Emitlight Upgrades IR Illuminators with Elliptical Lenses
- May 20
- 3 min read
Emitlight is upgrading the optics of its IR illuminators by complementing standard lenses with new 35°×15° elliptical lenses. This improvement enables infrared light to be directed more precisely toward the monitored area, allows the illuminator’s power to be used more efficiently, and helps improve image quality during night-time surveillance.
Why is this upgrade needed?
In perimeter, border, industrial, and critical infrastructure security, monitored areas are often long and narrow: fence lines, roads, entrances, security corridors, or territory boundaries. In these locations, traditional symmetrical IR illumination does not always align optimally with the camera’s field of view — part of the light may be directed where it is not needed.
An elliptical lens distributes light differently: wider horizontally and narrower vertically. This allows the actually monitored area to be illuminated more accurately, reduces light loss, and helps achieve more stable results in challenging night-time surveillance conditions.
What did the tests show?
The Emitlight team carried out practical optical comparison tests, evaluating different lenses and lens combinations: 7°, 15°, 30°, and 35°×15°. The tests were conducted using Mobotix cameras, with a moving person observed at a distance of approximately 100 metres under real outdoor conditions. The tests took place at night, under different weather conditions and different moon phases.
The results showed that without additional IR illumination, detecting an object at night is difficult — only a silhouette or “shadow” can be seen in the image. This once again confirms that high-quality external IR illumination is essential for reliable night-time video surveillance.
35°×15° lens – more precision without unnecessary complexity
When comparing the 35°×15° elliptical lens with the currently used 30° lens, the results showed a difference that was not radical, but was practically significant. Elliptical optics allow light to be distributed more purposefully according to the shape of the monitored area, making them a suitable solution for long and narrow perimeters.
More complex optical combinations were also evaluated, such as 3×30° and 1×7°. Although these solutions can provide more detail in the central part of the image, they also increase product complexity and cost. For this reason, the 35°×15° elliptical lens becomes a practical compromise between technical performance, production efficiency, and a competitive price.
Where can it be applied?
Although elliptical lens technology is especially relevant for border protection, its application is much broader. Elliptical lenses can be useful wherever a long or directional area needs to be illuminated precisely:
border areas;
fence and perimeter protection;
road and railway infrastructure;
logistics terminals;
industrial sites;
energy facilities;
entrances, gate areas, and checkpoints;
narrow passages or security corridors.
What does this mean for customers and integrators?
For customers, updated Emitlight illuminators with elliptical lenses provide more precise IR light distribution, especially across long and narrow areas such as borders, fence lines, industrial sites, logistics terminals and energy facilities. This helps improve night-time visibility, reduce excessive illumination and use the illuminator’s power more efficiently.
For integrators, the upgrade makes it easier to align IR illumination with the camera’s viewing angle and the geometry of the monitored area. In practice, this means fewer compromises on site, better use of system components and more reliable night-time surveillance performance.
A step towards even more efficient perimeter protection
The new elliptical lenses are not an entirely new product — they are a focused improvement of existing Emitlight IR illuminators. The upgraded optics allow illumination to be adapted more precisely to the actual shape of the monitored territory and the camera’s field of view.
The result is more precise IR light distribution, a clearer night-time image, and more reliable perimeter protection with updated Emitlight illuminators.
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