Point Grey has introduced a new addition to its Grasshopper3 USB 3.0 camera family. The new GS3-U3-60S6 cameras are based on colour and monochrome versions of the fast and highly sensitive Sony ICX694, a 1-inch CCD featuring 4.54µm square pixels and capable of sending 2,736 x 2,192 images at 13fps and maximum bit depth.
The ICX694 sensor uses Sony's EXview HAD CCD II technology to improve quantum efficiency, reduce smear, and increase sensitivity, including into the near infrared. The sensor is capable of single tap readout for extended shutter, high gain imaging and multi-tap readout to increase the maximum frame rate. The GS3-U3-60S6 camera allows users to toggle between single and dual tap sensor readout and address both imaging conditions.
Like all Point Grey USB 3.0 cameras, the Grasshopper3 uses a proprietary USB 3.0 link layer and frame buffer-based architecture for optimal performance and reliability. The Grasshopper3 uses an advanced image processing pipeline to enable colour interpolation, look up table, gamma correction and pixel binning. Additional Grasshopper3 models featuring a 9.1 megapixel EXview HAD CCD II sensor and a 4 megapixel global shutter CMOS device will be released later this year.
The camera is ideal for a wide range of applications, including flat panel inspection, 3D measurement, ophthalmology, flow-scanning cytometry, and fluorescence imaging.
