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Allied Vision: Revolutionizing Embedded Vision
In the present day and age, low-cost camera modules— providing an image that requires extensive processing— have been primarily used in embedded systems. Considering the huge demand for advanced image processing, it is time for embedded systems to undergo a radical evolution. This drives the trend of including advanced image processing into more and more embedded systems opening new possibilities for designers and engineers to consider more powerful, lower-cost embedded systems as an alternative to legacy systems. However, the challenge here is to deliver a solution that unites both worlds and offers the higher imaging performance of a machine vision camera in a package that is tailored for embedded systems. Allied Vision—a leading camera manufacturer in the machine vision market—achieves this with its rich 30 years of experience to provide imaging solutions for a huge variety of demanding applications, including industrial inspection, medical imaging, and outdoor imaging. “We channeled our experience into the creation and development of the 1 product line. Our goal was to design a camera module that would meet the requirements of embedded systems but offer the image quality and performance of a machine vision camera,” says Andreas Gerk, Chief Technology Officer, Allied Vision.
Allied Vision’s 1 product line camera is powered by its groundbreaking ALVIUM technology, a proprietary SoC that acts as a built-in image processor and is preconfigured to support all current and upcoming image sensors from leading sensor manufacturers. It performs comprehensive image correction and optimization algorithms within the camera, reducing CPU load on the embedded board. This allows embedded system designers and integrators the freedom to add robust features to their systems. “All our customers rely on our vision technology to improve the accuracy, speed, and performance of their system, but each of them has a unique problem to solve. We learned that gaining a deep understanding is the only way to solve individual problems,” explains Gerk.
Allied Vision’s 1 product line camera is powered by its groundbreaking ALVIUM technology, a proprietary SoC that acts as a built-in image processor and is preconfigured to support all current and upcoming image sensors from leading sensor manufacturers. It performs comprehensive image correction and optimization algorithms within the camera, reducing CPU load on the embedded board. This allows embedded system designers and integrators the freedom to add robust features to their systems. “All our customers rely on our vision technology to improve the accuracy, speed, and performance of their system, but each of them has a unique problem to solve. We learned that gaining a deep understanding is the only way to solve individual problems,” explains Gerk.
Our software is compatible with Linux, Linux for ARM and Video4Linux2 (MIPI CSI-2 interface) including OpenCV, a prominent software in the embedded world
The 1 product line is offered in three different configurations—board, open and closed housing—coupled with compact and lightweight design allowing designers to select the suitable variant. The platform is equipped with robust interfaces including MIPI CSI-2 and USB 3.0, which provides high bandwidth and power to the camera. “Our software is compatible with Linux, Linux for an ARM and Video4Linux2 (MIPI CSI-2 interface) including OpenCV,” adds Gerk.
Besides all these capabilities, ALVIUM with its high feature density develops supercharged cameras in an ultra-compact form factor, which is cost efficient, power saving and adaptable to all the current and upcoming image sensors. Unlike other providers, Allied Vision has designed a dedicated camera platform and processor tailored for easy integration into embedded systems. “The new entrants offer low-end cameras with an average performance. On the other hand, the rest present low-cost modules with limited onboarding processing and mediocre image quality. Whereas, we bring the embedded world the benefits of superior image quality and advanced image correction on-board pre-processing,” adds Gerk.
DISSEM, Allied Vision’s partner in Korea, with their Manta G-145B NIR camera assisted one of the leading solar cell inspection system providers in developing a budget-friendly imaging solution based on electroluminescence in the near-infrared spectrum. The company’s high-quality camera with essential sensitivity and compatibility helped in providing a good quality product and service to their client’s customer.
Scripting similar success stories, the future of Allied Vision shines bright with their 1 product line modular camera platform powered by ALVIUM, ushering in a new generation of machine and embedded vision cameras. Allied Vision is continuing to anticipate market trends to produce and provide camera solutions that will assist the next generation of industrial and embedded systems.
