Ultra High Resolutions Cameras

Advances in CMOS imaging sensor technology, coupled with the ability to leverage imaging technology needed to manufacture high volume consumer products such as cell phones and flat panel displays, are driving development of Ultra High Resolution (UHR) imaging cameras. These cameras offer the performance that today’s vision applications demand such as a larger field of view (FOV), greater accuracy, and faster throughput.

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Adoption of UHR technology is being propelled by a wide variety of industries. Semiconductor and electronics manufacturers rely upon this technology to improve quality, reliability, and yield. The ever-increasing pixel densities of flat panel displays and PCBs demand greater sensitivity and resolution without compromising inspection speed. In fact, in many instances the inspection speed is increased with the larger FOV.  

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Ultra High Resolution cameras help the fast-growing solar industry improve quality and lower costs by using visible light and near infrared (NIR) to detect microcracks in solar cells and panels. Aerial and ground surveillance are other areas where Ultra High Resolution cameras are often deployed. Digital aerial survey is an indispensable tool for military reconnaissance and intelligence gathering. It is also becoming more widely used in commercial applications, including civil and environmental protection, land management, wildlife monitoring, agriculture, forestry, and humanitarian disaster relief. High-resolution sensors can generate the level of detail required from an aerial image without having to stitch together multiple lower resolution images, which may adversely affect image quality.

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Resolution is a key consideration in selecting an industrial vision camera and it is one of the main factors affecting its cost. Given the vast choice available in ultra-high-resolution cameras, it may be helpful for vision system developers to discuss their application requirements with a camera supplier to ensure they purchase the camera that best meets their needs. Also, by choosing the correct camera initially, expensive and time consuming redesigns can be avoided later.