Grasshopper Express CCD camera delivers 2.8 Mpixels

Onboard temperature and power sensors monitor camera status.

-- Test & Measurement World, 2/9/2012 7:00:00 AM

Point Grey Research has added a 2.8-Mpixel model to its Grasshopper Express series of IEEE 1394b (FireWire-b) digital cameras. The new GX-FW-28S5 is based on color and monochrome versions of the Sony ICX674, a 2/3-in. CCD capable of producing 1932×1452-pixel images at 26 fps. In addition, the image sensor features 4.54-µm square pixels and leverages Sony's EXview HAD CCD II technology to improve quantum efficiency, reduce smear, and increase sensitivity, even into the near infrared.

Every Grasshopper Express camera is equipped with a 32-Mbyte frame buffer, 14-bit ADC, and onboard temperature and power sensors to monitor camera status. Other features include optoisolated GPIO and hardware trigger modes. The camera's 800-Mbps FireWire-b interface allows fast image transfer and is well-suited for building low-latency, highly deterministic multiple-camera networks.

Housed in a compact 44×29×58-mm metal case with a C-mount lens holder, the camera operates over a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C.  It comes with Point Grey's FlyCapture software development kit, which provides a common control interface for all Point Grey cameras under both Windows and Linux.

Price: $1995.

Point Grey Research, www.ptgrey.com/products/grasshopper_express/Datasheet_GrasshopperExpress.pdf