Information about Video Cameras

Video cameras are used in machine vision, quality monitoring, security, and remote monitoring for industrial and commercial operations. Consumer video cameras are not covered in this search form. Video cameras can operate in monochrome or color. Monochrome is black and white, or grayscale; the image is presented in black, white, and grayscale. The range of colors is generated with varying combinations of different discrete colors. One common technique is sensing the red, green, and blue components (RGB) and combining them to create a wide spectrum of colors. Multiple chip color is a method of capturing color in which multiple chips are each dedicated to capturing part of the color image, such as one color, and the results are combined to generate the full color image. They typically employ color separation devices such as beamsplitters rather than having integral filters on the sensors. Choices for imaging technologies for video cameras include CCD, CMOS, tube, and film. Charge Coupled Devices (CCD) use a light-sensitive material on a silicon chip to detect electrons excited by incoming light. CMOS image sensors operate at lower voltages than CCDs, reducing power consumption for portable applications. In a tube camera, the image is formed on a fluorescent screen. Image is exposed onto photosensitive film, which is then developed to be played or stored.

Products & Services Related to Video Cameras

CCD Cameras

Charge coupled device (CCD) cameras contain light-sensitive silicon chips that detect electrons excited by incoming light. They also contain micro circuitry that transfers a detected signal along a row of discrete picture elements or pixels, scanning the image very rapidly. CCD cameras use two-dimensional CCD arrays with many thousand of pixels.

CMOS Cameras

Complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) cameras use image sensors that operate at lower voltages than charged coupled devices (CCDs), reducing power consumption for portable applications. Each CMOS active pixel sensor cell has its own buffer amplifier, and can be addressed and read individually.

High Speed Cameras

High speed cameras are designed for rapid image acquisition for scientific or industrial analysis of rapidly changing or moving processes.

Low Light Cameras

Low light cameras are designed for low light applications. They contain sensors that are highly sensitive to light and reduce images to a series of lines.

Vision Sensors

Vision sensors are machine vision video cameras with integrated signal processing and imaging electronics. They typically include program and data interfaces.