Veurey-Voroize, near Grenoble, France, September 1, 2015 – ULIS, a leading manufacturer of thermal image sensors for commercial and military applications, launches today Pico384 Gen2, one of the first thermal image sensor designed in accordance with JEDEC standards for Surface Mount Technology (SMT) assembly. This means that ULIS’ sensors are more compatible with standard industrial integration and handling processes for high volume production, such as robotic pick and place and oven reflow.  
 
As a Surface Mount Device (SMD), Pico384 Gen2 enables thermal camera makers to further automate their assembly lines, lower the cost of integration and thereby boost production.
 
The need to produce higher volumes of Personal Vision Systems (PVS) stems from a growing demand for thermal imaging equipment used for outdoor leisure activities. The demand is up by 24% per year, until 2020 (Uncooled Infrared Imaging Technology & Market Trends report, Yole Développement, June 2015). 

Pico384 Gen2 is suitable for outdoor leisure applications, such as nature observation, wildlife watching, tracking game, camping and hiking. With QVGA resolution (384x288 pixels) and exceptional image quality, users of thermal equipment designed with Pico384 Gen2 will be able to observe animals in complete darkness from a distance of several hundred meters.
 
“Pico384 Gen2 with Surface Mount Technology capabilities has overcome one of the camera industry's major hurdles in producing thermal imaging equipment in high volume,” said Sebastien Tinnes, senior product manager at ULIS. “Since it also uses standard fully digital interfaces and an ambient temperature calibration process, camera makers have fewer integration steps to manage. This means they can develop thermal equipment within reduced timeframes, thus speed their time to market. We anticipate a positive response to Pico384 Gen2 from the outdoor leisure market. We also believe that this new product will help pave the way towards lowering the cost of thermal cameras, opening up new applications in other professional and leisure markets.”
 
Pico384 Gen2 offers low power consumption (<220mW with integrated ADC and DACs) for improved battery life. This makes the Pico384 Gen2 attractive for other portable applications like thermography, firefighting and surveillance.
 
ULIS says customers will benefit from the simplicity and cost-efficiency this brings, both of which are necessary to increase the production of thermal image cameras from tens of thousands to several hundreds of thousands of units per year.
 
ULIS’ Pico384 Gen2 will be displayed at the China International Optoelectronic Expo (CIOE) in Shenzhen (China), one of the largest shows of its kind in the world and celebrating its 17^th year. CIOE brings the most advanced optoelectronics technologies and innovations to thousands of visitors annually.
 
About ULIS
ULIS, a subsidiary of Sofradir, specializes in the design and manufacture of high quality thermal image sensors for commercial and military applications. It enables makers of consumer electronics and infrared equipment to produce low weight, low power consumption and cost-effective thermal cameras for everyday use. 
 
ULIS is the second largest producer of thermal image sensors (microbolometers). It offers a targeted range of microbolometers that are the key component of many top brands in thermal imaging equipment sold across Europe, Asia and North America. ULIS is active in security and surveillance, energy management and in the thermography, defense and automotive markets. Hundreds of thousands of its products are used to detect threats and thereby protect property, industrial sites, national borders and commuter systems as well as military personnel in combat zones. Many other professionals are increasingly choosing thermal imaging devices equipped with ULIS’ products due to the excellent performance of ULIS’ technology and its affordability for mainstream commercial applications. Size, weight, low power consumption and lower cost reductions drive ULIS innovations enabling the company to address new trends in energy efficiency for building automation and advanced driving assistance systems for vehicles. ULIS is located in Veurey-Voroize, near Grenoble.
www.ulis-ir.com