News Release
Imperx
Introduces “Cool” Cameras
for
Low-Noise Applications
BOCA
RATON, FL - March 20, 2007 - Imperx, Inc. a leading
provider of state-of-the-art digital cameras and frame grabbers, today
announced its TEC family of cameras for applications requiring the lowest
possible thermal noise. The cameras are equipped with thermo-electric cooling
of the image sensor and provide a housing designed to maximize heat removal.
Resolutions of 4- 11-, and 16-Megapixel are available in standard housing 100mm
on a side.
Many
scientific and low light-level applications face challenges from thermal noise
in the CCD sensor. Controlling this noise allows cameras to operate with long
exposure times and provide greater pixel-by pixel accuracy. Because thermal noise
decreased by 3 dB for every 6C drop in temperature, the best way to control
thermal noise is to cool the image sensor as much as possible.
The
TEC series cameras use thermo-electric cooling elements attached to the sensor
and are housed in a larger-than-average enclosure with integral heat-sink to
help dissipate thermal energy efficiently. In addition, the housing encloses
the sensor in a sealed chamber equipped with a fill/purge valve. This allows
the sensor area to be filled with dry nitrogen to prevent condensation. Working
with natural convection, the cameras are able to maintain the sensor from 5C to
10C below ambient, depending on the sensor used. Forced-air cooling can keep
the sensor from 15C to 17C below ambient. The cameras are rated for operation
at ambient temperatures between 0C and 50C.
As
with other cameras from Imperx, the TEC series cameras are available in either
monochrome or color configurations, offering 8-, 10-, or 12-bit pixel data
under software configuration control. Electronic shutter control offers
features such as pre-exposure and double exposure and speeds as fast as 1/12000
of a second to as long as 10 seconds. The shutters can be triggered under
software control or use external trigger signals in addition to providing programmed
exposure times. Automatic iris control is optionally available.
Users
can also control the image output, resolution, frame rate, analog or digital
sensor gain and offset, and image area-of-interest using an intuitive graphical
user interface or simple ASCII commands. In addition, the cameras provide
defective-pixel mapping and built-in gamma correction, also allowing users to
define their own look-up tables (LUT).
Software
support includes Windows and Linux drivers, development kits for C++ and Visual
Basic, and support for a variety of instrument control packages, including
LabView, MIL, Image Pro, Halcon, and Video Savant. Software tools for data
acquisition and display, camera configuration, and triggering waveform
generation are built in. For command and data communications, the cameras are
available with an RS-232 port and either a CameraLink® or a Gigabit Ethernet
connection. The Ethernet connection allows network-controlled installations
using the Internet Protocol (IP).
Price
and Availability
Ordering
information for the TEC camera family can be obtained by contacting sales@imperx.com.
About Imperx, Inc.
Imperx, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures advanced imaging
products used in the machine vision, medical, defense, surveillance and
astronomy markets, and wherever there is a need to capture high-resolution
digital color or black/white images for both still and full-rate motion
processing. Imperx’ manufacturing facilities are certified for ISO 9002
compliance.
For more information, visit the Imperx, Inc. website at www.imperx.com.
CameraLink® is a registered trademark of the
Automated Imaging Association, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Editorial Contact:
James
Liolin
Lion
Advertising
550
Mamaroneck Avenue
Harrison,
NY 10528
ph.
914-670-0138
fax.
914-670-0596
email:
jliolin@lionadv.com
Company Contact:
Petko
Dinev, Ph.D.
President,
Chief Executive Officer
Imperx,
Inc.
6421
Congress Avenue
Suite
204
Boca
Raton, Fla. 33487 U.S.A.
Toll
free: 1-866-849-1662
Phone:
1-561-989-0006
Fax:
1-561-989-0045
email:
info@imperx.com
URL:
www.imperx.com