Machine applications often utilize CCD cameras.
Charge-coupled device (CCD) cameras are frequently used in security and electronic surveillance systems. CCD cameras utilize light-sensitive silicon chips and micro circuitry to rapidly detect and scan light signals, transferring the signals into pixels using a two-dimensional array. Technical specifications that can be used to sort CCD cameras include color type, resolution, frame rate, shutter speed, sensitivity and noise ratio.
Color Type
CCD cameras can operate in either monochrome or color. Monochrome, or gray scale, CCD cameras depict an image using shades of black, white and gray. Color CCD cameras combine variations of red, green and blue to create other colors in the visible image.
Horizontal Resolution
Horizontal resolution determines the maximum number of pixels present in each horizontal line of an image. The horizontal resolution of most CCD cameras can be separated into five categories: less than 524 pixels, 524 pixels to 751 pixels, 751 pixels to 1,324 pixels, 1,324 pixels to 2,168 pixels, and 2,168 pixels and above.
Maximum Frame Rate
CCD cameras can also be separated by the maximum frame rate of each camera. Most CCD cameras will fall into one of five frame per second (fps) rate speeds: less than 13 fps, 13 fps to 25 fps, 25 fps to 55 fps, 55 fps to 92 fps, and 92 fps and higher.
Shutter Speed
Shutter speed is the amount of time that the CCD camera lens is set for light exposure, or light collection. Maximum shutter speed will vary according to the parameters of each CCD camera lens.
Sensitivity
Another specification commonly used to distinguish CCD cameras is lens sensitivity. The lens sensitivity of a CCD camera determines the minimum amount of light necessary to produce a good image. Light quality is measured by using the lux, or lumens per square meter. CCD camera lens sensitivity will vary according to each camera lens.
Signal Noise Ratio
The final specification used to distinguish CCD cameras is signal-to-noise ratio. The signal-to-noise ratio depicts the reliability of the CCD camera image and is an indicator of the possible presence of image degradation. Signal-to-noise ratios will vary according to each specific CCD camera lens.
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