Ximea GmbH announced Linux-compatible “smart cameras” that include Intel Atom processors and color image sensors ranging from WVGA (752 x 480 pixels) to five megapixels. The Currera-R devices offer 1GB to 4GB of flash storage, microSD slots, VGA and Ethernet ports, and isolated digital I/O, the company says.

Ximea's Currera-R cameras (right) haven't been covered on LinuxDevices previously, but we're told they've been on the market for several years in monochrome versions. As such, they've competed with Matrox's similarly Atom-powered, Windows CE-based Iris GT cameras, which migrated from black-and-white to color and most recently gained a five megapixel upgrade.

The Currera-R devices are now making the leap to color too, with sensors ranging from WVGA to five megapixels. Still available in monochrome as well, the cameras include a standard screw-thread lens mount plus a supplemental sheath thread, ensuring that the overall device meets IP67 standards, according to Ximea.

A key difference from the Iris GT cameras is that Matrox's offerings are designed to run machine vision application creates using the company's own Matrox Design Assistant IDE (integrated development environment). Ximea says the Currera-R cameras are, in contrast, designed to be more platform-agnostic.

Supported software is said to include the following, with others on the way:

• Cognex VisionPro
• MathWorks MATLAB
• Matrox MIL
• MVTec Halcon
• National Instruments LabVIEW
• NeuroCheck
• OpenCV, Intel IPP
• Open source lib_dmtx
• Open source AForge.NET
• Open source Integrating Vision Toolkit, Keyetech
• RoboRealm
• Stemmer Imaging Common Vision Blox
• Tordivel Scorpion

According to Ximea, the Currera-R is available with a 1.6GHz Atom Z530 or a 1.1GHz Atom Z510. The Z510 model includes 512MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage, while the Z530 model has 1GB of RAM and 4GB of flash, the company adds.

Ports on the Currera-R
(Click to enlarge)

Ximea says the Currera-R has an optional internal microSD slot, plus a standard external microSD slot, visible above. Also shown are the camera's sealed M12 and M16 connectors, which provide a VGA output (up to 1366 x 768 pixel resolution), a high-speed USB port, an RS232 port, and four isolated digital I/Os, according to the company.

According to Ximea, the Currera-R typically uses seven Watts, and 12 Watts maximum, allowing it to operate via either Power over Ethernet or via DC inputs ranging from 12 to 48VDC. Operating temperature ranges from 14 to 149 deg. F with a heatsink, or from 14 to 104 deg. F without one, the company says.

Ximea says the Currera-R runs Linux, Windows Embedded Standard 7, Windows Embedded Standard 2009, or Windows XP SP3. The camera's software package includes a software development kit, GenTL, a LabVIEW demo, an OpenCV demo, a libdmtx demo, an Aforge.NET framework demo, an Integrating Vision Toolkit demo, a Halcon demo, and a Cognex demo, the company adds.

Specifications listed by Ximea for the Currera-R include:

• Processor — 1.1GHz Intel Atom Z510 or 1.6GHz Atom Z530
• Chipset — SCH US15W
• Memory — 512MB RAM on Z510 version, 1MB RAM on Z530 version
• Storage — 1GB SSD on Z510 version, 4GB SSD on Z530 version
• Sensors — range from WVGA (752 x 480 pixels) to five megapixel, in both monochrome and color
• Expansion — microSD slot and optional second microSD slot internally
• Networking — gigabit Ethernet with PoE
• Other I/O (all via M12 or M16 connectors):
  • VGA output
  • 1 x RS232
  • 1 x USB 2.0
  • 4 x isolated outputs, 5-24V 20mA max input current, 100nS trigger delay
  • 4 x isolated outputs, 5-24V 20mA max input current, 100nS trigger delay
• Power requirements — 7 Watts typical; 12 Watts max; accepts PoE or DC input from 12 to 48VDC
• Operating range — 14 to 149 deg. F with heatsink; 14 to 104 deg. F without
• Dimensions:
  • with heatsink, 4.32 x 2.33 x 1.88 inches
  • without heatsink, 4.32 x 2.33 x 1.22 inches
• Weight — 9.24 ounces

Further information

According to Ximea, Currera-R prices range from 1,900 Euros (about $2,700) for a Z510-powered camera with a monochrome VGA sensor, to 2,800 Euros (about $3,975) for a Z530-equipped version with a five megapixel color sensor. More information may be found on the Currera-R product page.

Jonathan Angel can be followed at www.twitter.com/gadgetsense.

This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.