IDS's Nion 1.2-megapixel 3D camera now in series production

A moving object crosses the field of view, and the camera still has to report where it is in three dimensions. IDS Imaging’s Nion industrial time-of-flight, or ToF, camera is now available in series production, with 1.2-megapixel resolution, integrated depth processing and depth data at 30 fps.

IDS says Nion is designed to keep working during rapid movement and changing lighting conditions. Its measurement range spans 0.3 to 7.5 m, covering the industrial scenarios the company names in logistics, automation and robotics. The camera uses onsemi’s AF0130 indirect ToF sensor from the Hyperlux ID family; IDS attributes its lower noise, higher resolution and improved motion stability to that sensor compared with standard ToF cameras.

The hardware is meant to fit into working facilities rather than a laboratory bench. Its IP67-rated housing is intended for more demanding environments, and Power over Ethernet, or PoE, reduces installation effort and cabling. IDS product manager Patrick Schick says companies can retain existing 2D processes and add depth data where it helps decision-making.

So what changes, concretely? A logistics or automation team can buy a production camera designed to provide depth information at real-world process speeds, including when objects move and ambient light varies. The range, housing and PoE support address installation conditions; the actual performance claims remain those made by IDS, rather than independently measured results presented here.