Glossary · Machine vision
Area-scan camera
Also known as: Matrix camera, Area camera
German: Flächenkamera
In machine vision, an area-scan camera is a camera whose image sensor has pixels arranged in a two-dimensional matrix, capturing a complete image of the field of view in one exposure.
- Machine vision
In one sentence
An area-scan camera captures a full two-dimensional image in one exposure using a matrix sensor, the standard camera for machine vision.
Example
An area-scan camera captures each bottle cap as it passes a light barrier, and the software checks the cap position and print.
How it applies
- Engineering: Area-scan cameras are chosen by resolution, sensor size, Frame rate, shutter type and interface. For moving parts, a global shutter and short exposure or strobed light avoid motion blur.
- Commissioning: Triggering, exposure, focus and lighting are set together; the camera is mounted rigidly so that calibration stays valid.
- Documentation: The documentation team should record the camera model, lens, working distance and settings in the vision system documentation, so a replacement camera can be set up identically.
Area-scan camera vs. line-scan camera
An area-scan camera captures a whole image at once. A Line-scan camera captures one line at a time and builds the image from the motion of the object, which suits continuous webs and large or cylindrical surfaces.