Video surveillance is one of the fastest-growing markets within the Internet of Things (IoT), i.e., smart systems. As a result, the demand for advanced camera modules, a main component of smart video cameras, has surged. Today&#;s camera modules provide enhanced image quality, improved low-light performance, and sophisticated features such as motion detection and facial recognition.
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However, there are so many options on the market that it&#;s often challenging to know which module to choose. You can start by understanding how the features of a camera module, particularly its image sensor, affect its functionality in your IoT system.
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Every camera module needs an image sensor to be able to &#;see&#; and record images or video. While IoT developers rarely buy image sensors as individual components &#; since most camera modules already come with an image sensor on board and it&#;s a lot more work to build a module from scratch &#; the names of the camera modules often derive from the image sensors they contain. For example, the Supertek 2MP IMX291 camera module uses the Sony IMX291 camera sensor.
An image sensor is a semiconductor device that captures light and converts it into an electrical signal. The two main types of image sensors are:
Charge-coupled device (CCD): Captures high-quality images with low noise but consumes more power.
Complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS): More power-efficient and faster, making it popular in IoT applications.
An image sensor in an IoT device works by capturing light through a camera lens, where the light then strikes the sensor&#;s array of pixels, a grid of tiny light-sensitive elements on an image sensor. Each pixel represents a single point in the captured image and detects the intensity and color of the light hitting it.
When light enters the camera lens, the lens focuses the light onto the array of pixels, and each pixel converts the light into an electrical signal corresponding to the brightness and color at that specific point. Collectively, the camera processes the signals from all the pixels to form a complete digital image. The resolution of an image sensor, which manufacturers usually measure in megapixels, depends on the number of pixels in the array: more pixels generally mean higher resolution and more detailed images. More pixels can also mean higher cost, though, so it&#;s important to make sure you have the right option for your price point and particular application.
There are some common phrases and acronyms that you may have seen in online listings for video camera modules. These terms are meant to point you in the right direction when it comes to choosing the best option for your system. Let&#;s go over what some of those typical phrases and acronyms mean one at a time.
An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) camera module is a pre-assembled camera component that manufacturers specifically designed for integration into various devices rather than as a standalone camera. These modules include the image sensor, lens, and sometimes additional features like autofocus mechanisms, image processing chips, and connectors.
IoT devs use OEM camera modules in smartphones, tablets, drones, smart car systems, and other IoT devices. By using OEM camera modules, device manufacturers can focus on other aspects of the system and reduce development time, as the original equipment manufacturer will already have optimized the camera&#;s design and performance. Most camera modules you&#;ll see on the market are OEMs.
Again, CMOS sensors are known for their efficiency, speed, and lower power consumption compared to CCD sensors. This means CMOS sensors are in high demand and many camera modules use them.
CMOS camera modules offer several advantages, such as faster readout speeds, enabling high-frame-rate video capture and real-time image processing. Additionally, CMOS technology allows for more complex and flexible image processing directly on the chip, which can include features like noise reduction, dynamic range adjustment, and on-the-fly image enhancements.
A 4K camera module is a camera component designed to capture images and videos at a resolution of approximately x pixels, which is four times the resolution of standard full HD (p). This high resolution provides exceptional detail and clarity, making it ideal for applications where image quality is paramount, such as industrial security systems that need advanced facial recognition capabilities.
These 4K camera modules include an image sensor, lens, and often additional features such as autofocus, image stabilization, and advanced image processing capabilities. The modules are used in various devices and applications, including smartphones, action cameras, drones, security cameras, and professional video equipment.
The benefits of using a 4K camera module include the ability to capture highly detailed images, allowing for better digital zoom and cropping without significant loss of quality. Note that 4K camera modules are more expensive than average, which means they&#;re less likely to be used in home surveillance systems in which quality video isn&#;t particularly important.
A spatial light modulator (SLM) camera is an advanced imaging device that uses a spatial light modulator to manipulate the light waves before they are captured by the camera&#;s image sensor. A spatial light modulator is a device that can dynamically adjust the intensity, phase, or polarization of light in a controlled manner. This technology enables the camera to perform complex optical functions, such as adaptive optics, holography, and high-speed image processing.
In an SLM camera, the spatial light modulator is typically placed in the optical path of the camera system. By modulating the light in real-time, the SLM can correct for optical aberrations, focus light more precisely, or create programmable diffraction patterns. This results in improved image quality, enhanced resolution, and the ability to capture detailed information about the light field, such as depth and phase information.
SLM cameras are used in a variety of advanced applications, including scientific research, medical imaging, industrial inspection, and augmented reality. In scientific research, for example, SLM cameras can be used in microscopy to achieve super-resolution imaging, allowing researchers to observe fine details beyond the diffraction limit of light. In medical imaging, they can improve the clarity of images obtained through techniques like optical coherence tomography. As you can imagine, these cameras are expensive and rarely used for standard video surveillance applications.
I put these two together because both IR and thermal imaging use infrared radiation to create images. Thermal imaging is actually just a more specific subset of standard infrared imaging. Infrared imaging detects infrared radiation, which is a type of electromagnetic radiation with wavelengths longer than visible light but shorter than microwaves. Standard infrared imaging can detect heat patterns but is not as focused on absolute temperature measurement as thermal imaging. Infrared imaging is excellent for night vision, remote controls, and fiber optics. It can enhance visibility in low-light conditions, but standard infrared doesn&#;t always provide precise temperature information.
Thermal imaging, on the other hand, specifically converts infrared radiation into visible images that show temperature variations, allowing for the visualization of heat distribution across a surface or environment. It is essential in applications such as building inspections for heat leaks, industrial equipment monitoring for overheating, medical diagnostics for detecting abnormalities in body temperature, and search and rescue operations for locating people based on their heat signatures. Thermal imaging can even visualize heat patterns in complete darkness or through smoke, making it valuable for firefighting, security, and surveillance.
The terms 2MP, 5MP, 8MP, etc., refer to the resolution of a camera sensor inside a camera module, specifically the number of megapixels (MP) the sensor can capture. A megapixel equals one million pixels. Higher megapixel counts generally provide more detail in an image and allow better digital zoom without loss of detail.
Now that you know what keywords to search for, you may be wondering what brand is the best option. Some top brands for camera modules include Raspberry Pi, Blink, Arduino, and Elegoo. However, IoT developers will often search based on a particular image sensor and then select from a list of modules that contain that image sensor. This method allows the developers to be highly specific about the image sensor features that are best suited for a particular video surveillance application. For that reason, I&#;ll focus on manufacturers of image sensors and the top image sensor options available from those vendors.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website Camera Module Suppliers.
Sony Semiconductor Solutions, a division of Sony Corporation, specializes in the development and production of semiconductors and sensors. Sony entered the semiconductor business in the s and quickly became a leading manufacturer of innovative technologies. Known for its high-quality image sensors, Sony has a significant market share in the global semiconductor industry.
These are just a few of the Sony options available.
Samsung Semiconductor, a division of Samsung Electronics, is a global leader in semiconductor technology. Founded in , Samsung Electronics has grown to become one of the largest electronics companies in the world, known for its innovative products in various fields including memory chips, processors, and image sensors. Samsung Semiconductor leverages its extensive research and development capabilities to produce high-performance imaging.
Searching for either of these sensors should give you a good range of camera modules that fulfill your requirements.
Omnivision Technologies, founded in , is a leading developer of advanced digital imaging solutions. The company focuses on designing high-performance image sensors for a wide range of applications, including mobile phones, automotive, security, and medical devices. Omnivision is known for its innovative technologies in image sensor design and manufacturing.
Again, remember that a higher MP means better quality images, but sensors that provide higher MP are also often more expensive.
ON Semiconductor, now known as Onsemi, was founded in as a spin-off from Motorola&#;s Semiconductor Components Group. The company provides energy-efficient and sustainable semiconductor solutions for a variety of applications, including automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics. Onsemi is known for its robust image sensors with excellent performance in challenging environments.
ON Semiconductor is a well known and trustworthy option for industrial security.
STMicroelectronics, also known as ST, was formed in through the merger of SGS Microelettronica of Italy and Thomson Semiconducteurs of France. ST is a global leader in the semiconductor industry, providing products across a variety of sectors including automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics. Known for innovative and reliable image sensors, STMicroelectronics continues to drive advancements in imaging technology.
STMicroelectronics is a less common name in consumer-focused video applications, but it still has strong uses in industrial applications.
Of course, there are other camera module manufacturers and options available, but this list should give you a good start when it comes to selecting the best option for your video surveillance system.
With the consumer market increasingly focused on facial recognition, home security, and other video surveillance applications, IoT developers will need camera modules, protocols, and software that can meet the demands of increasingly advanced video applications. Contact Nabto to learn more about secure and scalable real-time video streaming.
We&#;ve also published a range of IoT device resources for our community, including:
This document would serve as a reference to customers interested in using e-con's e-CAM solution or use its Windows CE/Linux/Windows Mobile* solution to develop various applications such as 1D/2D bar code capture, face recognition, visiting card data capture and Video capture.
The document is intended for product managers who are interested in integrating camera in to their products and are in need of a complete solution starting with lens assembly, choosing the right sensor for their application and finally provide the Linux/Windows CE/Windows Mobile drivers with appropriate applications.
One of the most frequent questions we receive is how do I choose the right camera. By camera we mean the right CMOS sensor with the right lens assembly. Here are the questions the product manager should ask before choosing the camera
Let's take an example here. If the need of the customer is to capture data from a visiting card then the camera needs to have a fixed focal length and that needs to be less than 10cm. By fixed focal length, the distance between the camera and the object of focus is fixed with 30-40% variance in distance. Also a VGA resolution is good enough for this type of application since the capture area is very small. The application here such as scanning the visiting card and getting the data out of it would involve programming in a high level language and would use many commonly available libraries that run on top of an OS like Windows/Linux. Hence a need of an OS becomes necessary. If the environment is noisy then it is important to choose a sensor that has a high S/N ratio. Finally applications like this need a black and white sensor
Another example would be if the customer wants to capture pictures at variable distances from the camera. This would mean the customer needs an auto focus camera and if the customer needs to capture Video and save it or would want to give an application interface for the end user to develop applications using the camera, it would become mandatory to go for a standard interface like Microsoft Direct show or Video for Linux. Table 1 shows a table that would indicate what type of sensor you should choose based on the application.
Application Fixed focus Auto focus Recommended sensor and software framework 1D/2D bar codex
VGA type black and white sensor with macro lens assembly. Good Facial recognitionx
x
Auto focus sensor is a requirement. IRIS recognitionx
VGA type black and white sensor with macro lens assembly Still image capturex
Auto focus 2M pixel or higher. Microsoft Directshow or video for Linux is recommended. PDA camerax
Auto focus 2M or higher Video capture and recording, Video mixingx
Microsoft DirectShowe-con provides complete end-end solution for a customer interested to include camera in its product line. Fig 1 shows the various strengths and skill sets e-con possesses. Here is the brief outline of e-con&#;s strengths
Figure 1 - e-con's camera strengths
Choosing a camera involves lot of steps like defining the application, choosing the right sensor/module for that application, choosing the right OS and then deciding on the application development. All these involve considerable time and e-con would fit in the role of a partner to the customer with extensive experience in camera development there by reducing the time to market.
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