Camera modules, aka block cameras, are devices with an integrated image sensor, lens optics, video output and control electronics. Thanks to their easy integration in imaging systems, camera modules are widely used, globally, e.g. in video surveillance and industrial automation. With the MP2030M-GS, Tamron is advancing this product species to an unseen level to improve existing and enable new applications, featuring an industrial grade CMOS Global Shutter image sensor, Full-HD resolution at 60 fps, 30x optical zoom, and compatibility to the interface of many other camera modules in the market.
Whenever a camera and its captured objects are moving relative to each other, the resulting video images are subject to motion blur (see figure 1). Typical scenarios are video captures of cars on a highway or recordings of cameras mounted on flying drones. This motion blur is especially severe at CMOS sensors with rolling shutter, where the pixels are read-out line by line. As automatic image processing algorithms can hardly cope with such artifacts, true machine vision applications require blur-free frames of CMOS sensors with global shutter technology, where exposures are started and stopped at the same time for all pixels of the sensor.
Tamron’s “newest eye for industry”, the MP2030M-GS, is the first camera module with a CMOS Global Shutter sensor and integrated optical zoom going into series production (see figure 2). Its industrial grade color image sensor provides Full HD (1920 x 1080) video at 60 fps. Thanks to its high dynamic range, the video images bring out rich details of dark and bright image areas in the same scene. A low readout-noise combined with near-infrared sensitivity enable clear captures even under low light conditions.
Above all, the MP2030M-GS, features a Tamron signature lens with electronically controllable 30x optical zoom and a field of view between 60° and 2.5°. Comfort functions like auto-focus, auto-iris, auto-white balance, noise reduction, digital defogging, and digital vibration compensation are also included.
This camera module is 56 x 61 x 124 mm small, weighs approx. 360 g, and its digital control/video-output interface is compatible with many other camera modules on the market. Thus, the MP2030M-GS is both, a value-adding drop-in replacement of discontinued camera modules in existing installations and an enabler of all-new applications in Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS), manufacturing automation, airborne aerial surveillance, entertainment, and research.
A pre-series model will be demonstrated at the Intertraffic Amsterdam trade show, booth 12.916, from March 20th to 23rd.
