Cost-Effective RGB-NIR Camera On The Machine Vision

2024年4月15日

In imaging technology, integrating color and near-infrared (NIR) cameras has always been a complex but crucial need. Traditional machine vision typically requires customers to use both a color camera and an NIR camera, making the process cumbersome and less efficient.

RGB-Near Infrared Imaging

In the world of imaging and machine vision, looking beyond the visible spectrum can open up a whole new realm of possibilities. This is where RGB-NIR (red, green, blue and near-infrared) cameras come into play, providing machine vision solutions for a variety of applications.

RGB-NIR cameras are multispectral imaging devices that capture not only the traditional red, green, and blue bands, but also the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum (typically ranging from 750 nm to 1000 nm). This additional NIR channel provides valuable information invisible to the human eye, enabling advanced analysis and inspection capabilities. Ensures optimal light absorption and image quality even in low light conditions.

Why choose RGB-NIR camera?

In agriculture, RGB-NIR cameras are revolutionizing crop monitoring and vegetation analysis. By detecting a plant's unique near-infrared signature, these cameras can assess plant health, identify nutrient deficiencies, and even predict crop yields with great accuracy.

Vein enhancement

Vein imaging systems leverage advanced imaging techniques to capture detailed vein structures, enhance contrast for improved visibility, and display the processed images on screens or project them directly onto the skin.

By combining the data from the visible and NIR channels, the vein imaging system can leverage the strengths of each modality to significantly enhance the contrast and clarity of vein structures. The white light images provide detailed surface information, while the NIR images reveal subsurface vein patterns based on the absorption characteristics of hemoglobin in the near-infrared spectrum.

This synergistic fusion of visible and NIR data enables RGB-NIR camera to deliver superior vein imaging performance, aiding clinicians in quickly and accurately identifying optimal venipuncture sites. The enhanced vein visualization not only improves procedural success rates but also minimizes patient discomfort and potential complications associated with multiple attempts or improper vein selection.

（Fig.1）

As an example, RGB image and NIR image are extracted from the raw image and are shown in Fig. 1(a) and Fig. 1 (b) respectively. Veins are clearly shown in both images; the visualization can be enhanced if two images are fused together. RGB color imaging in Fig. 1(c) is another example showing the vein is difficult to identify from RGB image only. With the input from NIR channel, the vein is clearly shown in the fused RGB and NIR image shown in Fig. 1(d). According to the gray value analysis, the vein contrast in Fig. 1(d) is almost double the contrast in Fig. 1(c).

In addition to these applications, RGB-NIR cameras have found their way into industries such as food inspection, material classification, and scientific research, where their multispectral capabilities provide valuable insights and quality control measures.

Get solutions at competitive prices

Not only do we strive to provide innovative solutions, Vision Datum also ensure they are easy to use. Our GAL 4K-40CCNIR are available at competitive prices without sacrificing quality or performance.Join us and enter a world where technology and efficiency combine, where we provide you with not just products, but partners that enhance your machine vision capabilities!