0.4-megapixel camera, model RA-ASC-0229
Design and construction of the 0.4-megapixel RA-ASC-0229 camera was completed in November 2016. The RA-ASC-0229 has a resolution of 752 × 582 pixels and is based on an Interlace CCD sensor. This camera is a good choice for general lab applications. This section shows the spectral response and parametric specifications.
Selection guide
Monochrome lab imaging from visible light to 1000 nm
A compact monochrome CCD camera built mainly for lab work: microscopy, recording experiments and looking at optical beams. The sensor has 752 × 582 pixels and responds from 400 to 1000 nm, so it sees near-infrared as well as visible light. You set the frame rate in software to 13, 17 or 26 frames/s, and 8-bit images reach the PC over 480 Mbit/s USB. There is also an analogue output for direct monitoring.
- Sensor
- Area CCD
- Effective pixels
- H752 X V582 = 440K
- Pixel size
- 4.85 μm × 4.65 μm
- Line rate
- 13 Hz,17 Hz,26 Hz-Defined By Software
- Spectral range
- 400 nm to 1000 nm
- ADC resolution
- 8 bit
- Interface
- USB2.0 Port
- Operating temperature
- −10 to +55 °C
With a 30 mm field of view, each pixel sees 40 μm of the scene. The 752 pixels across the image are enough to follow the size and changes of a sample. The camera draws 1.5 W from the USB cable, so no separate power supply is needed.
Behind a 10× objective, the camera sees a 0.43 mm × 0.37 mm area of the specimen, and each pixel covers about 0.49 μm. The sensor has no colour filter, so every pixel receives light from the whole 400 to 1000 nm band.
The sensor responds up to 1000 nm, so you can light the scene with near-infrared. That reduces the effect of surface colour and can show what lies under thin layers. The lower sensitivity at the end of the band is made up with gain, adjustable in 64 steps.
With 4.85 μm × 4.65 μm pixels, you see the profile of visible and near-infrared beams in optical setups at a scale of a few micrometres. The background level is set with a 512-step offset before the signal is converted to 8 bits.
At 26 frames/s the camera sends about 91 Mbit/s, which the 480 Mbit/s USB link handles easily. Windows and Linux drivers come with sample code for Matlab, LabView, C++, C#, VB.Net and Python, so it is quick to get running in a teaching lab or student project.
The key point is a CCD with no colour filter and a response from 400 to 1000 nm. You are free to light the scene with visible or near-infrared light. The frame rate sets the exposure time directly. At 13 frames/s each frame can collect light for up to 77 ms, which helps with dim scenes. At 26 frames/s you get more images, each with a shorter exposure. Because frames are fairly long, the camera suits static or slow scenes; if the object moves during exposure, the image blurs. The 8-bit converter gives 256 brightness levels, and gain and offset fit the scene into that range. Spatial resolution depends on the field of view: in a 30 mm field, each pixel sees 40 μm.
Focal length is roughly working distance × sensor width ÷ field-of-view width. The sensor is 4.34 mm wide, so a 30 mm field at 300 mm needs a lens of about 43 mm. On a microscope, match the adapter magnification to the 4.34 mm × 3.69 mm sensor. For dim scenes, choose 13 frames/s to get the longest exposure per frame, and set up the lighting to give enough signal within that time. The -I version includes an FPGA, gain and offset adjustment, an 8-bit converter, 480 Mbit/s USB, an analogue output and on-board RAM. It runs from -10 to +55 °C and ships 7 days after order. If you need more pixels in the visible band, look at the RA-ASC-0267-I with 1360 × 1024 pixels.
Discontinued The sensor of this model is no longer made.
| RA-ASC-0229 USB Area Scan Camera Parameters | Specification |
|---|---|
| Sensor | Area CCD |
| Pixel Size | 4.85 μm x 4.65 μm |
| Effective Pixels | H752 X V582 = 440K |
| Total Pixels | H795 X V596 = 470K |
| CCD Size | 4.34 mm(H) * 3.69 mm(V) |
| Spectral Range | 400 nm to 1000 nm |
| Max Pixel Frequency | 15 MHz |
| PGA Gain Resolution | 6 V/V - 64Steps |
| Programmable Offset Resolution | 300 mV - 512Steps± |
| Power consumption | 1.5 W |
| External Power | Not Required |
| Operational Temperature Range | −10 to +55 °C |
| Operation Systems | Windows 64-bit And Linux |
| Communication Port | USB2.0 Port |
| Multiple Cameras | Supported |
| Device Driver | Yes |
| Sample Codes | Matlab,LabView,C++,C#,VB.Net,Python |
Discontinued The sensor of this model is no longer made.
| Camera Selection Guide | RA-ASC-0229-I |
|---|---|
| Processor | FPGA |
| Gain Adjust | ✓ |
| Offset Adjust | ✓ |
| ADC Resolution | 8 bit |
| USB Speed | 480Mbit/S |
| Analog OutPut | ✓ |
| On Board RAM | ✓ |
| Jitter Order | < 10 ns |
| Line Rate | 13 Hz,17 Hz,26 Hz-Defined By Software |
| Operational Temperature Range | −10 to +55 °C |
| Availability | 7Days After Order |