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  Low light, High Sensitivity Cameras
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What is a high sensitivity camera? What makes a sensitive camera? Why use a low light camera?

High Sensitivity cameras are designed to work in low light conditions to produce a high dynamic range image with few light photons. The sensor in a high sensitivity camera is typically designed with large pixels so that they have a large area to collect light. A sensitive camera also requires a high quantum efficiency which means it is efficient at converting light photons to electrons. A sensitive camera with high QE has a sensor with specially designed internal structure and when is a visible light silicon sensor is doped for optimal photon conversion.

Some low light cameras use Frame Transfer or Full Frame sensors and so use the full pixel area for light collection. Other low light cameras have the more standard interline sensors but use a microlens located over every pixel to collect light from a larger area and focus it onto the smaller light collecting pixel area.

There are also low light cameras that use different materials to silicon . For example InGaAs sensors are used in Infrared Low light cameras to detect moon glow or the airglow on (moonless nights) that occurs due to electro luminescence in the upper atmosphere. These cameras operate in the short wave infrared rather than the visible spectrum.

Low light cameras and sensitive cameras are used for may different types of applications. Night time surveillance is a common application for short wave infrared low light cameras. When imaging fast moving objects the shutter time must be short to freeze motion and so use of a high sensitivity camera is important. Other scientific applications like fluorescence microscopy deal with emitted light and so often there are very few electrons to play with and so a low light camera is essential.

Adept supplies the Australian and New Zealand market with high sensitivity and low light cameras. See list below.

 
Model Imager Resolution Frame Rate Output
Teledyne DALSA
Pantera 1M30 17mm diag 1024 x 1024 30fps Camera Link

Pantera 1M60

17mm diag 1024 x 1024 60fps Camera Link
Pantera 6M8 44mm diag 3072 x 2048 7.5 fps Camera Link
Eclipse 0512 7mm linescan 512 x 96 TDI 64KHz LVDS
Eclipse 1K 13mm linsecan 1024 x 96 TDI 34KHz LVDS
Eclipse 2K 27mm 2048 x 96 TDI 17KHz LVDS
Piranha HS 2K 27mm linescan 2048 x 64 TDI 52KHz Camera Link
QuantaPro 4M TE CCD area scan 2084 x 2084 2 fps (no binning) Camera Link; GigE Vision
Piranha HS 4K 4Tap 29mm linescan 4096 x 96 TDI 36KHz Camera Link
Piranha HS 4K 8 Tap 29mm linescan 4096 x 96 TDI 68.6KHz Camera Link
Piranha HS 4K 110KHz 57mm linescan 4096 x 48 TFI 110KHz Camera Link
Piranha HS 8K 57mm linescan 8192 x 96 TDI 34KHz Camera Link
Piranha HS 8K 69KHz 57mm linescan 8192 x 96 TDI 68.6KHz Camera Link
Piranha HS 8K 34KHz NIR TDI CCD linescan 8192 x 256 TDI 34KHz Camera Link
Piranha HS 12K 90KHz 62.4mm linescan 12000 x 256 TDI 90 kHz Camera Link
     
Model Imager Resolution Frame Rate Output
QImaging
RET-EXL-L-M-14-C 2/3" 1392 x 1040 30 fps FireWire-1394b
ROL-MGi-PLUS-F-M-14-C 2/3" 512 x 512 30 fps FireWire-1394b
RET-4000RV-F-M-12-C 21mm diag 2048 x 2048 4 fps FireWire-1394b
RET-2000RV-F-M-12-C 1" 1600 x 1200 10 fps FireWire-1394b
RET-SRV-F-M-12-C 2/3" 1392 x 1040 11 fps FireWire-1394b
RET-EXi 2/3" 1392 x 1040 10 fps FireWire-1394b
     
 

For more information on High sensitivity cameras and low light cameras please contact us.

It is important that the correct equipment for low light camera work is selected in order to ensure that you get the best possible result. If you do require any further assistance with selecting high sensitivity camera equipment Adept Electronic Solutions has highly qualified machine vision specialists ready to assist you with your digital imaging application.

 

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