Cameras Archives - 1stVision Inc. - Machine Vision Articles

August 26, 2024August 26, 2024

New Alvium cameras with Sony SenSWIR InGaAs sensors

Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) imaging enables applications in a segment of the electromagnetic spectrum we can’t see with the human eye – or traditional CMOS sensors. See our whitepaper on SWIR camera concepts, functionality, and application fields.

Until recently, SWIR imaging tended to require bulky cameras, sometimes with cooling, which were not inexpensive. Cost-benefit analysis still justified such cameras for certain applications, but made it challenging to conceive of high-volume or embedded systems designs.

Enter Sony’s IMX992/993 SenSWIR InGaAs sensors. Now in Allied Vision Technologies’ Alvium camera families. These sensors “see” both SWIR and visible portions of the spectrum. So deploy them for SWIR alone – as capable, compact, cost-effective SWIR cameras. Or you can design applications that benefit from both visible and SWIR images.

Alvium configuration and interface options – Courtesy Allied Vision Technologies

Camera models and options first

The same two sensors, both the 5.3 MP Sony IMX992 and the 3.2 MP Sony IMX993, are available in the Allied Vision Alvium 1800 series with USB3 or MIPI CSI-2 interfaces. As well as in the Alvium G5 series with 5GigE interfaces.

And per the Alvium Flex option, besides the housed presentation available for all 3 interfaces, both the USB3 and CSI-2 versions may be ordered with bare board or open-back configuration, ideal for embedded designs.

Broken out by part number the camera models are:

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More about the Sony IMX992 / IMX993 sensors

The big brother IMX992 at 5.3 MP and sibling IMX993 at 3.2 MP share the same underlying design and features. Both have 3.45 µm square pixels. Both are sensitive across a wide spectral range from 400 nm – 1700 nm with impressive quantum efficiencies. Both provide high frame rates – to 84 fps for the 5.3 MP camera, and to 125 fps at 3.2 MP.

Distinctive features HCG and DRRS

Sony provides numerous sensor features to the camera designer, which Allied Vision in turn makes available to the user. Two new features of note include High-Conversion-Gain (HCG) and Dual-Read-Rolling-Shutter (DRRS). Consider the images below, to best understand these capabilities:

Illustrating the benefits of HCG and DRRS modes – Courtesy Sony

With the small pixel size of 3.45 µm, an asset in terms of compact sensor size, Sony innovated noise control features to enhance image quality. Consider the three images above.

The leftmost was made with Sony’s previously-released IMX990. It’s been a popular sensor and it’s still suitable for certain applications. But it doesn’t have the HCG nor DRRS features,

The center image utilized the IMX992 High-Conversion-Gain feature. HCG reduces noise by amplifying the signal immediately after light is converted to an electrical signal. This is ideal when shooting in dark conditions. In bright conditions one may use Low-Conversion-Gain (LCG), essentially “normal” mode.

The rightmost image was generated using Dual-Read-Rolling-Shutter mode in addition to HCG. DRRS mode delivers a pair of images. The first contains the imaging signal together with the embedded noise. The second contains just the noise components. The camera designer can subtract the latter from the former to deliver a synthesized image with approximately 3/4 of the noise eliminated.

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Alvium’s SWaP+C characteristics ideal for OEM systems

With small Size, low Weight, low Power requirements, and low Cost, Alvium SWIR cameras fit the SWaP+C requirements. OEM system builders need or value each of those characteristics to build cost-effective embedded and machine vision systems.

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

August 26, 2024August 27, 2024

Teledyne DALSA Linea 9K Line scan NUV+VIS

Some applications require line scan cameras, where the continuously moving “product” is passed below a sensor that is wide in one dimension and narrow in the other, and fast enough to keep up with the pace of motion. See our piece on area scan vs. line scan cameras for an overview.

Teledyne DALSA’s new Linea HS 9k BSI Near ultraviolet (NUV) / visible camera is such a line scan camera, at 9216 x 192 resolution, and speeds to 400 kHz (mono mode) and 200 kHz (HDR mode).

Linea HS 9k BSI (NUV) / visible camera – Courtesy Teledyne DALSA

Visible spectrum as well as Near Ultraviolet (NUV)

The camera uses Teledyne DALSA’s own charge-domain CMOS TDI sensor with a 5×5 μm pixel size. In addition to the visible spectrum 400 nm – 700 nm, the sensor delivers good quantum efficiency to 300 nm, qualifying Near Ultraviolet (NUV) applications in the blue range as well.

Backside illumination enhances performance

Backside illumination (BSI) improves quantum efficiency (QE) in both the UV and visible wavelengths, boosting the signal-to-noise ratio.

Interface

The Linea HS 9k BSI camera uses the CLHS (Camera Link High Speed) data interface to provide a single-cable solution for data, power, and strobe. And Active optical cable (AOC) connectors support distances up to 100m. That avoids the need for a repeater while achieving data reliability and cost control. See an overview of the Camera Link standards. Or see all of 1stVision’s Camera Link HS cameras.

Applications

Delivering high speed high sensitivity images in low light conditions, the Linea 9k HS is used in applications such as:

PCB inspection
Wafer inspection
Digital pathology
Gene sequencing
FPD inspection

Linea 9k HS suitable for diverse applications – Courtesy Teledyne DALSA

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The part number for the Linea HS 9k BSI camera is DALSA HL-HM-09K40H.

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Lots of line scan cameras to choose from

Teledyne DALSA’s Linea families have a variety of interfaces, resolutions, frame rates, pixel sizes, and options. So if the new model isn’t the right one for your needs, browse the link at the start of this sentence, or ask us to guide you among the many choices.

July 31, 2024August 8, 2024

Color models join Teledyne DALSA AxCIS Line Scan Series

As anticipated when Teledyne DALDA’s AxCIS Line Scan Series was introduced a few months ago, color models have now been released. The “CIS” in the product name stands for Contact Image Sensor. In fact a CIS doesn’t actually contact the object being imaged – but it’s so close to touching that the term has become vision industry jargon to help us orient to the category.

What can CIS do for me?

Think “specialized line scan”. Line scan in that it’s a linear array of sensors (vs. and area scan camera), requiring motion to create each successive next slice. And “specialized” in that CIS is positioned very close to the target, Plus low power requirements. And excellent price-performance characteristics.

Why is the new color offering interesting?

Just as with area scan imaging, if the application can be solved with monochrome sensors, that’s often preferred – since monochrome sensors, lensing, and lighting are simpler. If one just needs edge detection and contrast achievable with monochrome – stay monochrome! BUT sometimes color is the sole differentiator for an application, so the addition of color members to the AxCIS family can be a game changer.

Why Teledyne DALSA AxCIS in particular?

A longtime leader in line scan imaging, Teledyne DALSA introduces the AxCIS series in 2023 and continues to release new models and features. Vision Systems Design named the AxCIS family of high-speed high-resolution integrated imaging modules with their 2024 Gold Honoree Award.

AxCIS Series Key Attributes

Compact modules integrating sensors, lenses and lights
Option to customize the integrated lighting for specific CRI to aid in color measurement.
Current width choices 400mm (16 inches) or 800mm (32 inches)
Customizable lengths coming, in addition to the 400mm and 800mm models
CIS covers entire FOV – without missing any pixels and without using interpolation, allowing for accurate measurements. The competition has gaps between sensors causing areas which are not imaged and inability to measure properly
Selectable pixel sizes up to 900dpi
Gradient index lenses are used so there is no parallax and essentially telecentric. (Great for gauging applications)
Binning support, summed to provide brighter images
4 available AOIs
CameraLink H S interface
Up to 120 kHz line rates … and cables lengths to 300m
No alignment or calibration required – lighting and sensors are pre-aligned
HDR imaging with dual exposure mode

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See specs for specific models in the Teledyne DALSA AxCIS Series.

HDR – a closer look

HDR Imaging – High Dynamic Range – Courtesy Teledyne DALSA

By using two adjacent rows of sensors, one row may be used for a short exposure to capture the rapidly saturated portions of an image. A second row of sensors can take a longer exposure, creating nuanced pixel values of areas that would otherwise have been undersaturated. Then the values are combined to a composite image with a wider dynamic range with more useful information to be interpreted by the processing algorithms.

Applications

While not limited to the following, popular applications include:

Click here for all AxCIS product specs

Want to see other Teledyne DALSA imaging products?

Teledyne DALSA is long-recognized as a leader and innovator across the diverse range of imaging products – click here to see all Teledyne DALSA products.

July 23, 2024July 23, 2024

AT – Automation Technology XCS 3D Sensor Laser Profiler

Ideal for industrial applications requiring precision, reliability, high speed, and high resolution, AT – Automation Technology’s XCS 3D sensor laser profiler 3070 WARP achieves speeds up to 200 kHZ with the dual head model. Even the single head can achieve 140 kHz. The key innovations in the XCS series are in the laser-line projection technology.

XCS 3D sensor laser profiler – Courtesy AT – Automation Technology

Aren’t all 3D sensor laser profilers similar?

Many indeed share underlying similarities. Often they use triangulation to make their measurement. And the output is a 3D profile (or point cloud) of a target, built up by rapid laser pulsed stepwise “slices” of the X dimension as the target (or sensor) moves in the Y dimension. Triangulation determines variances in the Z dimension based on how the laser angle reflects from the target surface coordinate onto the sensor. For a brief refresher on the concepts, see our overview article and illustrations.

What’s special about AT – Automation Technology’s XCS Series?

Key attributes are shown in the video and called out in the following text.

30 second overview of XCS series

Homogeneous thickness laser line

Using special optics, the XCS series projects a laser line of homogeneous thickness across the target surface. AT – Automation Technology uses Field Curvature Correction (FCC) to create the uniform projection, overcoming the so-called line “bow” effect. This enables precise scanning of even small structures – regardless of whether such features are in the middle or edge of the laser line. What’s the benefit for the customer? It enables applications with high repeatability and accuracy – such as for ball grid arrays (BGAs), pin grid arrays (PGAs), and surface mount devices (SMDs).

Clean Beam Technology

The XCS Series utilizes AT – Automation Technology’s own Clean Beam function to insure a precisely focused laser beam, effectively suppressing side lobe noise interference.. Clean Beam also assures a uniform intensity distribution, which also contributes to the reliably consistent results.

Scanning a pin-grid array (PGA) – Courtesy AT – Automation Technology

Optional Dual Head to avoid occlusion

X FOV 53mm +/-

X Resolution 13mm +/-

Z Range to 20mm

Z Resolution to 0.4 µm

GigE Vision interface, GenICam compliant

For plug and play configuration with networking cables and adapter cards familiar to many, the GigE Vision interface is one of the most popular machine vision standards. And GenICam compliance means you can use AT – Automation Technology’s software or diverse 3rd party SDKs.

Additional features

Automatic RegionTracking, Automatic RegionSearch, Multiple Regions, MultiPart, AutoStart, History Buffer, Multi-Slope, MultiPeak

Is the XCS 3D sensor laser profiler best for your application?

AT – Automation Technology is confident there are demanding users for whom the XCS 3D laser profiler delivers just the right value proposition. Is that what your application requires? But AT also provides 3 other product families of laser profilers, including the CS Series, the MCS Series, and the ECS Series. It all comes down to speed and resolution requirements, field of view (FOV), and cost.