Princeton Instruments
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersTrenton, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Princeton Instruments does
Princeton Instruments, founded in 1981 and headquartered in Trenton, New Jersey, manufactures high-performance scientific cameras and spectrometers for research, industrial, and OEM customers. The company pioneered several industry-first imaging technologies, including the first photodiode array spectroscopy camera (1981), the first scientific-grade gated ICCD camera (1995), and the first scientific-grade microscopy EMCCD camera (2001). Its current product portfolio spans scientific cameras across multiple detector technologies — CCD (SOPHIA, PIXIS, PyLoN), sCMOS (KURO, COSMOS), ICCD/EMCCD/emICCD (PI-MAX 4, ProEM), InGaAs (NIRvana), and scientific X-ray (PI-MTE3) — alongside imaging spectrometers (IsoPlane, SpectraPro HRS, TriVista, Acton LS 785) and supporting software such as the Spinnaker SDK.
The business operates as Teledyne Princeton Instruments, a brand and division within Teledyne Vision Solutions (part of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, NYSE: TDY), following its 2023 integration into a portfolio that also includes Teledyne DALSA, e2v, FLIR IIS, Lumenera, Photometrics, Judson Technologies, and Acton Optics. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales of high-value scientific imaging and spectroscopy equipment, supplemented by custom OEM components. Go-to-market is consultative enterprise field sales with quote-based pricing and a "Request Info" lead capture model; no public pricing exists. Customers include universities, national laboratories, and research institutions (microscopy, spectroscopy, astronomy, quantum, fusion, combustion research), industrial firms requiring machine vision and quality control imaging, and OEM partners integrating imaging modules into larger systems.
Princeton Instruments firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Princeton Instruments
- Legal name
- Teledyne Princeton Instruments (operating as division of Teledyne Technologies Incorporated)
- Website
- https://princetoninstruments.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Princeton Instruments industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Scientific Imaging and Spectroscopy Equipment
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems (HLAGAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments (HLAGAIAE), Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)
Keywords
Where Princeton Instruments is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Trenton
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Princeton Instruments business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Scientific Camera Sales: Princeton Instruments generates revenue through the sale of high-performance scientific cameras including CCD, sCMOS, ICCD, EMCCD, emICCD, and InGaAs cameras. These are one-time hardware purchases for scientific research, industrial imaging, and OEM applications.
- Spectrometer Sales: Revenue from high-performance spectrometer systems including IsoPlane, SpectraPro HRS, TriVista, and Acton LS 785 for spectroscopy applications in research and industrial settings.
- Custom OEM Components: Custom and OEM solutions for industrial and scientific customers requiring specialized integration of imaging technology.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enterprise scientific imaging equipment with quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Princeton Instruments product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Princeton Instruments designs and manufactures high-performance scientific cameras and spectrometers for scientific research, industrial imaging, and OEM applications. Its portfolio spans imaging spectrometers (IsoPlane, SpectraPro HRS, TriVista, Acton LS 785) and scientific cameras using CCD, sCMOS, ICCD, EMCCD, emICCD, InGaAs, and direct X-ray detection technologies, complemented by frame grabbers and software development kits. The products are engineered for ultra-low-noise detection, high sensitivity, and time-resolved imaging across spectroscopy, microscopy, astronomy, quantum research, and industrial inspection use cases.
Product overview
Princeton Instruments, now part of Teledyne Vision Solutions, is a manufacturer of high-performance scientific imaging and spectroscopy equipment. The product portfolio includes: (1) Spectrometers including IsoPlane (imaging spectrometer), SpectraPro HRS (spectrographs), TriVista (triple spectrometers), and Acton LS 785 (NIR spectrometers); (2) Scientific cameras across multiple technologies including CCD (SOPHIA, PIXIS), sCMOS (KURO, COSMOS), ICCD/EMCCD (PI-MAX 4, ProEM), InGaAs (NIRvana), and X-ray (PI-MTE3); (3) Frame grabbers including Xtium3/Xtium2/Xtium families; (4) Software Development Kits such as Spinnaker SDK; (5) Image sensors including Lince5M NIR; and (6) 3D imaging solutions like Z-Trak Express. These products serve scientific research, industrial imaging, and OEM communities with applications in microscopy, spectroscopy, astronomy, quantum research, fusion research, combustion analysis, and scientific X-ray imaging.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- IsoPlane: Multi-award winning imaging spectrometer
- SpectraPro HRS
- TriVista
- COSMOS
- BLAZE
- NIRvana
- SOPHIA
- PIXIS
- ProEM
- PI-MTE3
- PyLoN
- PI-MAX 4
- KURO
Products and services
- IsoPlane Imaging Spectrometer Imaging spectrometer designed for high-performance spectroscopy applications in scientific research.
- SpectraPro HRS Spectrographs High performance imaging spectrographs for advanced spectroscopic analysis and research applications.
- TriVista Triple Spectrometers High-resolution triple spectrometers providing superior spectral resolution for demanding scientific applications.
- Acton LS 785 NIR Spectrometers High-throughput NIR spectrometers optimized for near-infrared spectroscopic analysis.
- COSMOS Astronomy Cameras Large format, low-noise astronomy cameras featuring the only large format, high performance CMOS designed and manufactured entirely within Teledyne.
- BLAZE Spectroscopy Cameras Award winning cameras designed specifically for spectroscopy applications with high sensitivity and low noise.
- NIRvana InGaAs Cameras InGaAs cameras for low-light NIR and SWIR imaging and spectroscopy applications.
- SOPHIA Ultra-Low-Noise CCD Cameras Ultra-low-noise CCD cameras designed for scientific imaging applications requiring exceptional sensitivity.
- PIXIS CCD Cameras High-performance, low-noise CCD cameras for scientific research applications.
- ProEM Ultralow-Light Detection Cameras Ultralow light detection cameras designed for the most demanding low-light scientific applications.
- PI-MTE3 X-Ray Cameras Fully in-vacuum, direct detection X-ray cameras for scientific X-ray imaging applications.
- PyLoN Liquid Nitrogen Cooled Cameras Extremely low noise liquid nitrogen cooled cameras for high-sensitivity scientific imaging.
- PI-MAX 4 Intensified Cameras Ultrafast, intensified cameras for time-resolved spectroscopy and imaging applications.
- KURO Back-Illuminated CMOS Cameras Back-illuminated CMOS cameras offering high sensitivity for scientific imaging.
- Spinnaker SDK Software Development Kit providing reliable GigE architecture and exceptional performance for camera control and image acquisition.
Companies that use Princeton Instruments
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Princeton Instruments technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature8 records
Princeton Instruments partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Teledyne Vision SolutionscorePrinceton Instruments is now fully integrated into Teledyne Vision Solutions, combining its spectroscopy and scientific camera expertise with other Teledyne imaging brands including Teledyne DALSA, e2v, FLIR IIS, Lumenera, Photometrics, Judson Technologies, and Acton Optics to create the most complete end-to-end imaging technology portfolio.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Princeton Instruments competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HORIBA Scientific: HORIBA Scientific sells high-performance spectrometers, spectrographs, and CCD/sCMOS detection systems for material science, life sciences, and academic research. Direct overlap with Princeton Instruments' spectrometer lines (IsoPlane, SpectraPro HRS, TriVista) and spectroscopy camera business.
- Andor Technology (Oxford Instruments): Andor is the closest direct competitor to Princeton Instruments, offering scientific CCD, sCMOS, EMCCD, and ICCD cameras plus spectroscopy systems for research, physical sciences, and life sciences. Same product categories, same customer base (universities, national labs), same enterprise sales motion.
- Renishaw: Renishaw produces Raman spectroscopy systems and high-sensitivity detectors for material analysis and research, overlapping with Princeton Instruments' spectroscopy and OEM detector offerings. Comparable research-customer base and complementary product positioning.
- Teledyne e2v: Also under Teledyne Vision Solutions, e2v designs and manufactures scientific CMOS image sensors and cameras for space, astronomy, and scientific applications. Comparable technology stack (custom CMOS sensors) and serves overlapping end-customers in astronomy and high-energy physics.
- Hamamatsu Photonics: Hamamatsu manufactures scientific-grade CCD and CMOS cameras, InGaAs/InSb infrared detectors, and imaging components for spectroscopy and quantum research. Directly comparable product portfolio and serves the same research-grade imaging customer base.
- Teledyne Photometrics: Sister brand under Teledyne Vision Solutions making scientific CCD, sCMOS, and EMCCD cameras for microscopy, life sciences, and physical sciences. Same parent, partially overlapping product portfolio, and shared distribution synergies create both internal cross-sell and internal cannibalization dynamics.
Broad incumbents
- Bruker: Bruker is a larger analytical instruments incumbent offering FTIR, Raman, NMR, mass spectrometry, and X-ray systems for research and industrial markets. Overlaps with Princeton Instruments' spectroscopy and X-ray camera lines but serves broader applications with much larger installed base.
- Carl Zeiss Microscopy: Zeiss offers integrated microscopy systems that often incorporate scientific cameras from Princeton Instruments, Andor, or Photometrics. Indirectly comparable as both serve the microscopy research market, with Zeiss providing the optical system and Princeton Instruments providing the detection subsystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Princeton Instruments social profiles
Digital presencePrinceton Instruments financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Princeton Instruments leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Princeton Instruments funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Princeton Instruments 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 Princeton Instruments
What does Princeton Instruments do?
Princeton Instruments designs and manufactures high-performance scientific cameras and spectrometers for scientific research, industrial imaging, and OEM applications. Its portfolio spans imaging spectrometers (IsoPlane, SpectraPro HRS, TriVista, Acton LS 785) and scientific cameras using CCD, sCMOS, ICCD, EMCCD, emICCD, InGaAs, and direct X-ray detection technologies, complemented by frame grabbers and software development kits. The products are engineered for ultra-low-noise detection, high sensitivity, and time-resolved imaging across spectroscopy, microscopy, astronomy, quantum research, and industrial inspection use cases.
Is Princeton Instruments a public or private company?
Princeton Instruments is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Princeton Instruments founded?
Princeton Instruments was founded in 1981. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Princeton Instruments based?
Princeton Instruments is headquartered in Trenton, United States, in the North America region.
How does Princeton Instruments make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Scientific Camera Sales are the primary driver. The others are spectrometer Sales and custom OEM Components.
Who are Princeton Instruments's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HORIBA Scientific, Andor Technology (Oxford Instruments), Renishaw, Teledyne e2v, Hamamatsu Photonics and Teledyne Photometrics. Broad incumbents are Bruker and Carl Zeiss Microscopy.
Does Princeton Instruments have an API?
No public API is recorded for Princeton Instruments.
What industry is Princeton Instruments in?
Princeton Instruments's product category is Scientific Imaging and Spectroscopy Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAA, Analytical Instruments & Chromatography Systems, with a secondary code of HLAGAIAE, Microscopy, Imaging & Flow Cytometry Instruments. Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.