On Sat, 05 Feb 2011 00:07:11 +0000, you wrote:

>Hi guys,
>
>I'm after a couple of CMOS or CCD image sensors for a project, but my=20
>searches are coming up dry... Does anyone have anything like this in=20
>their junk box?
>
>   - Monochrome sensor (although a Bayer-pattern sensor might work for=20
>testing)
>   - 640x480 resolution or thereabouts
>   - 30fps at max resolution, but ideally somewhere around 750 to=20
>1000fps max. with a window size of around 256x256.
>   - Ideally some form of Subsampling or Windowing to allow frame rate=20
>to be increased
>   - Ideally on-board A/D converter (though I can tack on an external=20
>one if absolutely necessary).
>   - Nice, easy interface -- something I can wire up to an FPGA.
>
>I did find the Cypress LUPA-300 (CYIL1SM0300AA) at Digikey, but at =A3216=
=20
>and change plus VAT, it's a little on the expensive side. On the plus=20
>side, it'll do nearly 250fps at 640x480 monochrome, 488fps with 2:1=20
>Vertical Subsampling (640x240 res), or 1076fps with Windowing set to a=20
>256x256 square in the middle of the sensor.
>
>Does anyone have anything similar in there junk box (even a bog-standard=20
>mono CCD / CMOS sensor I could use as a starting point would be useful),=20
>or know of any similar devices which might be worth considering?
>
>"Easy interface" seems to be the killer. Some of the old Omnivision=20
>sensors were pretty easy to deal with (I2C control and pixel clock in,=20
>parallel data, data-valid and frame-sync out).
>
>What I'm trying to do is build something along the lines of this:
>   http://www.electricstuff.co.uk/ektapro.html
>
>I'd rather not track down, buy and destroy an EktaPro, but I've got a=20
>couple of "Hamfest Special" CCTV cameras (erm.. actually... six) which=20
>I'm not averse to cannibalising for C-mount lens mounts. I've also got a=20
>couple of P8079 image intensifier tubes, and I think it would be rather=20
>neat to bolt one of those onto a LUPA300 or similar sensor.
>
>Of course if anyone has a really good reason why this is a stupid idea,=20
>please feel free to speak up!

Since doing that Ektapro project I've kept an eye on what (little is availa=
ble in the high-speed
sensor market) ..

High frame-rate sensors are always going to be niche and hence expensive .
AFAIK the Cypress one is the only 'affordable' one available - ISTR reading=
 this product line has
just been bought by another manufacturer so don't be surprised if it disapp=
ears in the transition.=20
Could be worth talking to a Cypress franchised disti as for specialised stu=
ff it is often the case
that parts can be had way cheaper than places like Digikey (e.g. FPGAs can =
be  30-50% of the online
disti pricing) , although you may want to imply that you are designing some=
thing for production, not
a 1-off to get them interested..
=20
There may be some conventional sensors that are amenable to higher rates wi=
th windowing, maybe
involving hacks like resetting part-frame (if this doesn't mess up the expo=
sure timing)=20
but doubt you'll get anywhere near the speed of the Cypress.

Pretty much all image sensors have a clock+parallel data interface and I2C =
or SPI control, although
for high-speed you tend to have multiple parallel interfaces for bandwidth.=
=20
I'd expect any newer devices to move to LVDS, but shouldn;t be hard to inte=
rface to a FPGA.

You may want to look at the sensors used in the Casio consumer digital cama=
s that can do high-speed,
if they are available. Or just buy one of the Casios...
http://exilim.casio.com/products_exf1.shtml

If you're interested in low light you definitely want a  mono sensor as teh=
  colour stripe filters
on colour ones lose a lot of light, and for high speed you need a LOT of li=
ght..!=20

I definitely wouldn't go down the Ektapro path like I did - it was a ridicu=
lous amnount of work,
although a useful learning experience. Having said that I occasionally see =
later Ektapro kit like
the 4500 FPS version on Ebay USA for a steal (plus shipping!)

Here's a thread on 4HV from someone who built a camera around the Cypress :=
=20
http://4hv.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?38831

--=20
http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive
View/change your membership options at
http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist
.