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Digital High-Speed Cameras Find Application in the Scientific, Material Testing, Defense Space
While Vision Research Phantom VEO-L cam- era models are designed specifically for the lab environment, Toni Lucatorto, VEO prod- uct manager, notes that with complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) cameras, there are almost always trade-offs in resolution, frame rate and light sensitivity.
The company’s highest frame rate camera, the Phantom V2512, offers 25-gigapixel throughput (throughput is the amount of data that can be collected and stored per second), with 1-mega- pixel resolution. According to Lucatorto, “In spray dynamics, particle research, you need a really high frame rate. However, for smaller particles, a cam- era with higher resolution is needed, which in the VEO line is the 640 model (6-megapixel through- put, 4-megapixel resolution).”
The V2512 is a large camera; because its sen- sor runs more channels, more back end and higher memory are needed. The higher the frame rate the camera is recording, the shorter the available recording time. Says Lucatorto, “With a 72-gigabyte camera, you only get a couple of seconds of recording time out of that at 25,000 frames per second. At lower frame rates recording time is increased.” The higher the throughput number, the higher the transfer from the sensor to the rest of the camera.
How do you know what camera is right for your application? A salesperson should be able to help document experimental needs and appro- priate equipment. There are online manuals and videos too. Application engineers are available at Vision Research, and training programs can
be provided, either at the company offices or on site. All of these resources are further available for reference once equipment is installed.
For microscopic applications, the lens mount connects the camera to a microscope for that par- ticular use. In some instances, an image intensifier is coupled to the camera, sometimes right to the sensor, to intensify a very low-light subject (some subjects are light sensitive). Vision Research offers four different lens mounts on cameras, along with a full range of optical devices.
Speaking of light-sensitive subjects, proper illumination is an important part of image cap- ture. Lucatorto says that, “Traditional lighting is not always best for the subject. Make sure that there is enough light and proper lighting tech- nique.” She also noted that backlights are very useful in biological imaging, and that there are high-quality LED backlights available. Choos- ing the correct type of light for the subject and circumstances will ensure the resulting images look good and provide appropriate detail.
For motion analysis, data transfer is a critical function. At high frame rates, camera memory is filled quickly and it will be necessary to capture the data and output it quickly. For example, Vision Research has cameras that can offload more than 100 gigabytes of raw data in just over a minute so that shooting can continue.
Vision Research is a business unit of the Materials Analysis Division of AMETEK Inc., a leading global manufacturer of electronic instruments and elec- tromechanical devices.
Scientific Imaging Camera Range Expanded with New Models
Vision Research (Wayne, N.J.) offers the Phantom VEO high-speed camera fam- ily for scientific analysis, material testing and defense research, expanding the Phantom V-Series range in the form of a rugged, five-inch cube. Eight models provide four performance levels and two body styles, all of which incorporate 12-bit, 35-mm CMOS sensors (color or mono) with a choice of lens mount. At maximum resolution, the 1-megapixel (1280 × 800) Phantom VEO 710 and 410 can record at speeds up to 7400 frames per second (fps) and 5200 fps, respec- tively, while the 4-megapixel (2560 × 1600) VEO 640 and 340 record at speeds of 1400 fps and 800 fps, respectively.
Application and environment will deter- mine whether an L or S configuration is appropriate. For traditional high-speed imaging, the L-body style employs a tethered software-based workflow, while the S-body configuration features additional ports, CFast 2.0 media and on-camera controls (OCCs) for use with video monitors. All models are built to withstand up to 100G with isolated electronics and include an HDMI output, exposure index controls and program- mable I/O architecture.
Lasers are often used to confirm camera signals for customers’ applications.
Photograph shows testing the effects of mi- croscopic, highly accelerated dust particles on satellites and spacecraft.
AMERICAN LABORATORY 56 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017
Three onboard RAM memory configura- tions are offered: 18 GB, 36 GB and 72 GB. Files recorded to RAM can be offloaded via Gb Ethernet or, with Phantom VEO S models, transferred to nonvolatile CFast 2.0 memory for remote, untethered re- cording. Once filled to capacity, users can swap the card and download using a stan- dard card reader. This provides a seamless workflow and keeps the camera online.
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