Point Grey produces Grasshopper2 GigE cameras

PRESS RELEASE

Point Grey (Richmond, BC, Canada), a world leader of advanced imaging products, has announced the launch of its high-performance and cost-effective Grasshopper2 GigE Vision digital camera series.

The first available Grasshopper2 GS2-GE models incorporate a Gigabit Ethernet digital interface and are based on mono and color versions of the Sony ICX274, a 2 megapixel CCD that runs at 30 FPS; and the ICX625, a 5 megapixel CCD that runs at 15 FPS. The compact Grasshopper2 measures just 44 x 29 x 58 mm in size, and offers new features such as opto-isolated GPIO for industrial triggering and strobe output, new multi-exposure trigger modes, and improved on-camera status monitoring.

“In addition to continued strong sales performance of our FireWire and USB 2.0 cameras, we are now seeing new market opportunities and increased customer demand for GigE Vision,” says Vladimir Tucakov, Director of Sales and Marketing at Point Grey. “For those applications that need long cable lengths and inexpensive components such as interface cards and cables, Gigabit Ethernet is an excellent option.”

“Each model in the Grasshopper2 series offers its own unique competitive advantage,” adds Tucakov, who notes that the GS2-GE-20S4 is the only GigE camera that runs the Sony ICX274 - the industry's favorite 2 megapixel image sensor - at 30 FPS, and the GS2-GE-50S5 is the smallest GigE camera to use the Sony ICX625, a highly sensitive 5 megapixel CCD capable of running at 15 FPS. "These features, combined with aggressive pricing, give the Grasshopper2 unbeatable price-performance.”

Every Grasshopper2 GS2-GE camera is equipped with a 14-bit analog-to-digital converter, 32 MByte frame buffer, 512 KByte non-volatile flash memory, and on-board temperature and power sensors to monitor camera status. Like all Point Grey cameras, every model provides automatic control of most camera properties, such as gain, exposure, and white balance; user configuration sets for defining custom power-up settings; and customizable region of interest and binning modes. Mechanical features of the Grasshopper2 GS2-GE include an industry-standard C-mount lens holder, removable optical window (monochrome models) or IR cut filter (color models), and RJ-45 connector with screw locks.

The Grasshopper2 GS2-GE complies with the GigE Vision v1.2 specification, which allows it to be used with many third-party software packages. Existing Point Grey camera users will benefit from the seamless software integration that is available using the FlyCapture Software Development Kit (SDK). The FlyCapture SDK is compatible with Point Grey FireWire, USB 2.0, and GigE cameras using the same API, and includes support for 32- and 64-bit Windows and Linux.

The GS2-GE-20S4 (1/1.8-inch 1600x1200 at 30 FPS), list priced at USD $1845, and the GS2-GE-50S5 (2/3-inch 2448x2048 at 15 FPS), list priced at USD $3195, are available to order now from Point Grey and its network of distributors.

About Point Grey Research, Inc.
Point Grey Research, Inc. is a worldwide leader in the development of advanced digital camera technology products for machine vision, industrial imaging, and computer vision applications. Based in Richmond, BC, Canada, Point Grey designs, manufactures and distributes IEEE-1394 (FireWire), USB 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet, and Camera Link cameras that are known for their excellent quality, performance, and ease of use. A broad range of hardware, software and mechanical engineering skills has allowed Point Grey to successfully bring many innovative and ground-breaking products to market. This drive for innovation has led to many industry firsts, including the first and smallest 1394b digital camera.

Since being founded in January of 1997, the company’s approach to product pricing, quality control, and customer service has attracted thousands of customers worldwide, and its organic growth through product sales has enabled the company to expand significantly without any outside investment. Point Grey currently employs more than 100 people worldwide, and has a wholly-owned subsidiary in Germany that provides sales and support services to customers in Europe, Africa, and Israel. Point Grey’s office in Japan works closely with the company’s network of distributors in Japan, Korea, China, Singapore, and Taiwan.

Source: Point Grey Research

-- Posted by Vision Systems Design