InGaAs Camera Market Trends

InGaAs Camera Market Size and Overview:

Globally, the size of InGaAs Camera market is estimated to register a CAGR of over 8.26% to reach USD 167.4 Million by 2027 driven by the growth of the market including high demand for line scan InGaAs cameras for machine vision applications, high penetration of InGaAs cameras in military and defense, and increasing demand for InGaAs cameras in security, surveillance, and firefighting.

InGaAs cameras were primarily used for detecting and capturing images in near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) wavelengths. Over the years, they have found applications across various fields, ranging from industrial processing monitoring to security & surveillance. InGaAs cameras are a bridge between NIR wavelengths in the 950–1700 nm range, where silicon detectors are no longer sensitive. InGaAs cameras are used in various applications such as industrial processing monitoring, industrial furnace monitoring, solar cell inspection, inspection sorting, driver vision enhancement, atmospheric obscurants imaging, and security and surveillance. It is primarily used by the military & defense industry for covert operations that use infrared (IR) technology to gain night vision or visibility through an atmospheric haze.

The InGaAs camera market is segmented based on scanning type, camera cooling technology, application, and region. By scanning type, the market is bifurcated into line scan camera and area scan camera. The area scan camera segment is expected to hold a major share in the InGaAs camera market. Based on camera cooling technology, the InGaAs camera market has been segmented into cooled cameras and uncooled cameras. The uncooled camera segment is expected to account for a larger share of the InGaAs camera market. By application, the InGaAs camera market has been segmented into military & defense, industrial automation, surveillance, safety & security, scientific research, spectroscopy, and others.

The major factors driving the growth of the market include high demand for line scan InGaAs cameras for machine vision applications, high penetration of InGaAs cameras in military and defense, and increasing demand for InGaAs cameras in security, surveillance, and firefighting. Industrial automation is expected to substantially impact the InGaAs market growth. Over the past few years, some innovations have boosted industrial automation: The Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) was designed to substitute relay-logic and growth in the development of applications where custom logic took precedence over the existing technology.

In military and defense operations, cameras integrated with InGaAs sensors are used for imaging and video surveillance purposes. Short-wave IR cameras embedded with InGaAs sensors are widely used for these purposes due to their better snapshot dynamic range, enhanced processing, tone mapping, and fixed pattern noise correction for the uniformity of images under various lighting conditions. The InGaAs sensors operate in the SWIR spectrum. Infrared imaging is used in many defense applications to enable high-resolution vision and identification in near and total darkness. Due to recent advancements, optics companies and government labs are improving low-light-level vision, identification capability, power conservation, and cost. Global defense budgets are subject to significant reductions in the post-COVID-19 economy, with many countries experiencing recessionary scenarios and mounting debt.

However, InGaAs cameras are on the expensive side of surveillance gadgets. Thermal cameras were introduced almost exclusively for military purposes, considering the advancements and costs involved in the new technology which is expected to restrain the growth of the market.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

COVID-19 has severely impacted and disrupted supply chain hubs across the globe. China, one of the major manufacturing hubs, has registered a decline of ~14% in the production capacity and a decline of ~40% in global electronic component shipments. Thus, COVID-19 has infected the Global Value Chain hub, wherein China played an important role in providing raw materials, assembly of products, and final dispatch. The significant decline in the export includes textile raw material, garments and clothing accessories, mechanical and electrical products, automatic data processing systems, central processing units, electrical equipment, and automobiles. In this, the automated data processing system has been hit worse, impacting approximately 30%.

Moreover, in a survey by the National Association of Manufacturers to observe the economic impact of COVID-19 on manufacturers, it was observed that 78% of manufacturers anticipate a financial hit, nearly 51% of the manufacturers anticipate a change in operations, and almost 35% of manufacturers face supply chain disruptions.

COVID-19 is creating economic hardships for enterprises, consumers, and commodity manufacturers across the globe. While several companies have maintained continuity due to their plans meant initially for natural disasters, the other manufacturers face the threat of bankruptcy due to the declining demand from consumers, debt obligations, and declining production and revenues.

Supply Chain Analysis

The InGaAs camera market is growing at a significant rate and is expected to advance its pace in the future. This is due to its rising use in machine vision applications for military and defense purposes. The supply chain analysis for the global InGaAs camera market comprises five major levels—raw material suppliers, component manufacturers, system integrators, and end users.

Manufacturing InGaAs cameras require raw materials such as semiconductors or high purity metals. These raw material suppliers mold the sensing material into a useable form such as a wire, foil, or powder required for manufacturing the sensing element of the sensors.

InGaAs Camera Market Segmentation

The global InGaAs Camera market has been segmented on the basis ofscanning type, camera cooling technology, application, and region.

By scanning type, the InGaAs cameras market has been segmented into area scan and line scan. The area scan segment accounted for the largest market share in 2020 and is estimated to register a CAGR of 7.45% during the review period.

Global InGaAs Camera Market Revenue, by Camera Cooling Technology, 2020 (USD Million)

Sources: MRFR Analysis

Based on camera cooling technology, the market has been segmented in cooled and uncooled segments. Uncooled cameraaccounted for the larger market share in 2020, with a CAGR of 7.6% during the forecast period. The cooled camera segment is projected to register a higher CAGR of 9.00%. by 2027

Based on the vertical, the InGaAs camera market has been segmented into military & defense, industrial automation, surveillance, safety, and security, scientific research, spectroscopy, and others. Military & Defense had the largest market share in 2020 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.73% over the forecast period.

Global InGaAs Camera Market Share, by Region, 2020 (%)

Sources: MRFR Analysis

Regional Analysis

In the InGaAs camera market, North America is expected to be one of the largest markets for camera image processing technology research, with a significant growth rate during the study period. North America is categorized into three regions—the US, Canada, and Mexico. During the study period, the US is expected to be the leading country. The growth of the regional market is driven by the presence of key players in the field of military & defense, scientific research, and industrial automation in the country.

The market growth in Europe The regional market growth can be attributed to the flourishing automotive and other manufacturing companies that use SWIR InGaAs cameras integrated with CMOS-based spectral filters and InGaAs sensors. Intensive research in the field of machine vision for hyperspectral imaging and heavy investments in the military & defense industry is also expected to accelerate the market growth.

China is expected to be the leading country in the Asia-Pacific market. The growing adoption of automobiles and consumer electronics such as cameras and mobile phones is the primary factor responsible for the growth of this market in the region.

InGaAs Camera Market Key Player & Competitive Analysis

Key players operating in the global InGaAs Camera market include Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., Sensors Unlimited, FLIR Systems, Xenics, New Imaging Technologies, Teledyne Technologies, Allied Vision Technologies, Photon Etc., Raptor Photonics Limited, Oxford Instruments, Kappa Optronics, and GuoHui OPTO-electronic (GHOPTO).

These players focus on continuously developing highly reliable InGaAs cameras to stay competitive in the market and gain a major share of customers. Although the international players are dominating the market, regional and foreign players with small market shares also have a prominent presence.

The major players would look to strengthen their global presence through mergers and acquisitions of local and regional players; they are expected to expand their presence and solutions in those countries during the forecast period. The improvement of the global economic scenario combined with technological advancement in the emerging economies such as Brazil, India, China, and other countries, is likely to fuel the market growth, making it an ideal time to expand the InGaAs camera market geographically and increase the market share.

InGaAs Camera Industry Developments

Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.

• June 2023: Hamamatsu Photonics announced the release of the G12193, a high-speed, high-sensitivity InGaAs linear image sensor. The G12193 has a line rate of 100 kHz and a sensitivity of 850 nA/(μW/cm²). 


• March 2023: Hamamatsu Photonics announced the release of the C14434, a high-resolution, low-noise InGaAs area image sensor. The C14434 has a resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels and a noise floor of 20 electrons. 


• October 2022: Hamamatsu Photonics announced the release of the S14571, a compact, high-sensitivity InGaAs camera. The S14571 has a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and a sensitivity of 400 nA/(μW/cm²). 

Sensors Unlimited

• October 2023: Sensors Unlimited announced the release of the NIRvana HSX, a high-speed, high-sensitivity InGaAs line scan camera. The NIRvana HSX has a line rate of 72 kHz and a sensitivity of 700 nA/(μW/cm²). 


• June 2023: Sensors Unlimited announced the release of the SU640x512-HSX, a high-speed, high-sensitivity InGaAs area image sensor. The SU640x512-HSX has a resolution of 640 x 512 pixels and a sensitivity of 700 nA/(μW/cm²). 


• February 2023: Sensors Unlimited announced the release of the SU-SWIR-320C, a compact, high-sensitivity InGaAs camera. The SU-SWIR-320C has a resolution of 320 x 256 pixels and a sensitivity of 400 nA/(μW/cm²). 

InGaAs Camera Market Segmentation Outlook

InGaAs Camera Scanning Type Outlook

• Area Scan


• Line Scan

InGaAs Camera Camera Cooling Technology Outlook

• Cooled


• Uncooled

InGaAs Camera Application Outlook

• Military & Defense


• Industrial Automation


• Surveillance, Safety, and Security


• Scientific Research


• Spectroscopy


• Others

InGaAs Camera Region Outlook

• North America
  
  
  
  • US
  
  
  • Canada
  
  
  
  


• Europe
  
  
  
  • Germany
  
  
  • France
  
  
  • UK
  
  
  • Rest of Europe
  
  
  
  


• Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  • China
  
  
  • Japan
  
  
  • India
  
  
  • South Korea
  
  
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
  
  
  
  


• Rest of World
  
  
  
  • South America
  
  
  • Middle East & Africa
  
  
  
  

Available Additional Customizations

• Customer Analysis of Major Consumers


• Additional Company Profiles


• Trade Data (Imports and Exports)

Intended Audience

• InGaAs cameramanufacturers


• Suppliers and traders of InGaAs camera and related products


• Government, associations, and industrial associations


• Investors and trade experts


• Consulting in military and defense experts