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

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025

Allied Vision Goldeye SWIR 5GigE Pro – Coming soon

Goldeye Pro 5GigE SWIR camera – Courtesy Allied Vision – a TKH Vision brand

Coming soon – Goldeye Pro models with the TEC-version of Sony’s IMX992/993 SenSWIR sensors – tuned to 400nm – 1,700nm. We previously covered these sensors in Allied Vision’s compact uncooled Alvium cameras. Now Allied Vision brings these sensors to the Goldeye Pro lineup, with two important features: Thermoelectric cooling (TEC) and 5GigE interface.

1. Thermoelectric cooling (TEC)

Image quality is enhanced by thermoelectric cooling (TEC). Often paired with InGaAs sensors common in SWIR imaging cameras, Allied Vision now brings TEC to these CMOS Sony sensors. Why? Because cooling reduces thermal noise, creating a higher signal-to-noise ratio.

2. Fast 5GigE interface – framerates to 150fps

With the 5GigE interface, these SenSWIR cameras deliver frame rates above 100fps:

Courtesy Allied Vision – a TKH Vision brand

Visible vs. SWIR image pairs – Courtesy Allied Vision – a TKH Vision brand

But first, how about those SWIR images?

More about the new camera models in a moment, but first a reminder about SWIR. Short-wave infrared imaging enables machine vision applications beyond the visible portion of the spectrum.

Example applications

Per those striking image pairs at the top of the article, consider briefly:

Banknote validation: The SWIR application detects features unseen in the visible spectrum
Fluid fill levels: Able to see through even opaque plastic bottles, SWIR can monitor and control fill levels.
Materials detection: Whether for security or quality-control, many materials emit/reflect distinctly in the SWIR range, despite appearing identical under visible light.
Agriculture: Crop monitoring and irrigation applications are enabled by SWIR, which can detect moisture unseen by visible light. Fruit-sorting applications are also supported.

Back to the future

SWIR imaging isn’t new, but commercially it’s growing by leaps and bounds at present. Allied Vision has been an innovator and leader in SWIR for some time, and continues to expand their portfolio of SWIR cameras. While Allied Vision also offers SWIR capabilities in their compact Alvium models (with USB3, MIPI CSI-2, and GigE interfaces), their flagship SWIR offerings are found in the Goldeye product families.

The comprehensive Goldeye offering includes sensors that cover SWIR, XSWIR, and VSWIR portions of the spectrum. Some models are uncooled, while others provide cooling. You may know exactly what your application requires. Or you might appreciate our guidance.

More about Goldeye Pro 5GigE cameras

Noteworthy features include:

On-board automatic image correction

Stabilized sensor cooling without a fan

Lockable cable connectors

Power over Ethernet (PoE)

Spectral sensitivity

For full details…

This article was intended as a short overview of the new Goldeye Pro SWIR 5GigE cameras. See all Allied Vision Goldeye SWIR cameras, and Alvium SWIR cameras, including datasheets and comprehensive attributes. There are many choices now in SWIR, VSWIR, and XSWIR imaging. Tell us more about your application and we’ll be happy to advise.

1st Vision’s sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera and components selection. With a large portfolio of cameras, lenses, cables, NIC cards and industrial computers, we can provide a full vision solution!

About you: We want to hear from you! We’ve built our brand on our know-how and like to educate the marketplace on imaging technology topics… What would you like to hear about?… Drop a line to info@1stvision.com with what topics you’d like to know more about.

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025

IDS Imaging XCP-E Event-Based Cameras – and the Sony Prophesee IMX636 Sensor

Recently we introduced the IDS Imaging event-based cameras, the uEye XCP-E models. These cameras are a paradigm shift – they detect changes in pixel brightness and transmit ONLY those changes. This dramatically reduces data load, lowers latency, and improves efficiency.

Speed, speed, speed

Temporal resolution is better than 100μsec! Rapid changes can be detected – equivalent to an area scan camera operating at >10,000fps.

Paradigm shift – from “frames” to “events”

This is one of those aha moments. Too often we get jaded in believing that things only evolve incrementally – Moore’s law and electronics getting faster and less expensive, etc. Yawn. But this really is a game changer worth getting one’s head wrapped around.

The event-based vision sensor (EVS) was developed by Sony and Prophesee.

Industrial use cases

With a radically new technology, even machine vision veterans may appreciate seeing example applications already utilizing event-based imaging:

Some typical applications for event-based imaging – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee

Example applications

The following are meant to be suggestive rather than inclusive. Just to whet the appetite.

Let’s enlarge that “alternatives” comparison from the above graphic:

Which level of complexity, performance outcomes, and costs do you prefer? Courtesy Sony / Prophesee

Another class of applications

Vibration monitoring can alert the need for preventative maintenance – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee

Take the guesswork out of when to do preventative maintenance. Maximize uptime. Reduce the risks of catastrophic failure. These cameras are affordable enough to let them do the vibration monitoring – just set your alert threshold!

Let the sensor monitor vibration frequencies – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee

Software for event-based imaging applications

New paradigm best served by Metavision Technology Software – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee

Metavision SDK modules built for event-based imaging applications – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee

Get it? Got it? Need it? Want it?

This is a new way of coming at machine vision applications. It may give you an edge over your competition by enabling you to improve quality, reduce costs, and/or innovate new products or services. It really is different. See the IDS Imaging uEye XCP-E event-based cameras and datasheets. Powered by the Sony IMX633 developed in conjunction with Prophesee.

Tell us more about your application, using the link below. Or just call us at 978-571-5552. We can help you determine whether event-based imaging is optimal for your application.

April 14, 2025April 14, 2025

Six new JAI line scan cameras across two product families

JAI has over 60 years experience in the vision industry, and is likewise a longstanding part of the 1stVision portfolio. JAI produces a diverse range of cameras, including area scan and line scan; across multiple interfaces; and spanning visible, NIR, SWIR, and UV portions of the spectrum.

In this article we announce six new line scan camera models: 4 in the Sweep series at 4k each; and 2 in the Sweep+ series at 4k and 8k respectively. There’s a niche for every model.

Two new Sweep+ line scan cameras – one 4k one 8k – Courtesy JAI Imaging

Four new 4k line scan Sweep models; Two new Sweep+ models incl. 8k

At the risk of information overload, we’ve bundled this product release update of six new camera models across two product families into a single article. We hope the reader appreciates the compare-and-contrast approach as a way to understand the value proposition for each camera/family.

When you need line scan it’s nice to have options

While area scan sensors with big 2D pixel array outputs are right for some applications, line scan is a better fit for others. In particular, if the object being imaged is essentially continuous, line scan can be an effective way to take narrow image slices with a lower cost 1D sensor that’s long in just the dimension that maps to the object width. Movement of the object (or sensor) together with successive slices then creates the second dimension.

The 1stVision Knowledge Base offers illustrated articles on line scan topics, including How to Calculate Line Rate Based on Conveyor Speed and Polarization Techniques with Line Scan Cameras. Now on to the new camera models!

Example line scan applications – Courtesy JAI Imaging

JAI’s Sweep line scan cameras vs. Sweep+

JAI’s Sweep line scan cameras include a wide offering of monochrome, bilinear, and trilinear models, at 2K, 4K, 8K, and 16K. Interface options include 5GigE, 10GigE and CoaXPress. If you need color sensing, the bilinear approach is an affordable approach, and often plenty good enough. For true color capture, the trilinear sensors are superior – if needed.

Sweep+ cameras, as suggested by the + suffix, are JAI’s top of the line color and multispectral line scan products. The beam-splitter prism optics, together with three (color only models) or four (color plus NIR) sensors, deliver high-precision color resolution. Due to the data volumes generated, the Sweep+ cameras use CoaXPress, 10GigE, and CameraLink interfaces to achieve line rates suitable to the respective sensor sizes and anticipated applications.

Click to contact — Give us some brief idea of your application and we will contact you to discuss camera options.

Mini-tutorial on single sensor vs. multi-sensor color imagin

While Bayer filters or equivalent provide single sensor color, that’s good enough for some applications, there is some loss of color resolution via that inherent physical interpolation. So demanding applications take advantage of separate sensors for each segment of the spectrum, using a prism to separate wavelengths. The resulting camera is physically larger to accommodate the the prism, extra sensors, and electronics – but the best possible color performance is achieved.

A deeper dive on the new Sweep cameras

At-a-glance overview of the Sweep 4k cameras – Courtesy JAI Imaging

Monochrome line rates are 2x that of the bilinear color models

… because there is a single monochrome pixel mapped to the target object’s corresponding area.

But if you need color the bilinear approach is an efficient way to do it, since there are only two rows of data transmitted for every real-space row imaged….

A peak at the bilinear approach to color line scan imaging

Other JAI Sweep camera features

Keystone correction, aka tilted view correction, onboard the camera

Trigger-width dynamic exposure control

Resume-scanning control for stop-start motion

Trigger delay

… and more

Drill in to JAI Sweep camera models and datasheets. Or let us guide you.

More details on JAI’s new Sweep+ line scan cameras:

A 4k and and 8k model, both with CoaXPress interfaces – Courtesy JAI Imaging

The two new models round out the Sweep+ lineup – Courtesy JAI Imaging

Precise prism optical design yields superior images – Courtesy JAI Imaging

Some of the key benefits of CoaXPress – Courtesy JAI Imaging

And yet more features…

You get the idea… Sweep+ is a remarkable camera family. There are even more features to find in the Sweep+ product details and datasheets. Or just call us at 878-571-5683 for expert assistance. Tell us about your application requirements and we’ll guide you to an optimal camera. Lighting, lenses, filters, cables, and software too.

March 26, 2025March 26, 2025

IDS Imaging μEye XCP-E Event-based cameras

The μEye XCP-E event-based camera utilizes Sony’s Prophesee IMX636 sensor. So, by design, it captures only relevant image changes. Event-based imaging can be a game changer for certain applications. Unlike area scan or line scan imaging – which capture every pixel and render a “full image” – event imaging only senses and delivers changes.

Event-based imaging captures the changes:

Left: uEye XCP-E image vs. Right: Area scan image – Courtesy IDS Imaging

Less is more

Playing on the “less is more” adage reveals key insights into event-based imaging.

The human eye is adept at delivering and entire scene, of course, and that’s how most of us imagine we see the world around us. But our overall vision perception also builds upon the eye’s ability to sense brightness changes within small segments of the overall scene..

Consider a baseball batter awaiting a pitched ball. The overall scene is relatively static: the outfield fence, bases, and foul lines aren’t moving. And the infielders are almost static – relative to the motion of the ball. But the pitched ball approaching at 80 – 90 miles per hour can be identified by a good batter, to gauge “strike or ball” and “swing or take”.

The batter’s visual processing does NOT have time to capture the full scene at each instant of “ball release”, “just released”, “mid-way”, and “arriving soon”. Rather, the ball’s trajectory is discerned as successive changes against a static background. So too with an event-based camera.

Less data -> More speed: In other circumstances, less data might seem like a handicap. For area scan applications it often would be. Finding defects on a static surface requires ingesting a lot of detail – all the pixels – in order to do edge detection, blob analysis, or other algorithmic processing. But by detecting “just the brightness changes”, transmitting less data is exactly what delivers the increased speed!

Applications example: motion detection and analysis

Airport security application – Courtesy IDS Imaging

What is delivered are pixel motion coordinates and timestamps – NOT pixel brightness values. So you get useable results rather than having to algorithmically compute the results from a traditional area scan image. Track moving objects easily.

How much?

Already intrigued? The housed model, UE-39B0XCP-E, is available now, as this blog releases in early March 2025. Board-level models to be released soon.

Temporal resolution better than 100 μsec

Detect rapid changes – a conventional camera would need > 10,000 fps to capture this – Courtesy IDS Imaging

Efficient data processing

Courtesy IDS Imaging

IDS Imaging uEye XCP-E event-based cameras can be directly integrated with the sensor manufacturers’ software tools, called Metavision. That’s all thanks to Sony’s partnership with Prophesee. Since event-based imaging is a paradigm shift away from conventional machine vision approaches, the visualization tools, API, and training videos help you get up to speed quickly.