Sony Europe's Image Sensing Solutions division has added an ultra compact colour camera module to its range of FCB block cameras with digital outputs. Measuring just 50x47.6x54.2mm, the FCB-SE600 has been designed for space-restricted environments yet features a motorised optical zoom, full HD (1080p at 30fps) picture quality and Sony's Exmor 1/2.8 type CMOS sensor. The camera has been precision engineered in collaboration with the Sony Exmor development team to deliver unparalleled image quality, even in light levels down to just 0.1lx. It outputs in eight modes using the digital 4:2:2 Y/Cb/Cr scheme - including 1080p at 30 fps, 1080i at 60fps, 720p at 60fps and 720p at 25fps - to enable the optimisation of systems for speed, resolution and bandwidth.

Size is Vital

The smaller design is ideally suited to sports, video conferencing, surveillance and public transportation applications, where size and sensitivity are vital. To further minimise the device's size, the 83g Sony camera has a round edged design and incorporates a wide-angle 3x vari-focal lens (36x zoom including digital). The FCB-SE600 also includes the Auto ICR, Wide D, privacy zone masking, noise reduction and motion detection features, which enable the camera to be used in a wide variety of security applications without the need for additional external devices or software. It moreover incorporates a variable shutter speed and image effects that include e-flip, Nega Art, black & white, mirror image and enhancement. The module has a 90o maximum viewing angle, is operational between temperatures of -5 and +60oC and within humidity levels of 20 and 80 per cent (storage -20 to +60oC and 20 to 95pc). It consumes less than 1.2W from a 5-5.5V source and uses the VISCA camera control interface.