GigE Vision(R) camera performs in harsh environments

"Machine vision is used in many different types of industrial applications, and vision systems are often placed in less than ideal conditions," explains Fabio Perelli, Product Manager, Matrox Imaging. "Factory environments can be dusty or damp, and vibrations from industrial equipment can put stresses on the camera. The Matrox GatorEye camera is designed for the harshest and most demanding environments, and we built it with a sturdy, dust-proof and washable casing."

Matrox GatorEye is currently available in six sensor configurations: 640x480 @ 110fps 1/3" monochrome or color CCD; 1280x960 @ 22fps 1/3" monochrome or color CCD; and 1600 x 1200 @ 15fps 1/1.8" monochrome or color CCD. For connectivity to external devices, Matrox GatorEye includes an opto-coupled trigger input, strobe output, eight GPIOs and a controlled current source for driving LED illuminators directly. Finally, the camera can be powered either by 12-24 Volts DC, which is common in industrial environments, or by Power over Ethernet (PoE), where both power and Ethernet streams share the same, single cable.

Pricing for Matrox GatorEye starts at $1,495 US OEM (quantity 1), and will be available in Q1 2010.