Category: Cameras

In applications where high color accuracy and spatial resolution are required, there are distinct advantages of 3-CCD digital cameras versus Bayer mosaic color alternatives.  JAI cameras provide 3-CCD camera solutions to provide high color fidelity in various resolutions.

Models available (Click on model for specs)


Model #      Resolution          Interface

AT-140CL   1392 x 1040          Camera link
AT-140GE   1392 x 1040         GigE
AT-200CL    1625 x 1236         Camera link
AT-200GE   1625 x 1236         GigE
CV-M9CL     1039 x 744          Camera link
CV-M9GE     1039 x 744         GigE  

Contact us for a quote on 3-CCD cameras!

All 3-CCD digital cameras use dichroic prism optics to split incoming light into three distinct color channels for precise RGB values with full spatial resolution.

The diagram above shows the incoming light path being diverted to separate image sensors in turn having a RGB value co-site sampled.




Color Fidelity

Bayer mosaic color cameras use a pattern of color filters and an interpolation process to estimate the approximate RGB value of a give pixel. With a 3-CCD camera, a specific R, G and B value is captured for each pixel. This inherently produces higher color precision in the 3-CCD output.

The spectral curves resulting from the hard dichroic prism coating are much steeper than the curves from the soft polymer dyes used in Bayer filters. This enables the 3-CCD cameras to produce exceptional accurate color data without the uncertainty that comes with the overlap regions (Area in grey below in the illustration )

High Dynamic Range
In addition to reducing color precision, the overlap in the color filter response also results in part of each pixel’s well capacity filling with photons resulting from the cross-talk, thus decreasing the available well capacity. Precision responses from the dichroic coating enable each channel to efficiently use the full well capacity of the pixel, allowing the maximum possible dynamic range.

Color Space calibration
JAI’s 3-CCD digital cameras include a sophisticated linear color matrix circuit which enables color
matching between camera data and calibrated printers, monitors and other devices. Built in presets are provided to output the color information in the proper format for the sRGB or Adobe RGB industrial standard color space.  


The end Result
The two images below compare results from a 5-megapixel Bayer color camera (left) with the 2- megapixel JAI AT-200 camera (right). Despite having 2.5X the resolution, the 5 megapixel cameras soft polymer dye color filters and the interpolation process result in significant color contamination, less differentiation between similar colors, and reduced sharpness of the image.  

Additional images for comparison are below to demonstrate the fidelity of a 3-CCD camera vs Bayer cameras

Click on the video below now for a full presentation on detailing how 3-CCD cameras improve color accuracy