June 20, 2013 – Richmond, BC, Canada – Point Grey, a world-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative, high-performance digital cameras, today announced a new addition to the Grasshopper3 camera family, which features high quality, high resolution CCD sensors with a USB 3.0 interface.
The new Grasshopper3 GS3-U3-60S6 camera models are based on color and monochrome versions of the fast and highly sensitive Sony ICX694, a 1" CCD featuring 4.54 micron square pixels and capable of sending 2736 x 2192 images at 13 FPS and maximum bit depth. The ICX694 sensor uses Sony’s EXview HAD CCD II™ technology—a further evolved version of the well-known EXview HAD CCD™ technology—to improve quantum efficiency, reduce smear, and increase sensitivity, including into the near infrared. The sensor is capable of single tap readout for extended shutter, high gain imaging and multi-tap readout to increase the maximum frame rate. The GS3-U3-60S6 camera allows users to toggle between single and dual tap sensor readout and address both imaging conditions.
Like all Point Grey USB 3.0 cameras, the Grasshopper3 uses a proprietary USB 3.0 link layer and frame buffer-based architecture for optimal performance and reliability. The Grasshopper3 uses an advanced image processing pipeline to enable color interpolation, look up table, gamma correction and pixel binning. Additional Grasshopper3 models featuring a 9.1 megapixel EXview HAD CCD II sensor and a 4 megapixel global shutter CMOS device will be released later this year.
"The ICX694 device used in the GS3-U3-60S6 camera offers exceptional imaging performance while increasing resolution and maintaining a 1 inch optical format, compatible with off the shelf C mount lenses" explains Michael Gibbons, Director of Sales and Marketing. "Customers in machine vision and life science want to capture the best possible images with the highest dynamic range from a wide variety of USB 3.0-enabled desktop and laptop computers where other digital interfaces, such as Camera Link, are not an option. This new Grasshopper3 camera addresses the needs of these customers, making it ideal for a wide range of applications, including flat panel inspection, 3D measurement, ophthalmology, flow-scanning cytometry, and fluorescence imaging."
The Grasshopper3 GS3-U3-60S6 color and monochrome models are list priced at USD $ 3495 and EUR € 2695 and are available to order now from Point Grey and its network of distributors.
About Point Grey
Point Grey Research, Inc. is a world-leading designer and manufacturer of innovative, high-performance digital cameras for industrial, life science, and traffic applications. We offer a unique and comprehensive portfolio of USB 3.0, GigE, FireWire, USB 2.0 and Camera Link products known for their outstanding quality, ease of use, and unbeatable price-performance. Point Grey was founded in 1997 and is based in Richmond, Canada. A broad range of hardware, software and mechanical engineering skills under one roof has allowed Point Grey to successfully bring many innovative and ground-breaking products to market. This drive for innovation has led to many industry firsts, including the world’s first and smallest 1394b digital camera, the smallest GigE camera, and the first USB 3.0 machine vision camera. Point Grey currently employs over 160 people and has international offices in Germany, China, Japan, and Italy. The company also has a strong network of distributors in Japan, Korea, Singapore, China, Taiwan and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit www.ptgrey.com