Two use cases for the Sony IMX900 image sensor: Precision and flexibility for advanced industrial and smart systems.

Vision automation can make production systems more efficient and reduce costs. Selecting the right sensor for this is a matter of experience and the application. A suitable sensor is necessary, especially in low-light or rapidly changing light conditions. The new sensor from the Sony Pregius S series is just such a suitable sensor.

The Sony Pregius-S IMX900 is an image sensor that stands out thanks to its technological sophistication and affordable price. The key data is quickly told: 3.2 megapixel resolution, global shutter and up to 113 frames per second. But there are two things that make it special: the arrangement of the memory, which is now located below the diodes instead of next to them as is usually the case, and its variable integration time. This combination offers a cost-efficient basis for monitoring production lines that are not only exposed to low light but also to changing light conditions. Anyone who wants to automate here is primarily concerned with these conditions. Thanks to the IMX900, however, applications are now easier to implement here. In the following, two application scenarios are outlined and an example of a setup is shown.

1. Optimized production monitoring for Industry 4.0 in low-light conditions

Industry 4.0 is increasingly relying on intelligent image processing to optimize automated processes such as quality control and production monitoring. For example, if piece goods are conveyed via a conveyor channel in a foundry and the workpieces are to be counted and scanned for unevenness, light fluctuations may occur due to the casting or adjacent welding work. On the one hand, it is usually darker in foundries and on the other hand, these light fluctuations cause major problems for vision solutions. Consequently, a camera system is needed that works reliably in low light and can compensate for light fluctuations. The IMX900 is ideally suited for this purpose, because the design of the diodes and the underlying memory gives the diodes more space and allows them to absorb more light. Robust, industry-standard housings certified to IP66 and IP67 also protect against harmful dust effects, while coaxial cabling via the GMSL3 standard over a distance of 10 meters also protects the rest of the electronics.

It is particularly advantageous to use in another scenario.

2. High-speed barcode recognition in logistics

In automated logistics centers, where packages are often moved at high speed, conventional barcode scanners are often overwhelmed. The IMX900, equipped with global shutter and high image sharpness, allows error-free capture of barcodes even with very fast movements. The high frame rate of 113 frames per second plays a particularly important role here. Even if there are light fluctuations, for example from adjacent signal lights, each image is still reliably captured with even exposure. The high data throughput is made possible by MIPI-CSI-2 and GMSL3. This means that the sorting and loading processes can be accelerated and carried out with greater precision. This means that even the smallest irregularities in the sorting process can be compensated for in real time. This helps to alleviate production bottlenecks or, in the best case, to prevent them altogether.

Both application scenarios can and should be evaluated in advance. For this purpose, there are proven evaluation kits and boards such as the NXP I.MX 8M Plus, the matching Xylinx/AMD UltraScale or a board from the Nvidia Jetson family. This makes it possible to test and estimate in advance which functionalities are actually needed and also to determine the computing effort and the subsequent board design.

The Sony IMX900 combines technological excellence and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of industrial and automation applications. By utilizing modern standards such as MIPI-CSI-2 and GMSL3, as well as the flexibility of the FRAMOS FSM ecosystem, the IMX900 can be quickly and efficiently integrated into various systems. Whether in production monitoring, logistics or smart home applications, the IMX900 offers reliable performance and opens up innovative possibilities for demanding image processing systems.

Learn more about Sony’s Pregius S IMX900 sensor