Affordable Thermal Imagers
Bridge Semiconductor Corporation ("Bridge") is an electronics hardware
system company, which develops and markets thermal imaging camera sensors,
technically known as infrared focal plane arrays (IRFPAs), and cameras
(thermal imagers) based on those sensors. Bridge’s IRFPAs are designed
from the ground up to unlock high volume demand in emerging, but price
sensitive markets by significantly reducing manufacturing costs and by
providing for high volume production. This is accomplished through
patented technologies, which utilize only standard, scalable, non-capital
intensive, high-volume production processes available from numerous,
worldwide third-party vendors.
IRFPAs are the heart of thermal imagers. IRFPAs create images like
conventional video cameras, except the images are generated by heat
radiated from the objects in a scene and not from reflected light.
They create images in absolute darkness or in the brightest daylight,
and can "see" through smoke, fog and rain. Thus, thermal
imagers create images when conventional video cameras cannot, and
they produce readily detectable images of people or animals in scenes
where the subjects would be camouflaged or lost in the clutter of
conventional video camera images. Thermal imagers also create temperature
maps of a scene, which are used in industrial applications. However,
despite their versatility and desirable benefits, the demand for thermal
imagers is currently limited by the high cost of existing technologies.
History
Bridge Semiconductor Corporation was founded as OnGuard Systems, Inc. in
January 1997. The company developed a Radon Monitoring System for use by
professional radon testers. The product was based on a proprietary patented
electronics technology that allows the reliable measurement of extremely small
electrical charges and currents. The Company divested the Radon Monitor
product line in order to focus on developing products for the substantially
larger market for low-cost IR imagers.
In January 2001 the company was renamed Bridge Semiconductor Corporation
to recognize the Company’s intent to develop IR Imager products.