ON Semiconductor, a leading intelligent power and sensing technology company, announced today that it has acquired SWIR Vision Systems.

SWIR Vision Systems is a provider of colloidal quantum-dot-based (CQD) short wavelength infrared (SWIR) technology. CQD SWIR technology expands the detectable spectrum of light to penetrate objects and capture images that were previously impossible.

Onsemi expects that by integrating this patented technology into its CMOS sensors, it will significantly strengthen its portfolio of intelligent sensing products and lay the foundation for growth in key markets such as industrial and automotive.

CQDs use nanoparticles or crystals that have unique optical and electronic properties that can be precisely tuned to absorb light over extended wavelengths. This technology could extend the visibility and detection range of systems beyond the range of standard CMOS sensors into SWIR wavelengths.

Until now, adoption of SWIR technology has been limited due to the high cost and manufacturing complexity of the existing indium gallium arsenide (InGAas) process. Through this acquisition, Onsemi said it will be able to combine its silicon-based CMOS sensor and manufacturing expertise with its CQD technology to deliver highly integrated SWIR sensors at lower cost and in higher volumes.

This results in a more compact and cost-effective imaging system that offers an expanded spectrum and can be used in a wide range of commercial and industrial applications.

These advanced SWIR sensors are capable of penetrating dense materials, gases, fabrics and plastics, making them essential for a wide range of industrial applications such as surveillance systems, silicon inspection, machine vision imaging and food inspection. In autonomous vehicle imaging, the higher spectrum technology is used to provide better visibility in challenging conditions such as extreme darkness, thick fog or winter glare.

SWIR Vision Systems will be integrated into ON Semiconductor’s Intelligent Sensing Group as part of the acquisition. The team will continue to operate from its North Carolina location. ON Semiconductor said the acquisition is not expected to have a material impact on ON Semiconductor’s medium-term financial outlook.