Industrial linear image sensor ideal for low-light conditions
iC-Haus GmbH has added the iC-LFMB, which targets demanding industrial applications, to its proven iC-LF product family of linear image sensors.
A key feature of the iC-LFMB optical linear image sensor is its expanded photosensitive area, made possible by its unique pixel geometry. The sensor includes 64 active photodiodes, each measuring 56 µm × 600 µm. The pixel pitch of of the sensor is 63.5 µm, which corresponds to a resolution of 400 DPI. This sensor has a broad spectral range covering 400 nm to 980 nm and is suitable for various applications, particularly triangulation. The new pixel geometry offers significantly higher contrast and signal yield in low-light conditions, which also enables shorter measuremen times.
In addition, the increased height of the pixels allows for larger position tolerances during installation.This compensates for lateral offsets or slight rotations and simplifies the installation process without compromising measurement accuracy.
With a clock frequency of up to 5 MHz, the linear image sensor enables fast measurement cycles that complete in just 64 clock cycles. The integrated electronics comprise a light-to-voltage converter, a sample-and-hold circuit, and a push-pull output amplifier. A start and clock signal simplifies operation, while the shutter input allows flexible adjustment of the integration time.
The iC-LFMB is characterised by a glitch-free analogue output that ensures reliable signal processing. At the same time, its compact BGA package supports space-saving designs.
Why low-light capabilities are important?
In factory automation and industrial environments, lighting is often variable or insufficient, making low-light image sensing essential for consistent operation and analysis.
Low-light environments present a range of technical challenges, including a reduced signal-to-noise ratio due to fewer photons reaching the sensor, which makes it more challenging to distinguish meaningful signals from noise. As a result, longer exposures are required to gather more light, which can lead to motion blur or inconsistent measurements in dynamic scenes. Low light can also result in inaccurate colour reproduction and loss of detail that is required for identification and analysis.
To address this, image sensors are designed for high sensitivity by utilising larger pixels, specialised pixel geometry, and/or advanced materials. Most importantly, low-light image sensing enables greater reliability and safety in autonomous systems and industrial automation.
www.ichaus.de/product/ic-lf-series
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