Alecs range smart cameras

The choice should begin with the required spectrum, spatial resolution and full-resolution frame rate. For visible or near-infrared inspection, the G1-510 provides 5.1 MP at up to 81 fps, while the G1-1242 provides 12.4 MP at up to 40 fps. VSWIR applications can use resolutions from 0.3 MP at up to 249 fps to 5.3 MP at up to 84 fps when using GenICam access. Every listed model uses a global shutter, making the range suitable for moving targets where rolling-shutter distortion would be undesirable. The final selection should be verified against field of view, minimum detectable feature size, exposure time, lighting wavelength and the processing load of the intended algorithm.

The NX16 option provides 16 GByte of RAM and includes both a Deep Learning Accelerator and a Programmable Vision Accelerator. It supports 15 W and 25 W target power modes, making it the more appropriate option for advanced neural networks, parallel processing or compute-intensive image pipelines. Nano8 provides 8 GByte of RAM, uses CPU and GPU resources without dedicated DLA or PVA hardware, and offers 7 W and 15 W target power modes. The Nano8 configuration is available on the G1-510 and G1-1242 visible-model families, while the listed VSWIR models use NX16. Engineers should compare model size, memory use, inference framework and thermal conditions before selecting the processor configuration.

GenICam for CSI-2 is suited to applications that require structured access to camera features such as exposure, gain, binning, image correction, triggering, counters and user sets. V4L2 is useful when the software architecture already relies on Linux video tools, GStreamer or OpenCV and does not require the complete GenICam feature set. The access mode can also affect the available internal frame rate on VSWIR models; for example, the G1-030 reaches up to 249 fps through GenICam and 132 fps through other access modes. Direct Register Access provides another route for lower-level integration. The access method should therefore be selected early because it influences performance, feature availability and application architecture.

IP67 protection applies when the camera is assembled with a correctly mounted lens tube and every connector is closed by a suitable cap or properly secured cable. The locking sleeves must be tightened within the specified torque range, and any third-party cabling should be validated for the required ingress protection. The lens tube is part of the sealing arrangement, so operating the camera with an exposed C-mount does not provide the complete IP67 configuration. Lens dimensions must also remain within the selected tube limits of 32, 49 or 70 mm length and 46 mm width. Installation planning should therefore cover the lens, lens tube, cable sealing and connector access as one mechanical system.

The camera provides two opto-isolated inputs, two opto-isolated outputs, a dedicated trigger input, a strobe output and an RS485 interface. Opto-inputs recognise a high state from 3.0 to 24.0 VDC and a low state from 0 to 1.0 VDC, while the open-emitter outputs are limited to 10 mA. The camera itself requires a 24 VDC supply with a tolerance of ±10%, so signal voltages and supply voltage must not be treated as interchangeable limits. A separate lighting connector can control and power a compatible ring light or drive separately powered lighting through an appropriate cable arrangement. If lighting current exceeds 700 mA, strobe operation is restricted to 50 ms and a 10% duty cycle.

The platform supports custom Linux applications written in C#, C++ or Python, as well as software based on eVision or compatible third-party machine vision packages. The preinstalled eVision Web Demonstrator can be accessed through a browser and includes tools for barcode reading, QR code processing, OCR and deep-learning evaluation without first writing application code. A 30-day evaluation licence is activated when an eVision processing tool is first used. HALCON 26.05 or later can also be installed for the aarch64 architecture, subject to its separate package and licence requirements. For deployment planning, engineers should account for library versions, remote development, licence management, BSP updates and recovery procedures.

All listed models use a C-mount with a 17.526 mm flange focal distance and a maximum permitted lens protrusion of 13.6 mm. The LT4632, LT4649 and LT4670 configurations accommodate lenses up to 32, 49 and 70 mm long respectively, with a maximum width of 46 mm. Filters, extension tubes, locking screws and changes in lens length during focusing must be included when checking these limits. Wide-angle lenses may experience vignetting when installed behind a lens tube, so optical validation should include the complete lens and protective window assembly. The chosen tube must also match the required ingress protection, sensor format, lens resolution and any planned ring-light mounting arrangement.

It can replace an external PC where the required acquisition, processing and decision tasks fit within the selected Jetson Orin configuration. Images can be captured, preprocessed and analysed locally, with decisions or reduced result data transferred through the 1000BASE-T network or digital I/O. This is particularly relevant because the internal CSI-2 path supports up to 5.7 Gbit/s, while external Ethernet transfer is limited to 1 Gbit/s. Processing images before network transmission can therefore reduce the amount of data that must leave the device. The feasibility assessment should include algorithm execution time, model memory, storage use, thermal loading, network traffic and the response time required by the machine controller.