We often take for granted the dual 12-megapixel camera collecting dust on the back of our smartphones or the fact that almost any building we enter has a sign reading “Smile, you’re on camera!”. Cameras have gone from a mysterious “stealer of souls” to a technology we can’t seem to live without. Although they are commonly used in a wide variety of applications from monitoring, to photo captures and security, video cameras, specifically high speed cameras, are still a relatively new technology.
Some of the very first cameras capable of capturing video dated back to the 1950’s. These cameras utilized vacuum tubes for power, which often overheated, later advancing to solid state chipsets to capture video. In the modern day, camera technology both internal and external has advanced greatly.
The Need for Speed
Recently, the demands for high speed cameras continue to climb as data must be captured at higher and higher rates, eliminating latency and allowing for a true “real-time” experience. High speed cameras have graduated from the common 24 fps (frames-per-second) found in motion pictures to over 1,000 fps, and this is just scratching the surface. Some studies suggest that cameras used to study the nature of light will soon be able to reach 1 trillion fps.
So what does all of this mean summed up? In order to record, capture, and transfer these images at high resolutions requires up to 24Gbps of aggregate data. Such accuracy is not just determined by a good camera lens or aperture, but also by the components inside the camera. This is especially true in rugged or industrial environments employing Machine Vision standards.
Samtec Supports Machine Vision
Today, high speed cameras are used for much more than just capturing selfies and surveying 7-11 convenience stores. Entire industries rely on the accuracy and reliability of Machine Vision to sense objects, observe processes, and diagnose problems. For example, in a high speed production line, such as a printing press, cameras are set up to “see” the mechanical system with various lenses, frame grabbers, and sensors. Once an error has occurred, the captured data can be analyzed using pre and post-cursor values to determine what caused the breakdown. Most of the time, this is observed frame by frame to spot exactly when and where there is an issue.
To support such a precise standard like Machine Vision, Samtec offers a variety of interconnect solutions for high frame rate cameras. Consider some of the following applications.
High Resolution Cameras
High resolution cameras often feature frame rates in the thousands and are capable of providing real-time feedback with near-zero latency. This can mean very high data rates and clear signals. Solutions we offer include:
- HDR Cable Assemblies
- ERM8/ERF8
- LSHM
- ECUO FireFly Optical Cable (this is available as a design-in option)