Hamamatsu Photonics has a range of back thinned CCD image sensors which are typically used in high end analytical and medical instruments.

The back thinned technology is designed to provide improved sensitivity in the UV and blue end of the spectrum, combined with high quantum efficiencies in the visible (greater than 90% QE) and near IR (to almost 1200nm).

Until now the cost of the back thinning process has limited the widespread use of this technology, but the S10420 has been developed and optimised specifically for lower cost, portable spectroscopic applications.

The sensor comes in two formats, with either 1024 or 2048 pixels length and 64 pixel height, which gives added sensitivity compared to use of linear CCD sensors which were not originally developed for analytical applications.

With quantum efficiencies greater than 50% in the UV region the device has good uniformity and long term stability, said the supplier.

See http://www.hamamatsu.co.uk