Designed for machine vision, the CV-M9CL 3-CCD camera from JAI features high resolution (3 x 800,000 pixels), progressive scan, chromatic shading reduction, Camera Link interface, and a fast readout rate. The three 1/3" XGA resolution (1024 x 768 pixels) CCD sensors (Sony ICX204AL) allow for a compact prism design. This permits a compact camera measuring 50(H) x 60(W) x 99(L), excluding the connectors. Most 3-CCD cameras require special lenses in order to avoid “chromatic shading.” The CV-M9CL features a built-in shading-reduction function.
The digitization in the CV-M9CL is based on 12-bit A/D converters. The user can select to output 10 or 8 bits per color. In the 3 x 8 bit mode, a single Camera Link connector is sufficient (base configuration) and in the 3 x 10 bit mode, two Camera Link connectors (medium configuration) are used. The CV-M9CL, designed for industrial vision applications that require asynchronous triggering, features several trigger modes and does not manipulate the color or pixel information inside the camera. Instead, the CV-M9CL outputs direct pixel information, and the prism assembly features co-site sampling, in which all three CCDs are aligned to each other without spatial offset.
The CV-M9CL performs at a signal/noise ratio of >56dB while maintaining a frame rate of 30 progressive scan frames/second at full resolution. All mode selection and external trigger signals are controlled via the Camera Link interface. A rear panel LED assists in interfacing the camera, indicating the presence of power or trigger input.
