History of Photonfocus
- 2025: Product launch of the MV2-D1280U-H01-G1 UV camera; Marco Reiter-Waßmann becomes the new General Manager.
- 2024: Market launch of the photonLINE high-speed line scan camera.
- 2023: Market launch of the MV2 camera series.
- 2021: Market launch of the MV4-D1280U-H01-GT UV camera.
- In 2020, Photonfocus became part of the Swedish Atlas Copco Group. Introduction of 10GigE interfaces and Multiline Linefinder technology for 3D cameras.
- 2019: Introduction of the compact MV0 camera series.
- 2018: Introduction of the SWIR (short-wave infrared) camera series featuring InGaAs sensors with a spectral range of 900 to 1700 nm.
- 2017: Improved 3D performance thanks to Photonfocus’s proprietary Linefinder technology for 3D cameras.
- 2016: Introduction of hyperspectral cameras with snapshot and line sensors, as well as the Hyperspectral SDK for calibrated hypercubes. Introduction of Quadrate technology: Guaranteed data transfer rates of more than 400 Mbyte/s via a standard GigE interface!
- 2014 Winner of the Swiss Excellence Award for outstanding achievement in the development of innovative, high-quality technology products. Introduction of the Photonfocus 4.3 MPix NIR image sensor A2080IE with very high quantum efficiencies in the near-infrared.
- 2012: Introduction of Double Rate technology into the camera series (DR1); expansion of the CMOS camera lineup through the implementation of low-light CMOS image sensors. This enables Photonfocus AG to cover a very broad range of applications with CMOS image sensors. Release of the Photonfocus A1312IE CMOS image sensor with improved MTF in the NIR. Launch of direct sales in the D-A-CH region.
- 2011: Release of the Photonfocus 4.3 MPix A2080 CMOS image sensor with global shutter and LinLog®.
- 2010: Introduction of the Photonfocus NIR image sensor A1312I, featuring very high quantum efficiencies in the near-infrared. Expansion of the Photonfocus 3D camera lineup.
- 2009: Release of the Photonfocus 1.4 MPix A1312 CMOS LinLog® image sensor with global shutter and introduction of the GigE interface for the MV1 camera series.
- 2007 IHAG Holding becomes the majority shareholder of Photonfocus AG. Marcel Krist is appointed the new CEO of Photonfocus AG and, together with CTO Dr. Peter Mario Schwider, optimizes Photonfocus’s processes, organizational structure, development, and sales channels. Launch of the Photonfocus 3D camera series featuring PEAK technology for high measurement accuracy in surface quality inspection.
- In 2005, the D750 CMOS image sensor with LinLog® technology for driver assistance systems received ACQ100 automotive certification. The D750 is thus one of the first CMOS image sensors with a global shutter to receive ACQ100 certification.
- 2004: Redesign of the Photonfocus A1024 CMOS image sensor and release of the A1024B. This resulted in a significant improvement in the sensor’s performance, enabling, among other things, 12-bit image data resolution in the E-Series MV-D1024E, which was introduced at the same time. At the same time, the redesign ensures the sensor’s long-term manufacturability and high quality.
- In 2001, Photonfocus AG was founded by Dr. Peter Mario Schwider and three other colleagues. As a result, the company gained significant market share as a manufacturer of CMOS image sensors and digital CMOS cameras, thanks to the A1024 CMOS sensor with global shutter in the MV-D1024 camera series featuring an LVDS interface.
- 2000 At the Control trade show, physicists Dr. Nicolas Blanc and Dr. Peter Mario Schwider unveiled a world first: the first fully digital VGA CMOS camera featuring the D640 global shutter CMOS image sensor from the Image Sensing Group. LinLog® technology is presented to the public at Vision in Stuttgart and receives the Vision Award 2000.