Miniature video cameras, also known as printed circuit boards (PCBs), are a popular choice because of their tiny size and adaptability. Manufacturers may save space by installing optical devices and image sensors directly on a circuit board.
Optical recording equipment such as the aperture, lens, and image sensor are directly linked to a printed circuit board in board cameras, a standard digital camera form. The lens diameter of most board cameras is just one-third of an inch.
Most cameras employ CCD sensors. However, CMOS and CID sensors may also be found. Without a specific feature, board cameras have the same capabilities as video cameras.
I/O on the PCB sends the display of a board camera to a show or handheld monitor. Because there are no analog controllers, the recording choices are also controlled through this interface. It is possible to use board cameras in the same way that a vision system is used.
High Definition Video Quality from the Board Camera
- Lens
Camera lenses have the most significant impact on picture quality. Simple pinhole designs are accessible because of the modest stature of camera PCB.
- Exposure/Shutter Speed
Instead of shutters in the traditional sense, board cameras capture images using an electrical shutter that guarantees a consistent picture is taken. Since pinhole cameras cannot adjust the aperture, there is only one preset exposure rate. As a rule of thumb, board cameras use an auto-exposure mode.
- Aspect Ratio
Most board cameras deliver a video feed through 75 Ohms composite output, although additional choices are available. Some board cameras can wirelessly broadcast feeds since they have an integrated power source. When a memory card is attached to the circuit board, USB and Firewire are often used for data transfer.
- Anti-Blooming
Saturation occurs whenever the perceived light surpasses a pixel’s ability to emit electrons. Blooming is a situation in which excess charge leaks into neighboring pixels and causes bright spots or streaks to appear on the picture. Anti-blooming gates prevent blooming by removing the extra charge. However, this frequently comes at the expense of sensitivity.
- Auto-Lens
Camera PCB with an auto-lens mode may keep a predefined amount of light on their images. Lens focusing may also be done automatically by cameras having an auto-lens method.
- Dome
Domes are composed of materials such as acrylic or polycarbonate shield cameras. They are usually optically corrected so that the images may be captured accurately. For security purposes, this may be used to construct a tamper-proof casing.
- Exceptional Detail
HD is a video format that features a sharper picture, a bigger image, more colors, and better sound quality than standard video formats. The 1,280 x 720-pixel resolution of full HD video is frequently beyond the capabilities of board cameras.
- Low-light Camera
These are supposed to be used in low-light conditions when an otherwise appropriate camera can’t attain an exposure level high enough to take a picture. They have sensors that can detect even the tiniest of light sources.
- Zoom
The design of camera PCB has a function that enables the camera to concentrate tightly on things in the distance. If you want the best possible resolution, go for a digital zoom rather than an optical one.
- Applications
Adding video cameras to existing devices or positioning a camera with limited mounting choices is more accessible than using board cameras. Many industrial applications will be able to use these cameras because of their tiny size, which makes them very adaptable.
Hidden cameras and surveillance modules are typical examples of board cameras. Board cameras may also be found in many other mobile devices, such as iPods, tablet PCs, and cell phones.