Nano hypercentric lenses designed for the inspection of small cavities and hollow parts with diameters from 0.75 to 10 mm. That’s the diameter of a drinking straw – and narrower!
HCN13010 and HCN13040 Nano Hypercentric lenses for small cavities – Courtesy Opto Engineering
Hypercentric lenses once more with feeling
Recently we introduced Opto Engineering’s HC hypercentric 360° lenses. They image cavity interiors from the outside by utilizing a specialized optical path that allows light to pass through bottlenecks and narrow openings. The variable iris provides maximum flexibility and a wide viewing angle to clearly image the fine details of the object. Their unique design facilitates complete internal surface inspection with no need to use a probe, rotate the object or use a complex multi-camera system.
HC 360° Series applications across whole lens family
Courtesy Opto Engineering
HCN Hypercentric nano lenses inspect tiny cavities from the outside
Consider cavities as small as 0.75 mm (0.029 in) ranging up to 10 mm (0.39 in), for items in the order of a drinking straw diameter (and smaller). These interiors can be inspected from the outside looking in, with the HCN Series lenses.
2 minute overview of lenses for hollow-part inspection – Courtesy Opto Engineering
About you: We want to hear from you! We’ve built our brand on our know-how and like to educate the marketplace on imaging technology topics… What would you like to hear about?… Drop a line to info@1stvision.com with what topics you’d like to know more about.
Goldeye Pro 5GigE SWIR camera – Courtesy Allied Vision – a TKH Vision brand
Coming soon – Goldeye Pro models with the TEC-version of Sony’s IMX992/993 SenSWIR sensors – tuned to 400nm – 1,700nm. We previously covered these sensors in Allied Vision’s compact uncooled Alvium cameras. Now Allied Vision brings these sensors to the Goldeye Pro lineup, with two important features: Thermoelectric cooling (TEC) and 5GigE interface.
1. Thermoelectric cooling (TEC)
Image quality is enhanced by thermoelectric cooling (TEC). Often paired with InGaAs sensors common in SWIR imaging cameras, Allied Vision now brings TEC to these CMOS Sony sensors. Why? Because cooling reduces thermal noise, creating a higher signal-to-noise ratio.
2. Fast 5GigE interface – framerates to 150fps
With the 5GigE interface, these SenSWIR cameras deliver frame rates above 100fps:
Courtesy Allied Vision – a TKH Vision brand
Visible vs. SWIR image pairs – Courtesy Allied Vision – a TKH Vision brand
But first, how about those SWIR images?
More about the new camera models in a moment, but first a reminder about SWIR. Short-wave infrared imaging enables machine vision applications beyond the visible portion of the spectrum.
Example applications
Per those striking image pairs at the top of the article, consider briefly:
Banknote validation: The SWIR application detects features unseen in the visible spectrum
Fluid fill levels: Able to see through even opaque plastic bottles, SWIR can monitor and control fill levels.
Materials detection: Whether for security or quality-control, many materials emit/reflect distinctly in the SWIR range, despite appearing identical under visible light.
Agriculture: Crop monitoring and irrigation applications are enabled by SWIR, which can detect moisture unseen by visible light. Fruit-sorting applications are also supported.
Back to the future
SWIR imaging isn’t new, but commercially it’s growing by leaps and bounds at present. Allied Vision has been an innovator and leader in SWIR for some time, and continues to expand their portfolio of SWIR cameras. While Allied Vision also offers SWIR capabilities in their compact Alvium models (with USB3, MIPI CSI-2, and GigE interfaces), their flagship SWIR offerings are found in the Goldeye product families.
The comprehensive Goldeye offering includes sensors that cover SWIR, XSWIR, and VSWIR portions of the spectrum. Some models are uncooled, while others provide cooling. You may know exactly what your application requires. Or you might appreciate our guidance.
More about Goldeye Pro 5GigE cameras
Noteworthy features include:
On-board automatic image correction
Stabilized sensor cooling without a fan
Lockable cable connectors
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
Spectral sensitivity
Sony SenSWIR wide spectral sensitivity – Courtesy Allied Vision – a TKH Vision brand
For full details…
This article was intended as a short overview of the new Goldeye Pro SWIR 5GigE cameras. See all Allied Vision Goldeye SWIR cameras, and Alvium SWIR cameras, including datasheets and comprehensive attributes. There are many choices now in SWIR, VSWIR, and XSWIR imaging. Tell us more about your application and we’ll be happy to advise.
About you: We want to hear from you! We’ve built our brand on our know-how and like to educate the marketplace on imaging technology topics… What would you like to hear about?… Drop a line to info@1stvision.com with what topics you’d like to know more about.
Recently we introduced the IDS Imaging event-based cameras, the uEye XCP-E models. These cameras are a paradigm shift – they detect changes in pixel brightness and transmit ONLY those changes. This dramatically reduces data load, lowers latency, and improves efficiency.
uEye XCP-E event based cameras – housed and board-level options – Courtesy IDS Imaging
Speed, speed, speed
Temporal resolution is better than 100μsec! Rapid changes can be detected – equivalent to an area scan camera operating at >10,000fps.
Paradigm shift – from “frames” to “events”
This is one of those aha moments. Too often we get jaded in believing that things only evolve incrementally – Moore’s law and electronics getting faster and less expensive, etc. Yawn. But this really is a game changer worth getting one’s head wrapped around.
Paradigm shift – an event-based sensor enables a new applications approach – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
The event-based vision sensor (EVS) was developed by Sony and Prophesee.
Industrial use cases
With a radically new technology, even machine vision veterans may appreciate seeing example applications already utilizing event-based imaging:
Some typical applications for event-based imaging – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Example applications
The following are meant to be suggestive rather than inclusive. Just to whet the appetite.
Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Let’s enlarge that “alternatives” comparison from the above graphic:
Which level of complexity, performance outcomes, and costs do you prefer? Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Another class of applications
Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Vibration monitoring can alert the need for preventative maintenance – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Take the guesswork out of when to do preventative maintenance. Maximize uptime. Reduce the risks of catastrophic failure. These cameras are affordable enough to let them do the vibration monitoring – just set your alert threshold!
Let the sensor monitor vibration frequencies – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Software for event-based imaging applications
New paradigm best served by Metavision Technology Software – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Metavision SDK modules built for event-based imaging applications – Courtesy Sony / Prophesee
Get it? Got it? Need it? Want it?
This is a new way of coming at machine vision applications. It may give you an edge over your competition by enabling you to improve quality, reduce costs, and/or innovate new products or services. It really is different. See the IDS Imaging uEye XCP-E event-based cameras and datasheets. Powered by the Sony IMX636 developed in conjunction with Prophesee.
Tell us more about your application, using the link below. Or just call us at 978-571-5552. We can help you determine whether event-based imaging is optimal for your application.
About you: We want to hear from you! We’ve built our brand on our know-how and like to educate the marketplace on imaging technology topics… What would you like to hear about?… Drop a line to info@1stvision.com with what topics you’d like to know more about.
JAI has over 60 years experience in the vision industry, and is likewise a longstanding part of the 1stVision portfolio. JAI produces a diverse range of cameras, including area scan and line scan; across multiple interfaces; and spanning visible, NIR, SWIR, and UV portions of the spectrum.
In this article we announce six new line scan camera models: 4 in the Sweep series at 4k each; and 2 in the Sweep+ series at 4k and 8k respectively. There’s a niche for every model.
Four new 4k line scan cameras – Courtesy JAI Imaging
Two new Sweep+ line scan cameras – one 4k one 8k – Courtesy JAI Imaging
Four new 4k line scan Sweep models; Two new Sweep+ models incl. 8k
At the risk of information overload, we’ve bundled this product release update of six new camera models across two product families into a single article. We hope the reader appreciates the compare-and-contrast approach as a way to understand the value proposition for each camera/family.
When you need line scan it’s nice to have options
While area scan sensors with big 2D pixel array outputs are right for some applications, line scan is a better fit for others. In particular, if the object being imaged is essentially continuous, line scan can be an effective way to take narrow image slices with a lower cost 1D sensor that’s long in just the dimension that maps to the object width. Movement of the object (or sensor) together with successive slices then creates the second dimension.
Example line scan applications – Courtesy JAI Imaging
JAI’s Sweep line scan cameras vs. Sweep+
JAI’s Sweep line scan cameras include a wide offering of monochrome, bilinear, and trilinear models, at 2K, 4K, 8K, and 16K. Interface options include 5GigE, 10GigE and CoaXPress. If you need color sensing, the bilinear approach is an affordable approach, and often plenty good enough. For true color capture, the trilinear sensors are superior – if needed.
Sweep+ cameras, as suggested by the + suffix, are JAI’s top of the line color and multispectral line scan products. The beam-splitter prism optics, together with three (color only models) or four (color plus NIR) sensors, deliver high-precision color resolution. Due to the data volumes generated, the Sweep+ cameras use CoaXPress, 10GigE, and CameraLink interfaces to achieve line rates suitable to the respective sensor sizes and anticipated applications.
Give us some brief idea of your application and we will contact you to discuss camera options.
Mini-tutorial on single sensor vs. multi-sensor color imagin
While Bayer filters or equivalent provide single sensor color, that’s good enough for some applications, there is some loss of color resolution via that inherent physical interpolation. So demanding applications take advantage of separate sensors for each segment of the spectrum, using a prism to separate wavelengths. The resulting camera is physically larger to accommodate the the prism, extra sensors, and electronics – but the best possible color performance is achieved.
A deeper dive on the new Sweep cameras
At-a-glance overview of the Sweep 4k cameras – Courtesy JAI Imaging
Monochrome line rates are 2x that of the bilinear color models
… because there is a single monochrome pixel mapped to the target object’s corresponding area.
Courtesy JAI Imagine
But if you need color the bilinear approach is an efficient way to do it, since there are only two rows of data transmitted for every real-space row imaged….
A peak at the bilinear approach to color line scan imaging
Courtesy JAI Imaging
Other JAI Sweep camera features
Keystone correction, aka tilted view correction, onboard the camera
More details on JAI’s new Sweep+ line scan cameras:
A 4k and and 8k model, both with CoaXPress interfaces – Courtesy JAI Imaging
The two new models round out the Sweep+ lineup – Courtesy JAI Imaging
Precise prism optical design yields superior images – Courtesy JAI Imaging
Some of the key benefits of CoaXPress – Courtesy JAI Imaging
And yet more features…
You get the idea… Sweep+ is a remarkable camera family. There are even more features to find in the Sweep+ product details and datasheets. Or just call us at 878-571-5683 for expert assistance. Tell us about your application requirements and we’ll guide you to an optimal camera. Lighting, lenses, filters, cables, and software too.
About you: We want to hear from you! We’ve built our brand on our know-how and like to educate the marketplace on imaging technology topics… What would you like to hear about?… Drop a line to info@1stvision.com with what topics you’d like to know more about.
