Among the recent launches in the CCD marketplace is the Stingray from Allied Vision Technology (http://www.alliedvisiontec.com/), with the first six members of the nonmarionette camera family due to be commercially available in March 2008 after premiering previously at Vision 2007 in Stuttgart.
The Stingray is loaded with smart features and delivers high image quality as a result of its unique architecture designed to dissipate heat from the sensor.
The AVT Modular Concept can also configure specific camera models to fit a wide range of applications. The initial set of Stingrays is equipped with a FireWire 1394b port for high-speed data transfer, and is optionally available with a glass optical fibre connection (GOF).
A combination of line scan camera experience and GigE Vision technology has resulted in the new Runner range from Basler (www.basler-vc.com). The camera family will offer a combination of high-quality line scan technology, 1k and 2k resolution, a variety of speeds, mono and colour models, and an easy-to-handle GigE Vision interface.
The mono runner will be available with 1k and 2k resolutions and line rates from 9.5kHz to 58.5kHz. The colour runner will feature a tri-linear CCD sensor with 2,098 pixels in each line and a line rate of 9.2kHz.
Dalsa (www.dalsa.com) added four new colour models of the Genie camera. These area scan cameras feature a Sony CCD colour sensor with resolutions ranging from VGA to 1400 pixels and operate at up to 64fps in full resolution.
The Genie colour cameras feature white balancing and advanced Bayer conversion to produce crisp and clear colour images. This camera acts as a single machine vision component – integrating both advanced camera and board image acquisition technologies in one small package. The cameras are available immediately in four models: C1400 (half-inch sensor size), C1024 (one third-inch sensor size) and the C640 available in both these sensor sizes.
Firstsight Vision (http://www.firstsightvision.co.uk/) is offering its C3 range of CCD digital cameras from JAI. This is a family of cameras based on JAI’s Core Camera Concept (C3), featuring, Advanced, Basic and Compact models.
All models are available with GigE Vision interfaces, making it easy to switch from one camera to another to meet specific application and work environment needs without changing cabling or software.
All C3 cameras share the same control and configuration methods for easy integration. Some models are also available with CameraLink or Mini-CL interfaces. The Compact entry-level models are physically small and provide a ready switchover from analogue cameras to a digital platform. There are seven colour and seven monochrome versions.
The Basic monochrome and colour cameras are versatile and flexible mid-range cameras featuring imaging through thermal management and pre-processing.
The Advanced models form a high-end series for the most demanding applications with monochrome, colour and multispectral versions available. Resolution of up to 16 million pixels is complemented by lens mount options for large format imagers.
IDS (www.ids-imaging.de) offers the uEye range of cameras, including many CCD models at up to 5-Megapixel resolution, and a high-end version with Gigabit Ethernet interface. All uEye cameras are supplied with free software for the current Windows operating systems and Linux, including a software development kit (SDK) with demo programs for image acquisition and analysis, complete with source code.
The software package further comprises a TWAIN driver, an ActiveX component and a DirectShow (WDM) interface for the users of standard software solutions. Interfaces for many other current machine vision programs are also available.
Multipix Imaging (www.multipix.com) is distributing a range of CCD cameras, including the Basler Pilot, Runner and Scout series and the Imperx 16M3T camera.
The Basler Pilot series includes eight new GigE models with Gigabit Ethernet interfaces and highly sensitive Kodak sensors ranging from VGA to 5-Megapixel and up to 100m cable lengths, provided by a Gigabit ethernet. The Basler Scout series offers a wide variety of resolutio ns and speeds, with new Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) and FireWire-b interface technologies. This series also is available in 90° housing to fit into any space. The Basler Runner series features seven models with up to 2k pixels in monochrome or colour, 1024 or 2098 pixels and a range of line rates up to 59kHz.
The Imperx 16M3T 16-megapixel cameras have features including 4872 x 3248 resolution, single stage peltier cooled, ultra low noise and dark current, allowing integration times of 100ms to 10s. They also feature in-camera defective pixel correction, flat field correction, and 8/10/12-bit data output in either GigE or Camera Link interfaces.
PerkinElmer’s (www.perkinelmer.com) new SmartBlue 512 and SmartBlue 1K digital linescan camera models offer pixel resolutions of 512 or 1024 pixels respectively, with high-speed data transmission rates of up to 40MHz. The 512 and 1K models comes equipped with an industry-standard CameraLink digital communication interface and maintain product noise immunity, precise linearity and high charge transfer efficiency.
The cameras offer user-controllable pixel correction to compensate for non-uniformities in lighting, lens or CCD sensor variations as well as adjustable gain levels and real-time status LEDs. All of PerkinElmer’s SmartBlue cameras incorporate the industry-standard Reticon photodiode arrays.
The Grasshopper digital camera line from Point Grey Research (www.ptgrey.com) now offers nine different CCD models, up to 5 Megapixels, to give high resolution, high frame rate, and/or high sensitivity. The Grasshopper range also has Megapixel resolutions and an IEEE-1394b 800Mb/s digital interface.
The 1.4-Megapixel Grasshopper camera uses the Sony ICX267 0.5-inch progressive scan CCD to deliver high quality 1384x1032 images at a fast 21fps. The 1.4 Megapixel version also uses the popular Sony ICX285 2/3-inch progressive scan CCD to deliver high quality 1384x1036 images suitable for scientific and life science applications. High sensitivity and low smear are achieved through the adoption of EXView HAD CCD technology.
The 0.3-Megapixel Grasshopper camera uses the Sony ICX414 0.5-inch progressive scan CCD with large 9.9μm square pixels, making it suitable for applications requiring high sensitivity and very fast ROI frame rates.
Sony Europe’s Image Sensing Solutions Division (www.sonybiz.net/vision) has several CCD models on offer, including the XCI series, which now includes new models with a more powerful 1GHz processor with MMX and SSE support. Designed to run an enhanced Windows XP embedded operating system, the units are suitable for softwarebased machine vision, security and traffic control applications. The two new cameras are a 1,280 x 1,024 SXGA and a 640 x 480 VGA model, available in both B&W and colour variants. An open FPGA processor allows a high level of custom image processing. The image output is selectable between grabbed or pre-processed image.
The XCI series employs high-resolution, progressive scan interline transfer monochrome CCD sensors from Sony Semiconductor. Depending on the model, either a 1/2- or 1/3-type sensor is used. These sensors have been designed for industrial machine vision applications.
There are also two additions to Sony’s XCL-5000 family of high-resolution industrystandard Camera Link camera modules – the XCL-5005 and XCL-5005CR. The XCL- 5005CR adds 5-Megapixel colour image capture to the product family. Designed for machine vision applications, they now feature selectable Power on Camera Link (PoCL) capability. Units can be powered using PoCL or by a separate 12V DC supply. Using the PoCL function, the compact cameras can be installed in physically small spaces such as inside robotic arms and semiconductor pickand- place machines. The XCL-5000 series cameras provide high quality, 1600 x 1200 UXGA resolution and deliver up to 15fps.
Using 2/3-type 12-bit CCD, progressive scan and interline transfer technology, they are suitable for production quality applications such as precision inspection, item recognition and detailed object measurement. The units could also be used with existing systems to further improve output resolution.
Vision Components (http://www.visioncomponents.com/) has a colour sensor version of its Smart Camera VC4465. The Smart Camera’s key component is a 1GHz processor from Texas Instruments with a omputing power of 8,000MIPS. The camera features a 0.5-inch CCD sensor with a 768 x 582 pixel resolution, which provides a maximum frame rate of 55fps (110fps in binning mode).
The camera is equipped with an RS232 and an Ethernet interface, a high-speed encoder interface and an external trigger input that enables jitter-free image recording even at high reading frequencies.
Basic versions come with 4Mb Flash EPROM and 64Mb SDRAM for program and picture storage, which can be optionally extended to 128Mb. Just like their predecessor models, the new camera has a direct video output, four digital PLC inputs and four digital outputs. Programming is facilitated by Vision Components’ VCLIB and COLORLIB programming libraries.
