Jon Chouinard, Author at 1stVision Inc. - Machine Vision Articles

July 22, 2016November 20, 2017

Grade 1 image sensors provide a performance gain over Grade 2 image sensors! Learn how this effects your cameras quality.

When image fidelity is of high importance, seeking out cameras with a better “Grade” image sensor is required.

BUT.. What does this mean?
What defines the “Grade” of an image sensor?

ON-Semiconductors (Formerly Kodak) is one of the few sensor manufacturers that provide options in sensor grades. Camera manufacturers can typically select a Grade 1 or Grade 2 sensor for their camera designs. All image sensors have some amount of defective pixels. The number of defects determines the quality grade and the value of the image sensors. Most camera manufacturers select Grade 2 due to lower cost sacrificing image performance except a select few.

Contact us for price comparisons on industrial cameras using Class 1 sensors!

Defective pixels can either be dark, as they don’t collect any light, OR be bright (hot pixel), as they are always outputting a signal.

An example of a “Hot Pixel” is shown to the right

Defective pixels, in turn can result in incorrect processing of an image!

In most all cases, cameras are corrected at the factory prior to shipment and found in the “defect map” that is stored in the camera.

Under challenging conditions or high temperature environments, additional defective pixels may appear. These can be corrected using a custom defect map.

Defect pixel correction suppresses pixels or clusters and reconstructs the expected value by interpolating the neighboring pixels. Standard algorithms use the pixel to the left or to the right of the defect pixel for the interpolation, however more advanced algorithms can be used.

Image Sensors from ON-SEMI are graded per the number of defects within the sensor. This encompasses bright and dark pixel defects along with cluster defects.

Below is an example from the ON-Semiconductor 29MP KAI-29050 sensor defect description.

** Chart is courtesy of ON-Semiconductor KAI-29050 specification

For the highest performance, we can help select a camera utilized Grade 1 sensors for the best image performance!

Contact us!!

Need additional help in making decisions on selecting a high resolution camera? Visit our High Resolution camera page

1st Vision has extensive knowledge in industrial imaging and can help answer any questions. We have over 100 years of combined knowledge and look forward to discussing your application.

Please do not hesitate to Contact us! 1st Vision can provide a complete solution including cameras, lenses, lighting and cables.

Ph: 978-474-0044
info@1stvision.com
www.1stvision.com

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July 22, 2016August 29, 2022

71 MP Machine Vision USB3 cameras are now affordable!

The Crowley Company introduces the first affordable 71 megapixel machine vision camera using the CMOSIS CHR70M image sensor, the MACHCAM 71

The MACHCAM 71 is designed with machine vision in mind, bringing ultra high resolution together in a small case and USB3.0 interface

With a resolution of 10000 (H) x 7096 (V) at 3 frame per second, this machine vision camera provides incredible resolution at an attractive price. Contact us for a quote

Well suited to solve applications in various industries including:

LCD / PCB Inspection
Aerial Imaging
Scientific Imaging
Medical Imaging
Aeronautics
Packaging and Inspection
Transportation

Features include:

71 MP CMOS sensor (3.1um pixels) @ 3 fps (full resolution)
Compact size for large 71 MP sensor
USB3 Interface
Extended Temperature range (-30 to +70 deg C )
Full Software Development Kit (SDK)
Internal trigger mode
F-mount standard
Color and Monochrome variants

That is a lot of pixels!!! What’s that mean for an application in terms of pixels on a feature? Download our whitepaper on calculating resolution which contains a helpful calculator.

Questions? – 1st Vision has extensive knowledge in industrial imaging and can help answer any questions. We have over 100 years of combined knowledge and look forward to discussing your application.

July 20, 2016April 26, 2019

New 5-megapixel Sony IMX250 & IMX264 models added to JAI’s GO Series of CMOS cameras

The GO-5100-PGE is a new 5-megapixel camera available in monochrome and Bayer color models built around the Sony Pregius^TMIMX250 CMOS sensor.

The GO-5101-PGE delivers the same 5-megapixel resolution using the Sony Pregius^TM IMX264 CMOS sensor. It too offers a choice of monochrome or Bayer color models.

Contact us for a quote!

These new GO Series cameras feature small, 3.45-micron square pixels, enabling the full resolution (2464 x 2056 pixels) to fit within a standard 2/3-inch C-mount optical format. This gives users a wider range of lens options than 5-megapixel cameras with typical 1” optical formats, and also makes these cameras ideal replacements for customers using older CCD cameras built around Sony’s ICX625 sensors, which have an identical pixel size and optical format.

Both the GO-5100-PGE and the GO-5101-PGE run at 22.7 fps in full, 8-bit resolution. 10-bit and 12-bit modes are selectable at reduced frame rates. The cameras let users define a region-of-interest from within the full resolution, which can then be output at a faster frame rate. Similarly, on monochrome models, 1×2, 2×1, and 2×2 binning is available for both added sensitivity and faster frame rates at reduced overall resolution.

As part of JAI’s popular GO Series, the GO-5100-PGE and GO-5101-PGE feature a small form factor (29 mm x 29 mm x 41.5 mm, excluding lens mount) and weigh only 46 grams – among the lightest cameras available at this resolution. More importantly, the cameras carry the same industrial-grade specifications as other Go Series models to ensure performance in factory environments. These include an 80G shock rating, 10G vibration rating, a standard operating temperature range of -5°C to +45°C, and an overall MTBF rating of more than 200,000 hours.

Standard features include a high-performance global shutter with speeds as fast as 14 µs (in 8-bit mode), pixel blemish compensation and shading correction functions, a built-in 256-point look-up table for gamma customization, and JAI’s Auto Level Control (ALC) feature that combines auto gain and auto shutter capabilities into an integrated function to let users optimize their auto exposure control for lowest noise, fastest shutter, or other priorities.

A multi-ROI mode is included on the GO-5100-PGE models to allow users to define from 2 to 64 sub-regions within a single frame. This lets users maintain a wide field of view while reducing the amount of data being read out of the camera and increasing the overall frame rate.

View all the JAI GO Series

Want to learn more about the Sony Pregius sensors? Visit our resource page

1st Vision has extensive knowledge in industrial imaging and can help answer any questions. We have over 100 years of combined knowledge and look forward to discussing your application.

June 28, 2016November 23, 2021

Popular Sony Pregius Image sensors expand camera lines with 3.1MP and 5MP resolutions – Download the comparison chart!

Sony’s popular Pregius (IMX) image sensors have expanded the camera offering with 3.1MP and 5MP resolutions.

This sensor has continued to impress us with high dynamic range, low noise and excellent sensitivity. (Learn more on this image sensor here )

As debuted in the 2.3MP, IMX174 and IMX249 sensors, the image sensors are released with slow and fast versions of a given resolution. This directly translates to lower and higher cost cameras within a given resolution. In cases where you do not need speed, you can benefit from the great performance without paying a premium for speed. Speed is there if desired, but at a small premium.

This has provides camera manufacturers a nice price vs performance offering covering various resolutions… and the offering will continue to expand.

See the full camera offering of Sony Pregius (IMX) series

Having a hard time keeping up with all the new sensor models? So are we!

1stVision has created a document to help review the Sony Pregius sensors at a glance.

Resolution, sensor format, frame rate are included along with data for comparison.

Download our “Sony Pregius sensors at a glance” chart

We will continue to update this document as new camera lines are added! Stay tuned.

Want to learn more? Additional resources can be found below. Our sales engineers are extremely knowledgeable on these sensors, associated cameras and accessories.

Need help? Contact us to help you make the right selection!

Resources

Learn more about the Sony Pregius Image sensors
Battle of the Image Sensors – Sony IMX174 Vs CMOSIS CMV2000

1st Vision has extensive knowledge in industrial imaging and can help answer any questions. We have over 100 years of combined knowledge and look forward to discussing your application.