HODDESDON, England–Premier Electronics Ltd. in Hoddesdon, England, is introducing a CCD camera for night vision and other low-light camera uses called the Starlight camera, which uses adaptive noise cancellation combined with the Sony Ex-View CCD image sensors.
The surveillance CCD camera, which uses frame integration technology, comes in two basic selections to obtain a quality video image. When shutter priority is selected and light level goes down, the frame integration mode will trigger first to maintain a clean, noise-free image with good color rendering.
After shutter slows down to maximum (128X increased sensitivity or 2 seconds) but still cannot maintain 100 IRE video level, the AGC will turn on to continue to hold the video level on 100 IRE until the AGC pulls up to the maximum (+32 dB).
The downside of this mode is that when the shutter slows down, the video images will become blurred if there is any movement. When AGC priority is selected and incoming light goes down, the AGC will turn on first and the shutter will be maintained at 1/50secs or higher (1/50,1/60 ~ 1/120,000 ).
The usual problem with this function is that when AGC function turns on and gradually pulls up to the maximum, the image will become noisy and the color will be distorted. When the limits of the AGC are met the frame integration mode is automatically triggered.
The shutter speed is then automatically reduced to keep the required video level. Most CCDs have too much dark current noise to work under a frame speed on one second or less but the Starlight adaptive noise cancellation allows a speed as slow as two seconds or two times the sensitivity. This have allows color images to be viewed with 0.0035 lux.
Frame integration technology gives users the ability to see in video in extremely dark situations and to extend the infrared range illumination used to generate nighttime images
For more information, visit Premier Electronics online at www.premierelect.co.uk.
