Smart camera
A smart camera (also known as intelligent camera ) is a type of machine vision camera that has an internal processor on which image processing operations are performed. As a rule, a smart camera does not output the raw image, only processed information. In contrast to a vision sensor , a smart camera can be more easily adapted to your own or new applications by programming.
The definitions for the term smart camera are inconsistent between different manufacturers. Belbachir defines it as an intelligent and autonomous optical system that, in addition to the image recording circuit, can filter out and process application-specific information from recorded images, generate event descriptions and make decisions based on them. Smart cameras differ from vision sensors in that the image processing carried out on the integrated processor can be parameterized or programmed and compared to PC-based or embedded systems in that the images are not transmitted, but processed directly. The term "smart camera" or "intelligent camera" was published for the first time by Ron Schneidermann in 1975 in a publication by "Electronics". In 1985 Buechli et al. realized an inexpensive smart camera for "machine vision".
A smart camera contains interfaces for communication, for example Ethernet, but also V.24 interfaces suitable for industrial use for connection to PLC or pneumatic valves . Despite the integrated processing circuitry, it does not necessarily have to be larger than a conventional industrial or surveillance camera.
A smart camera usually consists of the following components:
- Imaging sensor, for example CCD or CMOS sensor and its control
- Image storage
- Real-time image processing processor ( DSP , FPGA or GPU )
- Application-specific information processing and data storage
- Interfaces (e.g. USB , Ethernet , FireWire , Camera Link ) for programming and communication with external devices (e.g. PLC ).
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Ahmed Nabil Belbachir: Smart Cameras . Springer, New York 2009, ISBN 978-1-4419-0952-7 .
- ^ Ron Schneidermann: Smart Cameras Clicking with Electronic Functions . Electronics, Volume 48, Issue 17, Pages 74-81, 1975.
- ↑ F. Buechli, E. Heeb, K. Knop: Low Cost Smart Camera . Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering Volume 595, Pages 278-283, 1985, doi : 10.1117 / 12.952271 .