Highspeed Imaging

Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits

Uncover the Invisible - Fascinating slow-motion

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The Electronic Imaging Department has a long history of developing digital high-speed camera systems: In 1985 our first high-speed camera was introduced, then with a resolution of only 32x32 black and white pixels. In 1996 the department was awarded the Joseph von Fraunhofer Prize for the newest camera at that time (512x512 color pixels). This camera was then continuously enhanced over the next decade in close cooperation with industry partners, and was brought to market worldwide successfully by long-time market leader Weinberger Vision.

Fraunhofer's high speed camera systems excel in image quality: Although originally aimed at the industry market, our cameras are time and again used for super slow motion recordings in media productions (TV, broadcast, movies), where image quality is a main concern. Since any number of cameras can be synchronized perfectly, they are ideally suited for 3D- and mulitiview applications as well.

The advantages of digital cameras are evident in the most demanding applications: Even at recording speeds of 100,000 frames per second, all image data is available in a matter of seconds; electronics trigger settings are extremely flexible; real-time visualization and analysis is possible. The cameras are controlled through an easy-to-use, PC-based software interface: no special grabber cards or additional hardware are needed.

The Electronic Imaging department can cover all aspects of camera development, so we can deliver turn-key systems:

  • Image sensors: The heart of any camera is the image sensor. In close cooperation with other departments at IIS and with external partners, we do specification and development of high-quality CMOS image sensors. Many years of experience have led to a lot of IP, including our patented checkerboard-pattern for high-speed sensors.
  • Camera hardware: We do the complete camera electronics (analog and digital), including the system concept, schematics, PCB layout, fabrication of prototypes and finally set-up procedures and tests in the lab. Embedded systems technology is used to provide our cameras with computing power and standard interfaces like SATA and Ethernet. We help our customers with getting the product to market.
  • Mechanics: Thermal management through mechanical construction is one of our key competences. We can meet special requirements like crash resistance, small size and passive cooling.
  • Firmware: We develop all firmware for our cameras, including firmware for microcontrollers, FPGAs, and DSPs.
  • Algorithms: We have been doing research in the areas of de-mosaicing, color optimization and sensor artefact correction (e.g. fixed pattern noise) for over 20 years. In developing these algorithms, special attention was paid to them being portable to software as well as hardware (FPGAs, DSPs inside the camera).
  • Software: We can also provide platform independent application software for camera control and image data access.

Typical applications of our cameras

  • Industry: crash tests for automotive applications, machine control, machine vision, optimization of manufacturing processes, recordings of airbag inflations
  • Medicine: motion analysis, vocal cord diagnostics
  • Science: fluid mechanics, analysis of injection or explosion processes
  • Media productions: commercials, special effects, animal documentaries, sports