Infrared: A Key Technology for Security Systems

Abstract

Infrared Science and Technology has been mainly dedicated to Security and Surveillance especially in military field, besides specialized techniques in thermal and spectral imaging for astronomy, medical diagnostic and building structures and recently energy savings and aerospace. Till recently the Security applications were mainly based on thermal imaging as Surveillance and Warning military systems. In all these applications the advent of room temperature, more reliable due to the coolers avoidance, low cost and, overall, completely integratable with Silicon technology FPAs (Focal Plane Arrays), especially if designed and tailored for specific applications( Smart Sensors), has really impacted with revolutionary and new ideas and system concepts in all the Infrared fields, especially for Security applications. Lastly, the advent of reliable Infrared Solid State Laser Sources, operating up to the Long Infrared Wavelength Band and the new, emerging techniques in Far Infrared SubMillimeter-TeraHertz Bands has opened wide and new areas for developing new, advanced security systems. A review of all the items with evidence of the weak and the strong points of each item, especially considering possible future developments, will be reported and discussed.