Switch to Digital
SXGA Camera Modules with GigE and USB3 Interface
The first in a new series of SXGA modules GS CMOS sensors cameras is the XCG-CG160. Sony has positioned the camera, which features a 1/3-type IMX273 sensor, as a low-disruption way to move to digital – being an ideal replacement for the ICX445. The first modules to be announced use the GigE standard, running at 75 SXGA fps.
The XCG-CG160 camera modules measures 29x29x42mm and weighs approximately 65g. (Bild: Sony United Kingdom Ltd.)
Black/white modules are available immediately in mass production, colour modules will enter mass production in December. A USB3 module is also scheduled to enter mass production by Q1 2018 (Details will follow). The modules are targeted at a wide array of markets: from print, robotics and inspection to ITS, medical and logistics, as well as general imaging. Sony has also highlighted they were created to simplify the move from CCD to digital GS CMOS modules, based on the same footprint and using the same command. Matt Swinney, Senior Marketing Manager at Sony ISS (Imaging Sensing Solutions): „These cameras bring together Sony’s renowned module engineering with the best of Sony’s sensor technology, extracting the best possible image from the IMX-273.“ The camera delivers 70 8bit colour or b/w frames per second and features defect-pixel correction, shading correction (with peak and average detection) as well as area gain to automatically adjust for the target object. Additionally the module supports 2×2 multi-ROI and flip&binning. Sony’s Firmware v1.1 is certified by Cognex VisionPro and GigE Version 2.0 compliant; allowing both hard and software triggering, with the module able to act as an IEEE1588 (PTP) master and slave. The firmware allows for up to 16 action cue commands, plus acquisition sequence scheduling and GPO control. Additionally it features burst trigger and new events modes, as well as a reduced jitter function with single frame acquisition. Furthermore, it asynchronous image transfer enables a memory shot and output on user demand, and its broadcast register write enables synchronized camera feature controls to be implemented. The series uses a 1/2.9-type Pregius GS CMOS sensor, delivering 1.6MP images (1,440×1,080). The b/w module has a minimum illumination of just 0.5lx, the colour module requires just 12lx and comes with a manual, auto and one-push white balance setting. Both modules have a sensitivity of F5.6, a gain of 0 to +18dB and a shutter speed of 60s to 1/10,000s.
