Irvine Sensors Creates Infrared Sensor on Chip

Irvine Sensors Corp. said Wednesday that it has developed a complete infrared sensor on a computer chip less than a quarter of an inch long.

An earlier version of the chip was developed for the Navy as a homing device for use on air-to-air missiles.

The sensor, dubbed a Dual Spectrum Digital Readout, can read two different lengths of infrared waves simultaneously.

The sensor is also expected to have broad commercial uses as well, said Irvine Sensors, such as in intrusion alarm systems, medical instruments and satellites.

Irvine Sensors specializes in making infrared devices for military and commercial uses. Its biggest customer now is the military.

In Wednesday’s trading on the NASDAQ market, the company’s stock closed at $5.50 a share, up 25 cents.