Balluff - BVS CA-GX0 / BVS CA-GX2 Technical Documentation
Sensor Overview

Image data flow

The following block diagrams show the data flow of the image data after being read from the sensor chip in the camera. The transfer latency (stream controller + frame buffer + resend buffer + packet generator) of the data is less than 100 us.

Figure 1: Block diagram gray scale sensors
Figure 2: Block diagram color sensors

BVS CA-GX0 specific CMOS sensors

The CMOS sensor modules incorporate the following features:

Sony Pregius S

Sensors: 5.1 Mpix (-x05d)8.1 Mpix (-108a)8.1 Mpix (-108u)12.4 Mpix (-1012d)
Sensor supplier SonySonySonySony
Sensor name IMX547IMX546IMX487IMX545
Resolution 2472 x 2064
gray scale or RGB
2856 x 2848
gray scale or RGB
2848 x 2848
gray scale or RGB
4128 x 3008
gray scale or RGB
Sensor size 1/1.8" 2/3" 2/3" 1/1.1"
Max. FPS (in free-running full frame mode) 39.0 / 74.0 (-XD) [burst mode required] | 23.2 / 46.5 (-XD) [streaming] 25.0 / 48.0 (-XD) [burst mode required] | 14.5 / 29.1 (-XD) [streaming] 25.0 [burst mode required] | 14.5 [streaming] 17.0 / 33.0 (-XD) [burst mode required] | 9.5 / 19.1 (-XD) [streaming]
FPS exactnessxxxx
ADC resolution / Out [bit] 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8
SNRmax [dB]139.7 39.7 39.2 39.7
DR (normal / HDR) [dB]1 69.9 69.9 69 70
Progressive scan sensor (no interlaced problems!)
Rolling shutterxxxx
Global shutter
Trigger (HW / SW)√/√√/√√/√√/√
Pipelined GS
Linescan modexxxx
High color reproductivity (for color version)
Programmable readout timing with free capture windows and partial scan
Many trigger modes (free-running, software-triggered, hardware-triggered)
Flash control output, synchronous to integration period
Power consumption @ 24 V [W] approx. 3.1approx. 3.1approx. 3.9approx. 3.1
More specific data -0051D-0081A-0081U-0124D

1 Measured accord. to EMVA1288 with gray scale version of the camera

Sony Pregius

Sensors: 0.4 Mpix (-x00f)1.6 Mpix (-x02f)1.7 Mpix (-102k)1.7 Mpix (-102m)2 Mpix (-102n)2.4 Mpix (-x04f)3.2 Mpix (-x04i)5.1 Mpix (-x05b)7.1 Mpix (-107b)8.9 Mpix (-109b)12.4 Mpix (-1012b)
Sensor supplier SonySonySonySonySonySonySonySonySonySonySony
Sensor name IMX287IMX273IMX432IMX425IMX430IMX249IMX265IMX264IMX428IMX267IMX304
Resolution 728 x 544
gray scale or RGB
1456 x 1088
gray scale or RGB
1600 x 1104
gray scale or RGB
1600 x 1104
gray scale or RGB
1632 x 1248
gray scale or RGB
1936 x 1216
gray scale or RGB
2064 x 1544
gray scale or RGB
2464 x 2056
gray scale or RGB
3216 x 2208
gray scale or RGB
4112 x 2176
gray scale or RGB
4112 x 3008
gray scale or RGB
Sensor size 1/2.9" 1/2.9" 1.1" 1.1" 1/1.7" 1/1.2" 1/1.8" 2/3" 1.1" 1" 1.1"
Max. FPS (in free-running full frame mode) 436 [burst mode required] / 299.8 [streaming]126.3 / 226.5 (-XD) [burst mode required] | 74.9 / 149.9 (-XD) [streaming] 98.3 [burst mode required] / 67.2 [streaming]115.6 [burst mode required] / 67.2 [streaming]87.8 [burst mode required] / 58.3 [streaming]46.9 55 [burst mode required] / 37.2 [streaming] 35 [burst mode required] / 23.4 [streaming] 20.6 / 50.5 (-XD) [burst mode required] | 16.7 / 33.4 (-XD) [streaming] 32 [burst mode required] / 13.2 [streaming]15 [burst mode required] / 9.6 [streaming]
FPS exactnessxxxxxxxxxxx
ADC resolution / Out [bit] 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 12 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8
SNRmax [dB]143.340.249.549.943.94540.340.243.9 40.240.2
DR (normal / HDR) [dB]1 7471.27272.371.872.9 / 71.4 / 71.3 / 71.8 70.7 / 70.8 /
Progressive scan sensor (no interlaced problems!)
Rolling shutterxxxxxxxxxxx
Global shutter
Trigger (HW / SW)√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√
Pipelined GS
Linescan modexxxxxxxxxxx
High color reproductivity (for color version)
Programmable readout timing with free capture windows and partial scan
Many trigger modes (free-running, software-triggered, hardware-triggered) XXXXXXXXXXX
Flash control output, synchronous to integration period
Power consumption @ 24 V [W] approx. 3.6approx. 3.5approx. 3.8approx. 4.3approx. 3.7approx. 3.4approx. 3.7approx. 3.7approx. 3.9approx. 4.0approx. 3.9
More specific data BVS CA-GX0-0004F / mvBlueCOUGAR-X100f (0.4 Mpix [728 x 544]) BVS CA-GX[0|2]-0016Z / mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]102f (1.6 Mpix [1456 x 1088]) BVS CA-GX0-0017B / mvBlueCOUGAR-X102k (1.8 Mpix [1600 x 1104]) BVS CA-GX0-0017Z / mvBlueCOUGAR-X102m (1.8 Mpix [1600 x 1104]) BVS CA-GX0-0020D / mvBlueCOUGAR-X102n (2 Mpix [1632 x 1248]) BVS CA-GX0-0024A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X104f (2.4 Mpix [1936 x 1216]) BVS CA-GX0-0032A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X104i (3.2 Mpix [2064 x 1544]) BVS CA-GX0-0051A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X105b (5.1 Mpix [2464 x 2056]) BVS CA-GX[0|2]-0071A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]107b (7.1 Mpix [3216 x 2208]) BVS CA-GX[0|2]-0089A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]109b (8.9 Mpix [4112 x 2176]) BVS CA-GX[0|2]-0124A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]1012b (12.4 Mpix [4112 x 3008])

1 Measured accord. to EMVA1288 with gray scale version of the camera

Sony Starvis

Sensors 6.4 Mpix (-106)12.4 Mpix (-1012r)20.5 Mpix (-1020)
Sensor supplier SonySonySony
Sensor name IMX178IMX226IMX183
Res. 3096 x 2080
gray scale / RGB
4072 x 3044
gray scale / RGB
5544 x 3692
gray scale / RGB
Sensor size 1/1.8" 1/1.7" 1"
Max. FPS (in free-running full frame mode) 34.97 [burst mode required] / 18.4 [streaming] 15.9 [burst mode required] / 9.6 [streaming]8.82 [burst mode required] / 5.8 [streaming]
FPS exactnessxxx
ADC resolution / Out 12 / 12, 10, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8
SNRmax [dB]1/41.7 40.5 41.6
DR (normal / HDR) [dB]1/71.7 69.6 71.4
Rolling shutter
Global shutterxxx
Global Resetxxx
Trigger (HW / SW)- /√- /√- /√
Pipelined GSxxx
Linescan modexxx
High color reproductivity (for color version)
Power consumption @ 24 V [W] approx. 3 approx. 3 approx. 2.9
More specific data -0064Z-0124R-0205Z

1 Measured accord. to EMVA1288 with gray scale version of the camera

Sony Polarsens

Sensors 5.1 Mpix (-105p)12.4 Mpix (-1012p)
Sensor supplier SonySony
Sensor name IMX250_POLIMX253_POL
Res. 2464 x 2056
gray scale / RGB
4112 x 3008
gray scale / RGB
Sensor size 2/3" 1.1"
Max. FPS (in free-running full frame mode) 42.4 [burst mode required] / 23.4 [streaming] 17.9 [burst mode required] / 9.6 [streaming]
FPS exactnessxx
ADC resolution / Out 12 / 12, 10, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8
SNRmax [dB]1/40.2 tbd
DR (normal / HDR) [dB]1/71.1 tbd
Rolling shutterxx
Global shutter
Global Resetxx
Trigger (HW / SW)√/√√/√
Pipelined GS
Linescan modexx
High color reproductivity (for color version)
Power consumption @ 24 V [W] approx. 3.7 approx. tbd
More specific data -0051P-0124P

1 Measured accord. to EMVA1288 with gray scale version of the camera

Sony SenSWIR

Sensors 0.3 Mpix (-100s)1.3 Mpix (-101s)3.2 Mpix (-103s)5.3 Mpix (-105s)
Sensor supplier SonySonySonySony
Sensor name IMX991IMX990IMX993IMX992
Res. 656 x 520
gray scale
1296 x 1032
gray scale
2080 x 1544
gray scale
2592 x 2056
gray scale
Sensor size 1/4" 1/2" 1/1.8" 1/1.4"
Max. FPS (in free-running full frame mode) 240 [burst mode required] / 240 [streaming] 243 [burst mode required] / 88.7 [streaming] 61.8 [burst mode required] / 37 [streaming] 38.6 [burst mode required] / 22.3 [streaming]
FPS exactnessxxxx
ADC resolution / Out 12 / 12, 10, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8 12 / 12, 10, 8
SNRmax [dB]1/tbd tbd tbd tbd
DR (normal / HDR) [dB]1/tbd tbd tbd tbd
Rolling shutterxxxx
Global shutter
Global Resetxxxx
Trigger (HW / SW)√/√√/√√/√√/√
Pipelined GS
Linescan modexxxx
High color reproductivity (for color version) xxxx
Power consumption @ 24 V [W] approx. 2.9 W approx. 2.9 W approx. 3.5 W approx. 3.6 W
More specific data -0003S-0013S-0032S-0053S

1 Measured accord. to EMVA1288 with gray scale version of the camera

Aptina, CMOSIS, e2v

Sensors: 0.4 Mpix (-x00w)1.2 Mpix (-x02b)11.2 Mpix (-x02d)1.3 Mpix (-x02e)1.3 Mpix (-x02eGE)22.2 Mpix (-x04)4.2 Mpix (-x04b)1.9 Mpix (-x04e)5 Mpix (-x05)10 Mpix (-x010)
Sensor supplier AptinaAptinaAptinae2ve2vCMOSISCMOSISe2vAptinaAptina
Sensor name MT9V034MT9M021MT9M034EV76C560EV76C661CMV2000CMV4000EV76C570MT9P031MT9J003
Resolution 752 x 480
gray scale or RGB
1280 x 960
gray scale or RGB
1280 x 960
gray scale or RGB
1280 x 1024
gray scale or RGB
1280 x 1024
gray scale
2048 x 1088
gray scale or RGB
2048 x 2048
gray scale or RGB
1600 x 1200
gray scale or RGB
2952 x 1944
gray scale or RGB
3856 x 2764
gray scale or RGB
Sensor size 1/3" 1/3" 1/3" 1/1.8" 1/1.8" 2/3" 1" 1/1.8" 1/2.5" 1/2.3"
Pixel clock [MHz] 27 / 40 / 50 40 / 66 / 74.25 40 / 66 / 74.25 85 85 40 40 85 40 / 98 81.25
Max. FPS (in free-running full frame mode) 117 45.6 45.6 60 60 270 [burst mode required] / 106.5 [streaming] (-XD) | 34.8 (-X) 149 [burst mode required] / 56.6 [streaming] (-XD) | 18 (-X) 51 14 7
FPS exactnessxxxxxxxx
ADC resolution / Out [bit] 10 / 12, 10, 8 10 / 12, 10, 8 10 / 12, 10, 8 10 (10-8 companding) / 10, 8 10 (10-8 companding) / 10, 8 10 / 16, 12, 8 (-XD) | 10 / 10, 8 (-X) 10 / 16, 12, 8 (-XD) | 10 / 10, 8 (-X) 10 (10-8 companding) / 10, 8 10 / 12, 10, 8 10 / 12, 10, 8
SNRmax [dB]342.737.337.7 39.8 38.9 38.239.138.4 38.2 37.2
DR (normal / HDR) [dB]3 56.2 / > 11055.4 / 63.8 / > 11552.8 / > 10050.3 / > 10059.6 / 56.1 / 50.2 / > 100 59.6 / 56.3 /
Progressive scan sensor (no interlaced problems!)
Rolling shutterxxxxxxx
Global shutterx
Trigger (HW / SW)√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√√/√
Pipelined GSxxxxxxxx
Linescan modexxxavailable available xxavailable xx
High color reproductivity (for color version)
Programmable readout timing with free capture windows and partial scan
Many trigger modes (free-running, software-triggered, hardware-triggered) XXXXXXXXXX
Flash control output, synchronous to integration period
Power consumption @ 24 V [W] approx. 2.5 (-100w)approx. 3.2 (-102b)approx. 3.2 (-102d)approx. 2.6 (-102e)approx. 2.6 (-102eGE)approx. 3.5 (-104)approx. 3.5 (-104b)approx. 2.6 (-104e)approx. 3.0 (-105)approx. 3.3 (-1010)
More specific data mvBlueCOUGAR-X100w (0.4 Mpix [752 x 480]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X102b (1.2 Mpix [1280 x 960]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X102d (1.2 Mpix [1280 x 960]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X102e (1.3 Mpix [1280 x 1024]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X102eGE (1.3 Mpix [1280 x 1024]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]x04 (2.2 Mpix [2048 x 1088]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]x04b (4.2 Mpix [2048 x 2048]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X104e (1.9 Mpix [1600 x 1200]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X105 (5 Mpix [2592 x 1944]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X1010 (10 Mpix [3856 x 2764])

1 No AEC with external trigger
2 Infrared enhanced
3 Measured accord. to EMVA1288 with gray scale version of the camera

Note
For further information about rolling shutter, please have a look at the practical report about rolling shutter on our website: https://www.balluff.com/de-en/whitepapers/cmos-sensors-with-rolling-shutter
For further information about image errors of image sensors, please have a look at Correcting image errors of a sensor.

BVS CA-GX2 specific CMOS sensors

The CMOS sensor modules incorporate the following features:

Sensors: 2.2 Mpix (-XD104) / (-XD204) / (-XD104a12)4.2 Mpix (-XDx04b) / (-XD204b) 2.4 Mpix (-XD104d)3.2 Mpix (-XD104h)5.1 Mpix (-XD105a)7.1 Mpix (-XD107)8.9 Mpix (-XD109b)12.4 Mpix (-XD1012b)16.2 Mpix (-XD1016)20.4 Mpix (-XD1020a)24.6 Mpix (-XD1025)31.5 Mpix (-XD1031)
Sensor supplier CMOSISCMOSISSonySonySonySonySonySonySonySonySonySony
Sensor name CMV2000CMV4000IMX174IMX252IMX250IMX420IMX267IMX304IMX542IMX541IMX540IMX342
Resolution 2048 x 1088
gray scale or RGB
2048 x 2048
gray scale or RGB
1936 x 1216
gray scale or RGB
2064 x 1544
gray scale or RGB
2464 x 2056
gray scale or RGB
3216 x 2208
gray scale or RGB
4112 x 2176
gray scale or RGB
4112 x 3008
gray scale or RGB
5328 x 3040
gray scale or RGB
4512 x 4512
gray scale or RGB
5328 x 4608
gray scale or RGB
6480 x 4856
gray scale or RGB
Sensor size 2/3" 1" 1/1.2" 1/1.8" 2/3" 1.1" 1" 1.1" 1.1" 1.1" 1.2" APS-C
Pixel clock [MHz] 30 30
Max. FPS (in free-running full frame mode) 270 [burst mode required] / 106.5 [streaming]27164 [burst mode required] / 100.8 [streaming] 123 [burst mode required] / 74.5 [streaming] 80 [burst mode required] / 46.8 [streaming] 60.6 [burst mode required] / 33.4 [streaming] 32 [burst mode required] / 26.5 [streaming] 23 [burst mode required] / 19.2 [streaming]26.2 [burst mode required] / 14.7 [streaming]20.9 [burst mode required] / 11.7 [streaming]27.6 [burst mode required] / 9.7 [streaming]14.4 [burst mode required] / 7.5 [streaming]
FPS exactnessxxxxxxxxxxxx
ADC resolution / Out [bit] 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8 12 / 16, 12, 8
SNRmax [dB]139.2 | -XD104a12: 38.638.4 | -XD204b: 40.2 45.140.340.343.9 [DualADC]40.240.239.839.839.639.6
DR (normal / HDR) [dB]1 56.1 / | -XD104a12: 54.6 / 54.8 / | -XD204b: 57.1 / 73.7 / 71.3 / 71.4 / 74.1 [DualADC] 70.7 / 70.5 / 70.6 / 70.770.169.4
Progressive scan sensor (no interlaced problems!)
Rolling shutterxxxxxxxxxxxx
Global shutter
Trigger (HW / SW)√/√√/√ √/√ √/√ √/√ √/√ √/√ √/√ √/√ √/√ √/√ √/√
Pipelined GS
Linescan modexxxxxxxxxxxx
High color reproductivity (for color version)
Programmable readout timing with free capture windows and partial scan
Many trigger modes (free-running, software-triggered, hardware-triggered) XXXXXXXXXXXX
Flash control output, synchronous to integration period
Power consumption @ 24 V [W] approx. 5.3 approx. 5.3 approx. 5.0 approx. 5.5 approx. 5.5 approx. 6.0 approx. 5.8 approx. 5.8 approx. 4.7 approx. 4.7 approx. 5.3 approx. 6.8
More specific data mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]x04 (2.2 Mpix [2048 x 1088]) mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]x04b (4.2 Mpix [2048 x 2048]) BVS CA-GX2-0024Z / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD104d (2.4 Mpix [1936 x 1216]) BVS CA-GX2-0032Z / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD104h (3.2 Mpix [2064 x 1544]) BVS CA-GX2-0051Z / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD105a (5.1 Mpix [2464 x 2056]) BVS CA-GX2-0071Z / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD107 (7.1 Mpix [3216 x 2208]) BVS CA-GX[0|2]-0089A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]109b (8.9 Mpix [4112 x 2176]) BVS CA-GX[0|2]-0124A / mvBlueCOUGAR-X[D]1012b (12.4 Mpix [4112 x 3008]) BVS CA-GX2-0162A / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD1016 (16.2 Mpix [5328 x 3040]) BVS CA-GX2-0204A / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD1020a (20.4 Mpix [4512 x 4512]) BVS CA-GX2-0246A / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD1025 (24.6 Mpix [5328 x 4608]) BVS CA-GX2-0315Z / mvBlueCOUGAR-XD1031 (31.5 Mpix [6480 x 4856])

1 Measured accord. to EMVA1288 with gray scale version of the camera

Note
For further information about rolling shutter, please have a look at the practical report about rolling shutter on our website: https://www.balluff.com/de-en/whitepapers/cmos-sensors-with-rolling-shutter

Negative gain

The BVS CA-GX cameras use a minimum needed basic gain for typical sensor output signals to get near the maximum ADC (analog-to-digital converter) saturation limit (Figure 3). This guarantees a higher sensitivity. However, to take advantage of the whole ADC range of the sensor, you can use "negative gain". Together with enough illumination, you can get a better signal-to-noise ratio given that this setting will affect the analog signal before it is processed by the ADC.

Figure 3: Negative gain diagram
Note
Depending on the value of the adjusted negative gain, it can be possible that single pixels pass over their signal limits. In the live image, you will have the effect that some pixels do not change their behavior and the whole image seems to be "frozen".

Output sequence of color sensors (RGB Bayer)

Figure 4: Output sequence of RAW data

Bilinear interpolation of color sensors (RGB Bayer)

For Bayer demosaicing in the camera, we use bilinear interpolation:

Figure 5: Bilinear interpolation
  1. Interpolation of green pixels: the average of the upper, lower, left and right pixel values is assigned as the G value of the interpolated pixel.
    For example:
              (G3+G7+G9+G13)
    G8     =  --------------
                    4 
    

    For G7:
                                (G1+G3+G11+G13)
    G7_new =  0.5 * G7 + 0.5 *  ---------------
                                       4
    
  2. Interpolation of red/blue pixels:
    Interpolation of a red/blue pixel at a green position: the average of two adjacent pixel values in corresponding color is assigned to the interpolated pixel.
    For example:
             (B6+B8)           (R2+R12)
    B7     = ------- ; R7    = --------
                2                 2
    

    Interpolation of a red/blue pixel at a blue/red position: the average of four adjacent diagonal pixel values is assigned to the interpolated pixel.
    For example:
             (R2+R4+R12+R14)             (B6+B8+B16+B18)
    R8     = --------------- ;  B12    = ---------------
                   4                           4
    

Any colored edge which might appear is due to Bayer false color artifacts.

Note
There are more advanced and adaptive methods (like edge sensitive ones) available if the host is doing this debayering.

Supported image formats

It depends on the sensor model which image formats are actually supported.

The parameter PixelFormat in the ImageFormatControl lists all the supported image formats of the specific camera model. In ImpactControlCenter you can find the PixelFormat parameter in "Setting → Base → Camera → GenICam → Image Format Control → Pixel Format".

Gray scale versionColor version
Mono8
Mono10
Mono12
Mono14
Mono16
Mono12Packed
 BayerGR8 (GR, RG, GB, BG depends on camera type)
 BayerGR10 (GR, RG, GB, BG depends on camera type)
 BayerGR12 (GR, RG, GB, BG depends on camera type)
 BayerGR16 (GR, RG, GB, BG depends on camera type)
 BayerGR12Packed (GR, RG, GB, BG depends on camera type)
 BayerGR12Packed (GR, RG, GB, BG depends on camera type)
 RGB8Packed
 BGR8Packed
 BGRA8Packed
 BGR10V2Packed
  
  
  
 YUV422Packed
 YUV422_YUYVPacked
 YUV444Packed
See also
For more details about the image formats, please have a look at the enums TImageDestinationPixelFormat (C++) and TImageBufferPixelFormat (C++) in the Impact Acquire API manuals.
An example application about the pixel formats called ContinuousCaptureAllFormats is also available.