Knowledge Base

About EMVA1288

The EMVA1288 is a standard for the specification and measurement of machine vision sensors and cameras, which has a significant benefit for a CCD, CMOS or sCMOS camera user.

Why are there special interfaces for the transmission of image data?

As camera technology has evolved, so have the interfaces used to extract image data from a camera and transmit it for storage and processing.

Raman spectroscopy enhanced by a back-illuminated sCMOS camera

This article discusses the challenges inherent in working with older detector technologies, dispels some misconceptions associated with Raman spectroscopy detectors, and introduces readers to PCO’s back-illuminated camera solutions.

What are all the discussions about global vs. rolling shutter?

Both versions have their individual benefits and disadvantages. But is one generally "better" than the other? How to decide which one to use? This article answers these questions by tracing the development of the two shutter modes.

New Intensified sCMOS Camera Technology Improves High-Speed Analysis

“Blink and you’ll miss it” — the phrase is synonymous with events that may occur too quickly for the human eye to discern. High-speed video has enabled us to record and analyze these events with increasing accuracy and clarity. However, some phenomena encountered in scientific and engineering analysis occur too fast for traditional video or photography to capture, and thus require an approach superior to traditional high-speed video. Intensified sCMOS provides the technical solution when other imaging technology does not meet your application’s high-speed requirements, whether you need ultra-short exposure times or higher resolution, and an extinction ratio beyond what non-intensified CCD or CMOS cameras can achieve.

EL & PL Imaging

Electroluminescence (EL) & Photoluminescence (PL) imaging for fast detection of solar cell and module quality with scientific grade cameras.

About dynamic

The “dynamic” or “dynamic range” of an image sensor or a camera system is a widely used term to characterize the ability of a camera system to measure and distinguish different levels of light. However, many camera manufacturers define dynamic range from a different point of view. Learn about the many facets of this term in this article.

About resolution

The resolution of an image sensor describes the total number of pixel which can be used to detect an image. From the standpoint of the image sensor it is sufficient to count the number and describe it usually as product of the horizontal number of pixel times the vertical number of pixel which give the total number of pixel, for example...

linearity

...is linearity important for imaging applications?

noise in general

overview on noise sources in a CCD camera system

pco.camera - timing issues

An overview on the timing of output and input signals is given for pco.camera. Furthermore the timing of double shutter/exposure image recording is described.

shading in large image sensors

...why are the corners of my image so black?

smear

...smear is what?

warm pixels

warm or hot pixels - explanation and methods to replace them...

binning

binning or dynamic control of pixels

blooming

...blooming in a CCD camera?

Are large pixels always more sensitive?

The relationship between the pixel size of an image sensor and its sensitivity is discussed in detail to illuminate the reality behind the myth that “larger pixel image sensors are always more sensitive than small pixel sensors."

USB 3.0 pco camera interface

This application note “USB 3.0 camera interface” discusses features and issues of the PCO USB 3.0 interface. Included in this discussion is the configuration of recommended hardware and software.

FOM 2014 Camera Tutorial I.

This is a pdf version of the FOM 2014 Camera Tutorial part I. given by G. Holst (PCO AG).