Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucsd!rutgers!dayton!jad From: jad@dayton.UUCP (J. Deters) Newsgroups: sci.electronics Subject: Re: Very Small Cheap Cameras for Machine Vision Summary: Couple of options Keywords: Video Cameras Message-ID: <6777@dayton.UUCP> Date: 26 Sep 89 21:32:08 GMT References: <1989Sep25.064723.775@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> Reply-To: jad@dayton.UUCP (J. Deters) Organization: Terrapin Transit Authority Lines: 30 In article <1989Sep25.064723.775@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca> craig@gpu.utcs.utoronto.ca (Craig Hubley) writes: >I am interested in specifications, and ultimately a source, for very small >cheap cameras for use in machine-vision-type applications. Very low >resolution monochrome is appropriate, though of course other options will >be considered in a bang/buck/size/weight equation! Small size is the >primary consideration: I would like to find something maybe the size of >a Chap-Stick or less that still has the capability of focussing on full- >size real-world objects. I saw something like this in a Japanese film >(A Taxing Woman by Juzo Itami) and it didn't look like they were faking it. A small cheap camera you may consider may be available at your local model railroad hobby store. Lionel has a product called 'RailScope' which is a television camera mounted inside an HO scale railroad engine. It transmits the video back across the rails to an RF modulator tied to the track. About $240 (US) through most of the mail order places. Another source to consider would be local security firms. If small size/ low mass is a consideration, PULNiX America, Inc. manufactures a 'Remote Imager CCD Camera (TM-540-R)'. The camera electronics are tethered to a CCD chip by a 48" cable. The chip/lens assembly is about 1.5" x 1." x .5" and is available with the cable exiting from whatever side is most convienent. However, the cost of these may be prohibitive. Look in your Yellow Pages under 'SECURITY'. Disclaimer: I've only seen these in magazines, although people I talk to are more than impressed by them. I have no relationship with Lionel, etc. -j -- J. Deters - jad@dayton.DHDSC.MN.ORG john@jaded.DHDSC.MN.ORG