A 16k resolution CameraLink model and an 8k resolution GigE version with TurboDrive have been added to the Linea range of mono line scan cameras from Teledyne DALSA, now available from Stemmer Imaging. Linea cameras provide exceptional performance at very low cost, and the new models make use of the CameraLink interface or TurboDrive-enabled GigE Vision to deliver outstanding line rates.
Ideally suited to postal and parcel inspection, materials grading, food and web inspection, transportation safety and pharmaceutical inspection, as well sorting applications in the recycling and postal industries, Linea cameras utilise DALSA’s single line CMOS technology to provide high sensitivity with low noise in both the visible and NIR regions of the spectrum. This opens up possibilities for applications that make use of subsurface imaging using NIR wavelengths.
Linea cameras are compact, light weight and robust with a range of features normally found only in Teledyne DALSA’s high-end line scan cameras, bringing impressive versatility. The choice of resolutions and data transmission interfaces offers great flexibility to end users, OEMs and systems integrators alike.
Fully-fledged flat-field correction ensures that the high sensitivity performance is uniform across the entire sensor for accurate image intensity measurements. Multiple Regions of Interest allow a reduction in data transfer and processing load. This both boosts performance and reduces system costs. The cameras can also accommodate multiple user configuration sets for a variety of different inspection requirements, and they can be set up with different calibration coefficients for various lighting conditions, again meaning that it is easy to change between different inspections.
The introduction of the 16k Linea extends the range of camera resolutions available from 2k right up to 16k. Designed to bring high levels of performance to higher resolution cost-sensitive applications requiring high throughput, the 16k mono CameraLink model can run at line rates up to 48 kHz. This new camera matches well with Teledyne DALSA’s range of Xtium frame grabbers to allow transmission of data over distances up to 10 metres.
The 8k GigE version of Linea allows inspection applications demanding higher resolution to be accommodated using traditional Ethernet networks, with data transmission possible over distances up to 100 metres. Like all GigE Linea cameras, the 8k model benefits from DALSA’s patent pending TurboDrive technology which allows data transmission at rates greater than standard GigE, with no change to the network, yet still benefit from the long transmission distances. TurboDrive can boost the maximum line rate of 13 kHz for the 8k model up to 45 kHz, depending on the image itself. For extremely fast processes, the camera’s ‘burst’ mode maximises system data throughput, by capturing images in high speed bursts and buffering them for transfer during times when the system is not capturing images.
The ‘cycling’ mode of the GigE Linea cameras brings an unparalleled level of flexibility, potentially making the camera 5 cameras in one. Users can choose up to five different user-controlled line configurations. This enables each line to be set for different operating conditions such as a different light source, lighting angle, exposure time, gain, and more. For example, alternating long and short exposure times on successive lines greatly extends the camera’s dynamic range. By obtaining more information from a single pass with a single camera, Linea can replace more expensive and multiple camera sets, or camera and frame grabber combinations, reducing overall system cost and complexity.
Also new from Stemmer Imaging, the new Xtium-CL MX4 frame grabber has been introduced by Teledyne DALSA to support all CameraLink configurations with a single model with maximum performance and low cost. With the ever-increasing image resolution and faster frame rates of today’s camera technology, along with the need to create flexible and cost effective vision systems, customers can now standardise on a single model for all applications. The new product supports applications such as colour print inspection, flat-panel inspection, and general machine vision applications.
CameraLink comes in many formats from simple Base, though Medium, Full and the new DECA 80 bit format. The new frame grabber is field-configurable simply by loading a different configuration file enabling either dual input base cameras or a single higher performance camera. One or more boards can be synchronised to acquire images from multiple area or line scan cameras simultaneously while its onboard processing engine minimises host CPU usage and helps reduce overall system cost with its compact half-length, single slot design.
It offers higher bandwidth to sustain CameraLink 80-Bit modes over longer cable distances and supports a wide variety of area and line scan cameras. For example, the full capabilities of Teledyne DALSA’s Piranha4 Colour and Linea CL line scan cameras are supported with proprietary bi-colour and RGB 9.1 processing to deliver higher line rates in colour mode over increased distances.
This new frame grabber takes full advantage of the PCIe Gen 2.0 x 4 platform to deliver bandwidth in excess of 1.7 GB/s while continuing to support PCIe Gen 1.0 with 850 MB/s throughput. The newly engineered, on-board, data transfer engine produces maximum bandwidth without the need for specialised motherboards or chipsets.
The Xtium series of frame grabbers is fully supported by Teledyne DALSA’s Sapera LT and Trigger to Image Reliability Framework and is also fully supported by Sherlock machine vision software and STEMMER IMAGING’s CVB imaging library.
