Imaging Source - DBK 21AF04.AS Bayer Color Camera

* FireWire Bayer camera
* 1/4" Sony CCD, progressive scan
* 640 x 480 pixel
* Up to 60 images/s
* IEEE 1394
* Protocol: DCAM 1.31

General behaviour:
Video formats @ Frame rate 640 x 480 UYVY @ 30, 15, 7.5, 3.75 fps
640 x 480 BY8 @ 60, 30, 15, 7.5, 3.75 fps
Sensitivity 0.5 lx at 1/30s, gain 20 dB
Dynamic range ADC: 10 bit, output: 8 bit
SNR ADC: 9 bit at 25 °C, gain 0 dB

Interface (optical):
Sensor specification ICX098BQ Download [671.36 KB, PDF]
Type progressive scan
Format 1/4 "
Resolution H: 640, V: 480
Pixel size H: 5.6 'm, V: 5.6 'm
Lens mount C/CS mount

Interface (electrical):
Supply voltage 8 to 30 VDC
Current consumption approx 200 mA at 12 VDC

Interface (mechanical):
Dimensions H: 50.6 mm, W: 50.6 mm, L: 50 mm
Mass 265 g

Adjustments (man):
Shutter 1/10000 to 30 s
Gain 0 to 36 dB
Offset 0 to 511

Adjustments (auto):
Shutter 1/10000 to 30 s
Gain 0 to 36 dB
Offset 0 to 511

Environmental:
Max. temperature (operation) -5 °C to 45 °C
Max. temperature (storage) -20 °C to 60 °C
Max. humidity (operation) 80 % non-condensing
Max. humidity (storage) 95 % non-condensing

Cleaning CCD Chip in DMK, DBK, and DFK Camera Methods:

• Compressed air from air blower - Compressed air is usually sufficient to remove most foreign bodies from the surface of the CCD chip. We recommend using an air-blower, such as from Edmund Optics, and not compressed air from an aerosol. Compressed air from an aerosol may contain other chemicals (propellant, water, oil etc.) which could damage the surface of the CCD. 

• Hama Lenspen MiniPro II - A company called Hama manufactures a product, which is ideally suited to the task: Lenspen MiniPro II. It is available online and from most well-stocked photography stores. One side of the pen has a brush on it, while the other, a small cleaning surface. The later is suited to efficiently removing dirt and fingerprints.

• Microfiber cleaning cloth - Although a microfiber cleaning cloth is a very viable option, it can be tricky to get the cloth onto the surface of the CCD chip through the camera's mount opening. A cotton swab (UK: Q-Tip) can help here.

• 90% pure alcohol - This can be purchased from most chemists. Never use Isopropanol, as it draws moisture from the air, which results in streaks on the surface of the CCD.

• Alcohol substitute - Instead of pure alcohol, Methanol or a liquid called Eclipse can be used (Eclipse is essentially Methanol). However, we do not recommend this approach, as Methanol is highly poisonous.

• Combination of all the above - Of course, all approaches can be combined! Do not worry about touching the glass in front of the CCD chip. It is pretty robust. Only by rubbing glass, sand or diamond on the surface can it be scratched.

The Imaging Source - a multinational manufacturer of industrial cameras - has just brought to market a new series of 2 megapixel, industrial cameras for cost sensitive applications.

The cameras ship in compact and robust aluminum casing and are available as monochrome and color variants, with or without an IR cut filter. They have a USB 2.0 (without extra power supply) or GigE (with or without auto-iris control) and can output 15 frames per second at a resolution of up 1600x1200 pixels. The cameras are optionally available with a trigger input and digital I/Os, which make them ideally suited to machine vision, automation, traffic surveillance, quality control, medicine, logistic and security applications.

The software support of the cameras leaves nothing to be desired: Both programmers and end-users immediately feel at home. Getting started with the cameras takes only a matter of minutes and integrating them into existing applications takes only a few lines of code. Drivers for LabView, HALCON, DirectX, Twain and WDM are included. All camera parameters and settings can be set via the shipped software. Furthermore, a number of automatic modes are available, which guarantee optimal image quality in varying light conditions. The cameras ship with drivers for Windows XP, Vista and 7, the SDK IC Imaging Control (.NET, ActiveX and C++ class library) and IC Capture. The latter is a powerful end-user application, which allows all camera parameters to be set, live video to be displayed, singular images and image sequences to be captured.