Newsgroups: comp.robotics
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From: gbrush@indy.net (Greg Brush)
Subject: Re: Creative Micro Elect. mini B/W CCD?
Message-ID: <D1JMt9.1C1@indy.net>
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Date: Wed, 28 Dec 1994 23:05:32 GMT
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Stan Eker (seeker@indirect.com) wrote:
:   Anyone bought or tried the mini B/W CCD camera that Creative Micro
: Electronics in Colorado makes/sells?  I presumed the .4 Lux was bogus for
: normal operation, but it *would* be nice if it reliably dealt with low light
: levels.  It's shown for $125US, and the camera is about 1.5 inches square. 
: Looked like the perfect thing for tiny remote toys if the ad's true.

:   I don't know if they manufacture it or just resell it.  Here's the specs:

: Horizontal resolution:  380 TV lines
: Pick-up device:         1/3" interline CCD
: Scanning system:        525 lines interlaced (EIA)
: Sync:                   internal
: Output signal:          standard composite (1 Vpp into 75 ohms)
: Light sensitivity       .4 Lux (scene) @ -30 IRE
: Lens:                   fixed-focus f=3.6mm F=1.8 diagonal 92.5 degrees
: Auto iris:              CCD iris with electrical shutter  max 1/100,000 sec
: S/N ratio:              45dB or more
: Gamma:                  0.45
: Power:                  9-15V DC, 1.2W or less
: Weight:                 20 grams
: Size:                   1.5 inch by 1.5 inch, looks about .75 inch for lens

: Creative Micro Electronics Inc., (303) 770-8928,  (303) 796-0979 fax

It sounds very similar to a unit I recently purchased, made by Chinon. 
The specs are almost identical, though they listed it at .3 lux. How well 
you like it will be based on what you're hoping it will do; the low light 
performance is _relatively_ good compared to a color CCD camcorder, for 
instance. The Chinon unit is quite sensitive to near IR radiation, which 
makes it great for seeing if your TV's remote control is working ok. :)
With a strong IR light source, you could see quite well in total darkness.

The lens on these units are about as good as one could expect from 
something relatively small and inexpensive. Mine has a 4mm adjustable 
focus good for 10mm to infinity. It's particularly well suited for 
extreme close-up inspection work, but the relatively wide angle makes it 
not so good for anything further than about 3 or 4 feet. 

The power consumption is fairly stiff on mine it's due in part to a 
micro-size 7805 linear regulator which generates some heat. A single 9v 
battery isn't really suitable for a power supply. I tried a fresh one and 
it doesn't have quite enough juice to provide an undistorted, well sync'd 
image. Running mine at 12V, it gets warm enough that I'm going to try and 
heat sink it when I mount it. Fortunately, the little regulator is on the 
back side, so it won't be difficult to do.

I purchased mine from a place called "Resources Un-Ltd" in NJ or 
thereabouts and I spent $160 for it. As I said, the specs are nearly 
identical, but I don't want to speak for a product I'm not familiar with.

My two cents...

Greg
gbrush@indy.net

