JANUARY 22, 2009--The five-CCD version is the first product in the Condor product line, a line of scalable multispectral smart cameras ranging from two to five sensors, all pixel to pixel aligned such that they exactly see the same object on the same pixels. The Condor-MS-5 Camera holds five CMOS sensors with customer-specific waveband filters and dichroic coatings placed on top of a five-channel prism, to allow for parallel acquisition of the images. The prism and coatings are designed to have no color aberration and a defined optical path that is exactly the same for all wavelengths. An integrated PLC controls all integration and triggering parameters. Interfaces include Camera Link, Gigabit Ethernet, and fiberoptic.
Quest Group
Middenmeer, The Netherlands
www.quest-innovations.com
For related information, visit the Smart Cameras topic center.
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PRESS RELEASE
Middenmeer, The Netherlands, 10th of October.
Quest Innovations proudly announces the worlds first Scalable 5 CCD multi-spectral Smart Camera that can be tailored to the customers specific needs. The 5 CCD version is the first product in the "Condor" product line, a complete line of Scalable multi-spectral Smart Cameras ranging from 2 to 5 sensors, all pixel to pixel aligned such that they exactly see the same object on the same pixels. The Condor-MS-5 Camera holds 5 CMOS sensors with customer specific waveband filters and dichroic coatings placed on top of the worlds first 5 Channel prism, to allow for parallel acquisition of the images. The prism and coatings are designed in close cooperation with Optec, our optics partner and supplier to have no color aberration and a defined optical path that is exactly the same for all wavelengths.
Build on Quests Scalable Smart Camera platform the Condor-MS-5 is a multi-spectral acquisition system that allows for on board processing, parallel software operations on each image band, customizable by the user.
The unique triggering and integration mechanism allows for application specific fine tuning of these parameters. An integrated PLC controls all integration and triggering parameters, easily adjusted by the user via the camera command line interface or delivered software application. All images are transferred to the PC software on which they can be stored, displayed or read back.
The camera is available with different computer interfaces, ranging from CameraLink, Gigabit Ethernet or
Fiber Optic interfaces for long distance (> 200 Meters up to several kilometers) transfer of data.
On board customer specific processing is possible due to the scalable architecture of Quests Scalable
Smart Camera platform . Upon customer specific requirements additional processors can be placed
inside the camera allowing for customer specific Imaging operations on the real-time data stream,
allowing for i.e. Auto Focus, Auto Iris, Image Enhancement Filters, Black Current Correction, LUT
Conversion, Color Space Conversion, Compression Algorithms like JPG, GIF, etc.
The supplied software is based on Quest software flagship, the Architector SDK. This software framework allows the customer to develop real-time PC applications in a parallel processing framework with integrated Frame grabber and camera support, support for storing and retrieving image data streams to and from hard disk or directly from the Camera onto the hard disk. The user can develop simple parallel processing applications without the needing to address the intricacies of multithreading internals with regards to displaying Images, etc. The Architector SDK takes care of all interprocess communications and image memory management and image displaying. Also the complete camera controls are integrated in the Architector software.
"The Condor series product line takes multi-spectral imaging to the next level!" says Richard Meester, President and CEO of Quest Innovations. "Multi-spectral is a promising new market
which allows for a lot of new invention in the next decade. 3 CCD solutions are available on the market for some time now, but a 5 CCD version is state of the art. We are really proud with this new product launch which is a joint development of Optec SPA and Quest Innovations." The 5 CCD camera is the worlds first camera which allows for 5 parallel channels of acquisition in different wavelength regions. "Our customers can define their own specific wavelength regions. I.e. we can produce versions which allow for standard RGB and 4 different IR bands, or 3 specific bands for R, G, B, and 2 IR bands." Says Meester. "Especially in the agriculture, military and
security market there are a lot of possibilities to use these cameras. Also the Medical market is a large potential market, which we will address in cooperation with a strategic partner in this field." Quest will demonstrate the Condor-MS-5 on the Vision 2008 Tradeshow on booth 6A51 as well as the HTE-HI.TECH.EXPO 2008 in Milan, Photonics West 2009 in January in San Jose, USA, booth 6270 and in April at the SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing exhibition in Orlando Florida.
About Quest Innovations B.V.:
Quest Innovations is the world leader on 5 CCD multi spectral cameras. The scalability of its camera architecture, along with the supplied range of available electronics and software allows for easy application development, new system development and of this technology. Please visit www.quest-innovations.com for the latest information about the Condor product line and new products.
About Optec SPA:
Optec is the world leader in Optic Prism and special lens design. www.optec.eu.
