, mist, and snow; detects infrared lasers up to 2100 nm and identifies moisture, sugar content, hydrocarbons, and chemical signatures for field defense, security, and public safety operations.
- Acuros CQD Laser Profiling Cameras Specialized SWIR cameras for laser beam profiling and diagnostics, featuring a large sensor area, low angular sensitivity, and short standoff distances to minimize interference fringing from coherent light sources. Available in SWIR (400–1700 nm) and eSWIR (400–2100 nm) variants for characterizing longer-wavelength laser sources.
- Acuros CQD SWIR Sensors Standalone CQD image sensors available as Acuros 640 (0.3 MP), Acuros 1280 (1.3 MP), Acuros 1920 (2.1 MP), Acuros 4 (4.2 MP, 7 µm pixel pitch), and Acuros 6 (5.9 MP, 7 µm pixel pitch). All offer 400–2100 nm spectral response, 68–70 dB dynamic range, and monolithic silicon-readout fabrication for OEM integration into cameras, instruments, and consumer devices.
- SWIR Lenses Compatible SWIR-optimized lenses for Acuros cameras with 800–2000 nm coating, large sensor area coverage, focal lengths from 25 mm to 100 mm, and C-mount or M42 mount configurations.
Quantifiable outcome
- First 2.1 megapixel SWIR camera commercially available globally
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use SWIR Vision Systems
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments8 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
SWIR Vision Systems technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
AI capability2 records
Feature7 records
SWIR Vision Systems partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
SWIR Vision Systems competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Teledyne FLIR: Teledyne FLIR sells Blackfly S SWIR and other SWIR/NIR cameras for machine vision, defense, and scientific imaging, directly competing with the Acuros family in industrial and security applications.
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu manufactures InGaAs SWIR image sensors and cameras, the dominant incumbent alternative to CQD technology and a direct competitor in semiconductor inspection, scientific, and industrial machine vision markets.
- Sony Semiconductor Solutions: Sony's IMX990 and IMX991 are the benchmark InGaAs SWIR sensors against which SWIR Vision Systems explicitly benchmarks Acuros performance, making Sony the most direct technology rival in the 400-1700nm range.
- Raptor Photonics: Raptor Photonics offers SWIR and scientific-grade cameras (e.g., Ninox, Owl) targeting industrial, scientific, and defense imaging, overlapping with the Acuros camera portfolio on performance specs and end markets.
- Lynred (formerly Sofradir/ULIS): Lynred manufactures InGaAs and HgCdTe infrared detectors including SWIR products, competing with SWIR Vision Systems in defense, surveillance, and industrial thermal/IR imaging applications.
- Excelitas Technologies: Excelitas produces InGaAs photodiodes, SWIR cameras (e.g., pco SWIR), and detector modules, directly overlapping with Acuros sensor and camera offerings in machine vision and scientific imaging.
- SCD (Semi-Conductor Devices): SCD is a leading supplier of InGaAs SWIR detectors and detector-dewar assemblies used in defense and industrial imaging, and a key competitor in the SWIR detector market where Acuros competes on cost and scalability.
Emerging players
- New Imaging Technologies (NIT): NIT develops InGaAs and CMOS-based SWIR sensors and cameras (e.g., NSC1601) targeting machine vision and surveillance, representing an emerging alternative in the same SWIR imaging niche.
Broad incumbents
- onsemi (parent): Acquirer of SWIR Vision Systems (July 2024); onsemi is a Fortune 500 supplier of CMOS image sensors, power management, and SiC devices whose industrial/automotive channels now distribute Acuros products and provide scale advantages.
- OmniVision Technologies: OmniVision is a broad CMOS image sensor incumbent serving mobile, automotive, and industrial markets; its expanding NIR/SWIR product lines and AR/VR depth-sensing roadmap place it as an adjacent competitor for next-generation consumer and automotive SWIR applications.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SWIR Vision Systems social profiles
Digital presenceSWIR Vision Systems compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
SWIR Vision Systems financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SWIR Vision Systems leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
SWIR Vision Systems funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors9 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SWIR Vision Systems M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SWIR Vision Systems
What does SWIR Vision Systems do?
SWIR Vision Systems designs, manufactures, and sells Acuros-branded shortwave infrared (SWIR) and extended SWIR cameras and colloidal quantum dot (CQD) image sensors. Its proprietary CQD thin-film photodiode sensors are fabricated monolithically on silicon wafers, delivering high-resolution (up to 5.9 MP) infrared imaging across 400–2100 nm for industrial machine vision, semiconductor inspection, defense, automotive, and scientific markets.
Is SWIR Vision Systems a public or private company?
SWIR Vision Systems is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was SWIR Vision Systems founded?
SWIR Vision Systems was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SWIR Vision Systems based?
SWIR Vision Systems is headquartered in Morrisville, United States, in the North America region.
How does SWIR Vision Systems make money?
One revenue line is on record: SWIR Cameras and Sensors.
Who are SWIR Vision Systems's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Teledyne FLIR, Hamamatsu Photonics, Sony Semiconductor Solutions, Raptor Photonics, Lynred (formerly Sofradir/ULIS), Excelitas Technologies and SCD (Semi-Conductor Devices). New Imaging Technologies (NIT) is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are onsemi (parent) and OmniVision Technologies.
Does SWIR Vision Systems have an API?
No public API is recorded for SWIR Vision Systems.
What industry is SWIR Vision Systems in?
SWIR Vision Systems's product category is Infrared Imaging Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAHALAF, Imaging Sensors (CMOS/CCD/ToF/Depth), with a secondary code of HDAHAHAL, Photodiodes & Discrete Photodetectors. Its NAICS code is 33441 and its SIC code is 3827.