Image processing cameras

In any machine vision project, several very important questions need to be answered before choosing an image processing camera. In this article, we try to offer you some guidance on these questions, albeit briefly.

• Is there relative motion between the object and the camera?
• If the object and the camera move relative to each other, line scan cameras seem a better choice than area scan cameras. In every project, however, it is ultimately the problem definition and the budget that determine the right choice.

• Does the object have a unique feature in the image?
• If the object has a unique feature in the image, image processing algorithms can easily use that feature as a marker and find the region of interest in the image. Otherwise, you need precise lighting to create a distinct feature in the image. For example, suppose an object has low contrast. With point or line lasers you can determine whether the object is present in a region of the image.

• Are the lighting conditions constant, or do they vary with ambient light?
• If the lighting conditions are constant, image processing will be much simpler. If they are not, you can remove unwanted light with suitable lighting and optical filters.

• What is the minimum number of images that must be processed per second?
• Suppose you need to process 8000 frames per second. Area scan cameras with this sampling rate are usually very expensive. In such a case, if the problem allows, you can use a line scan camera.

• Does the whole image need to be processed, or is a specific region enough?
• If only a specific region of the image matters to you, look for a camera with an ROI (region of interest) feature.

• Will software such as MATLAB meet your needs, or do you need to write code in a specific software environment?
• Many commercial cameras on the market cannot be used directly in specialized software. In that case, look for a camera that provides API functions and connects directly to the computer.

With a decade of experience in building machine vision equipment, RasaAndishan Mowj Pardaz has so far designed and built several line scan and area scan cameras. All of this equipment is made in Iran and is the result of the dedicated work of graduates of the country's universities. We hope we have taken a step, however small, towards reducing the need to import these products from abroad.

Which image processing camera is right for your project?

The answers to these questions make clear which type of image processing camera you need. If the object is moving, you usually go for a line scan camera. If you need a complete image in every frame, an area scan camera is the better choice.

RasaAndishan area scan cameras are used in particle image velocimetry, digital image correlation (DIC) and license plate reading. All RasaAndishan cameras support external triggering. The company's area scan cameras cover USB2 and USB3 interfaces.

To see the models, visit the RasaAndishan area scan cameras page. If you are new to the concept of machine vision, this article will also help you.