Alicorn backs revolutionary SWIR technology with TriEye
Alicorn recently completed an investment into TriEye, the developer of a revolutionary SWIR technology. This product profoundly addresses the progressive needs of the automotive market segment towards autonomous driving along with a host of other potential use cases. We are excited to join the team on their journey.
Short-wave infrared technology (SWIR) is an advanced technique, used for producing images based on radiation in the region of the electromagnetic spectrum invisible to the naked eye. This opens up a world of possibilities.
The applications of SWIR imaging are vast, spanning across various industries, including industrial, biometrics, automotive, consumer electronics, and medical fields. The potential is boundless, offering solutions to complex challenges.
However, there’s a critical challenge in this domain. The majority of SWIR cameras on the market rely on an exotic compound of materials called Indium-Gallium-Arsenide (InGaAs). While InGaAs is a remarkable material, its use poses several formidable obstacles, resulting in increased production costs and scalability limitations:
- The exotic nature of InGaAs.
- Low production yields.
- A complex and time-consuming manufacturing process.
- Limited resolution capabilities.
In the face of these challenges, TriEye emerged as a pioneering force in SWIR technology. Founded in 2017 by Avi Bakal (CEO), Omer Kapach (VP R&D), and Prof. Uriel Levy (CTO), TriEye has harnessed nearly a decade of advanced nano-photonics research conducted by Prof. Levy at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Based in Tel Aviv, TriEye has introduced a revolutionary approach to SWIR sensor production. Their solution boldly replaces InGaAs with a silicon-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) sensing solution.
TriEye SWIR Camera
The impact of this paradigm shift is profound. CMOS-based cameras can be manufactured with remarkable ease and at a fraction of the cost—up to 1,000 times less than their InGaAs counterparts. They offer superior reliability, scalability, energy efficiency, higher resolutions, and seamless integration into various devices, including mobile phone cameras.
TriEye’s CMOS-based SWIR sensor technology stands as the world’s first truly cost-effective and scalable solution. This innovation unlocks a realm of possibilities, expanding its utility across a wide spectrum of use cases. While TriEye maintains a core focus on revolutionizing Autonomous Vehicles (AV) and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in the automotive sector, the technology transcends boundaries, enriching industrial and consumer applications.
In essence, TriEye’s visionary approach empowers industries to see the invisible, unveiling new dimensions of innovation.