Hamamatsu Photonics Europe is actively promoting Fairchild Imaging’s advanced complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor technologies to customers across Europe, following the group’s acquisition of the company in 2024. This addition broadens the range of applications Hamamatsu can support, bringing further expertise in high-performance CMOS image sensors for demanding X-ray, medical, scientific, space-qualified and other advanced imaging environments.
Fairchild Imaging’s technologies support challenging imaging requirements, including low-noise performance, high resolution and a variety of pixel sizes, with technical support and application knowledge that complement Hamamatsu’s existing CMOS technologies, broader photonics portfolio and European customer support network.
Offering Fairchild Imaging technologies to European customers
Hamamatsu Photonics Europe is strengthening its advanced imaging offering by actively promoting Fairchild Imaging’s CMOS image sensor technologies to customers across Europe.
Fairchild Imaging, established in 1920, now a Hamamatsu Photonics company, develops world class CMOS image sensors for the most demanding imaging applications. Its technologies complement Hamamatsu’s existing photonics portfolio and expand the range of imaging capabilities available to customers working in the most technically challenging environments.
Supporting demanding imaging applications
Advanced imaging applications often require a careful balance of sensitivity, resolution, noise performance, speed and reliability. Through the integration of Fairchild Imaging technologies, Hamamatsu can now support customers with exceptionally low noise of 0.25 e⁻ RMS, enabling imaging deeper in the low photon regime, including down to single-photon counting. This is paired with high dynamic range enabled by proprietary dual-gain architecture. Key application areas include X-ray imaging, medical imaging, scientific imaging and space related imaging, where CMOS sensor performance plays an important role in enabling precise and reliable image acquisition.
A broader portfolio of CMOS sensor capabilities
Fairchild Imaging brings world-leading expertise in advanced CMOS image sensor design, including technologies suited to low-light and challenging imaging conditions. This strengthens Hamamatsu’s ability to support customers from component selection and custom sensor development through integration into advanced imaging systems. The expanded portfolio includes CMOS sensors for X-ray imaging, medical imaging and space-qualified applications, as well as opportunities for custom advanced sensor development tailored to specific application requirements.
Key example products include:
F40 detector for X-ray imaging: High resolution, wide dynamic range, compact form factor, USB 3.0.
F3D detector for medical imaging: High resolution, high speed, low dose.
HWK4123 for space imaging: Exceptional fidelity in 4K, 4/3-inch, 10.5MP, BSI, sCMOS 3.1 technology.
CIS2521 for space imaging: TRL-9 workhorse 5.5MP sCMOS sensor for high reliability space-qualified imaging.
Expanding application reach through advanced CMOS sensor expertise
With the addition of Fairchild Imaging, Hamamatsu is expanding the range of application requirements it can support with advanced CMOS image sensor technologies. Fairchild Imaging’s experience in space applications, together with its high-resolution CMOS sensor technologies for X-ray and medical imaging, strengthens Hamamatsu’s ability to support customers working at the limits of imaging performance.
This expanded capability is especially relevant where image quality, reliability and application specific sensor design are critical.
