Press Release

09.07.08Stingray Camera Family Now Complete

After an introduction at VISION 2007 in Stuttgart, the entire Stingray camera family is now on the market – thanks to AVT buildingblock principles and the first firmware upgrade with new smart functions this camera family includes a variety of options.

With the currently available versions of AVT buildingblock principles, the Stingray camera family is now complete – the new firmware upgrade allows the Stingrays to achieve a full range of functions.

The AVT Modular Concept:
Over 2,500 Stingray Variations
The "transformer" -camera Stingray was designed modularly from the beginning to adapt quickly, simply, and economically to almost any application. After the introduction of the standard versions, the buildingblock variants are now also available. Thanks to the AVT modular concept over 2,500 possible Stingray variants are possible.

Machine vision system developers can put together the desired camera from six different modules "a la carte" themselves:

1. Interface
The Stingray is equipped with two fast FireWire IEEE1394b interfaces for daisy chain multi-camera operation. Available options are either two copper connections with screw-type connector for a stable connection of up to 20 meters (see S. X), or a copper connection with a fiber-optics connection (GOF). The fiber-optics version allows distances of up to 500 meters to be bridged. A version with lateral cable exit instead of standard plugs will also be available soon.

2. Sensors
The current Stingray family offers the choice between six high-quality Sony sensors with resolutions from VGA of up to 2 megapixels, in black-and-white or color. Further sensor variants are already planned.

3. Optical filter
In optical filters the AVT modular concept also offers for the Stingray the choice between neutral filter (protective glass) and four different IR-cut and/or IR-pass filters.

4. Lens heads
A camera does not always have to point forward! The Stingray is available with lens heads in five different directions, in order to adapt to the architecture of each image processing system.

5. Lens mounts
C-Mount or CS-Mount - the customer has the choice!

6. Housing
The AVT modular concept offers three housing options for the Stingray camera family. Besides the standard housing in red, the AVT Medical Design is also available in white for scientific and medical applications. In addition, the board-level version, completely without housing, makes a space-saving and flexible integration possible in a vision sensor thanks to the separate sensor board.

New Firmware With Still More Intelligent Functions
In June 2007 the first firmware upgrade was already released for the Stingray. With the new firmware the Stingray gains a set of new smart features, which in practice make many applications more functional and user-friendly. For example, with the pulse width modulation, the Stingray can modulate the pulse width of the output signal on the I/O port. The OnePush AutoGain and AutoShutter help easily calibrate the camera while the 4x to 8x binning increases light sensitivity.

Due to the variety of smart features, almost every system developer can find a clever solution for his/her application and make a custom-designed system. This kind of flexibility – in combination with the AVT buildingblock principles – makes the Stingray a true transformer camera.