TCD2400DG

Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation ("Toshiba") has commercialized "TCD2400DG," a lens-reduction type^[1] CCD^[2] linear image sensor developed expressly for line scan cameras^[3] used in visual inspections.

Image inspection equipment that integrates line scan cameras, including color sorters, is used in diverse applications, among them sorting and grading foodstuffs, recognizing and removing foreign objects, identifying types of recycled plastics, and detecting scratches or stains on industrial products.

TCD2400DG is a color CCD linear image sensor with 4096 picture elements in a three-line array, with a 7μm pitch between elements. Each line functions independently to recognize red, green and blue (RGB). The line rate, the number of lines captured per second, 22.7kHz, is faster than that of the 10.5kHz TCD2564DG, Toshiba’s current product for image inspection equipment.

Image inspection equipment rapidly processes massive volumes of image data to precisely and accurately identify objects passing in front of the equipment at high speed. By approximately doubling the readout speed of TCD2564DG, TCD2400DG will contribute to equipment with improved processing speeds.

The sensor acquires high-resolution color images, with no need for the color interpolation processing^[4] required by Bayer element arrays. This performance makes it highly suited to color line scan camera applications that require immediate judgment.

The sensor incorporates other improvements. The timing generator circuit^[5] and CCD driver^[6], both externally mounted in Toshiba’s current products, are integrated into the sensor, which reduces the number of signal lines required to drive the CCD and renders an external CCD driver unnecessary. It also eliminates the need for strict timing adjustment between signals, simplifying wiring work and streamlining system development process. The reduction of external wiring helps suppress electromagnetic interference that occurs during high-speed operation.

• High-speed line rate: 22.7kHz (max)
• Number of image sensing elements: 4096 elements (three independent lines for RGB), widely adopted for inspection equipment.
• The element array consists of three independent element lines (4096 elements×3 lines), one each for RGB, enabling acquisition of high-resolution images without the delay caused by color interpolation processing.
• The built-in timing generator circuit and CCD driver help facilitate system development and reduced EMI.

• Color sorter
  ・Food sorting machines for grains and other agricultural products
  ・Industrial product sorting machines for plastic pellets and similar materials
• Inspection equipment
  ・Web inspection (for sheet materials such as rolls, paper, cloth, and film)
  ・Printed material inspection