Multiple Camera Vision Systems
BitFlow, Inc. announces new system level solutions for high performance, multiple camera image capture and processing. Based on the BitFlow Karbon-CL x8 PCI Express frame grabber, it is now possible to capture monochrome or color digital images from up to four Camera Link cameras per Karbon-CL frame grabber. Each Karbon-CL can transfer up to 1,700 Megabytes (1.7 Gigabytes) per second.
There are several Karbon-CL models, each for a unique configuration of Camera Link cameras. There is a Karbon that takes two base Camera Link cameras, another that takes four base Camera Link cameras, one that takes one medium or full Camera Link camera, and another for two medium or full camera link cameras. There are Karbon-CL models that can acquire from high speed 10-tap (extended camera link) cameras; one Karbon-CL model captures from one 10-tap camera and another model acquires from two 10-tap cameras.
Karbon-CL can capture video data at the highest frame rate of each camera no matter how many cameras are connected. Each Karbon-CL camera input is a Virtual Frame Grabber (VFG.) Each VFG is completely independent of the other VFGs on the Karbon; each camera can be trigger completely independent of its neighboring VFGs.
System solutions are semi-customized for each application requirement. Vision systems can be built with multiple Karbon-CL frame grabbers for those who need more than four Base Camera Link cameras, or more than two medium, full or extended Camera Link cameras.
Real-time video can be acquired into many Gigabytes of RAM – to date up to 128 Gigabytes of RAM has been tested. Alternately, camera data can also be stored on RAID drives for longer real-time recording times.
For those wishing to use multiple analog cameras, an analog Multiple Camera Vision System based on the BitFlow Alta-AN frame grabber family can be created. For example, Alta-AN4 can capture from up to 12 RS170 or monochrome progressive scan cameras, or up to four RGB 3-chip cameras. Multiple Alta-ANs can be used for applications requiring still more analog cameras. Alta-AN inputs are separate VFGs, with the same independence and capabilities as the Karbon-CL VFGs.
Application software can be based on one of the many 3rd party off-the-self video capture and processing solutions supported by BitFlow, and either a 32 bit or 64 bit version of Microsoft Windows. BitFlow also has a complete Software Development Kit with support for multiple camera acquisition for those wishing to create their own OEM products.
About BitFlow
BitFlow has been developing reliable, high-performance Frame Grabbers for use in imaging applications for the past 15 years. With thousands of boards installed throughout the world, into hundreds of imaging applications, we are dedicated to using this knowledge and experience to provide customers with the best possible image acquisition and application development solution. With support for many image processing and analysis software, BitFlow products are an important part of many imaging systems.