FRAMOS has selected and implemented the best of both emerging and current imaging technologies for specific customer requirements and applications. Utilizing advanced and proven imaging components from a global network of renowned partners, and proprietary IP allows FRAMOS to meet these requirements for you, the customer.
More than 180 FRAMOS employees worldwide are passionate about the unlimited potential of imaging and help customers achieve the optimum results from every possible scenario. FRAMOS drives and ensures the entire product development cycle from POC, through prototyping, to mass production. FRAMOS carefully selects imaging components, like image sensors, lenses, or various 3D technologies, and offers custom developments tailored to individual needs and time frames. FRAMOS listens and understands customer challenges. With innovative solutions, FRAMOS ensures successful project outcomes and develops long-term customer relations.
It’s an exciting time to be part of a new era in the vision industry as it plays a key role in how machines interact with the world and the people within it. Find out how FRAMOS can bring your most incredible ideas to life. Contact us if we inspired you – we would love to discuss the details of our future projects together.
Sensors
Selecting the right image sensor is the most important decision you will make when building a vision system and is key to your successful application. The selection criteria are application-dependent and typically include key metrics like:
- Pixel size
- Resolution
- Speed
- Noise
- Quantum efficiency
- Sensitivity
Whether Rolling or Global Shutter, VGA or >100 megapixels, low noise, and/or fast frame rates, the FRAMOS portfolio includes high quality sensors from SONY®, Pyxalis, Prophesee and customer-specific variants.
The FRAMOS technical support team can provide you with detailed data sheets, product comparisons, and development guides. We can assist you in the selection and implementation of the right sensor in your system. Matching demo kits, RDKs, and sensor test data with EMVA1288 measurements simplify the development and shorten the time-to-market. We offer a wide range of imaging sensors, accessories, and additional services like cover glass removal, storage, logistics, and assembly and manufacturing of customized sensor modules. Our dedicated FRAMOS application engineers can assist you with any sensor related question or imaging project.
WHITEPAPER "How to Find the Right Sensor for Every Application"
Lenses
In tandem with the sensor, the lens is the key imaging element in any camera, as it defines the signal received by the image sensor. It is paramount to match up lens and sensor to get the best out of your image. Like the image sensor, the lens requirements are defined by the application and typically include the following key specs:
- Sensor size
- Field of view
- Working distance
- Resolution
- Depth-of-field
- Lighting and operating conditions
Whether you need a ruggedized model with high resolution and low distortion for industrial applications, miniaturized lenses for automotive and other OEM applications, or a precision lens for accurate measurements and inspections, we have got you covered with a standard or custom lens that meets your needs.
Our imaging experts can advise you on the right lens, lens mount (C-mount,S-mount,) or guide you to a specialized lens like telecentric, wide angle, miniature, fixed focal length, or variable focal length lens. Brands, like Evetar, Daiwon, Sunex, Fujinon, Tamron, Ricoh, CBC, and Kowa, ensure you have the right lens that fits both your budget and application requirements.
Having a great lens is just the start to having a great camera. FRAMOS’s experience in supporting and developing imaging systems can be leveraged to ensure that the components you select for your project work well with each other and perform to your exacting standards and specifications. Not only that, we work with you to build your devices from prototype to high volume manufacturing to ensure that your image quality is maintained throughout your product’s complete lifecycle.
WHITEPAPER "Choosing the Right Lens"
Choosing the right lens is important for all vision systems. Putting effort into selecting the lens at the beginning of any project is key. Download the whitepaper to learn how the right lens will allow you to leverage the full potential of your camera’s image sensor.
WHITEPAPER "The MTF for Optimum Vision Performance"
Image Tuning
FRAMOS provides sensor and lens specific ISP tuning for the NVIDIA Jetson platform to optimize image quality (IQ) with its new state-of-the-art in-house lab. This facility allows FRAMOS to tune the quality of the images produced by all sensors across the entire Sensor Module Ecosystem to create the imagery that you need to be successful in a wide range of applications. The IQ Lab features industry standard measurement systems with the required toolchains for optimizing the IQ of a complete vision system.
- RAW IQ Characterization
Raw image quality characterization assesses the unprocessed output from the image sensor. Raw files that are not yet processed and not suitable for normal vision applications contain all sensor information and, thereby, permit more control during post processing.
- System Level Processed IQ Characterization
Image Quality (IQ) characterization of processed images takes into consideration the impact of lens, sensor, and image signal processor (ISP) on the resulting images, as all these components combine to influence the final image quality.
IQ Optimization
A processed image file is ready for implementation at the application and system level. As every combination of sensor, lens, and lighting have a unique effect on the resulting image, further Image Quality (IQ) tuning is usually needed to make it more impactful to the application and/or the end user.
To ensure the best quality images for each application, a specific parametrization of the ISP is performed. Dedicated measurements are carried out and the respective configuration is tuned for optimal image quality while preventing unwanted artifacts in the image. FRAMOS takes a structured, end-to-end, approach to ensure that the complete system is coherently integrated. The NVIDIA ISP plays a key role in achieving optimized overall image quality for the application. By having this dedicated ISP onboard, the system’s CPU and GPU are offloaded of these tasks, making them free for other computing activities for which they are more efficient at handling.
Custom IQ Tests, Reports, and Tuning
A processed image file is ready for implementation at the application and system level. As every combination of sensor, lens, and lighting have a unique effect on the resulting image, further Image Quality (IQ) tuning is usually needed to make it more impactful to the application and/or the end user.
To ensure the best quality images for each application, a specific parametrization of the ISP is performed. Dedicated measurements are carried out and the respective configuration is tuned for optimal image quality while preventing unwanted artifacts in the image. FRAMOS takes a structured, end-to-end, approach to ensure that the complete system is coherently integrated. The NVIDIA ISP plays a key role in achieving optimized overall image quality for the application. By having this dedicated ISP onboard, the system’s CPU and GPU are offloaded of these tasks, making them free for other computing activities for which they are more efficient at handling.
WHITEPAPER "To Build or to Buy?"
In an embedded world, “To build or to buy” is not only a question of convenience, it is about better performance, specific functionality, reducing total costs of ownership and uniqueness.This whitepaper acts as a guide down this decision path. The results will have fundamental effects not only on the product but also on their processes and opportunities.
Vision System Hardware
FRAMOS is the leading global partner for vision technology and offers a selection of imaging products and services for embedding vision into machines and devices. We support customers, manufacturers, and OEMs in their selection and integration of compatible hardware for embedded vision, 3D imaging, and custom vision systems. More specifically, we provide the following services and support:
- Sensor integration
- Optics integration
- Vision system design optimization
- Thermal dissipation
- EMC processes / RFI mitigation
- Mechanical design and production
- Custom test suites
- Design review of vision subsystems
- Troubleshooting & Debugging
Vision-System Software
The FRAMOS engineering team offers custom software, image processing algorithms, and turnkey logic blocks which include validated drivers for the NVIDIA platform, and SLVS-EC Rx IP core for Xilinx FPGAs, for example.
Other services we offer:
- Driver development and porting (with a focus on Linux)
- ISP tuning and ISP software development
- FPGA IP cores and low-level firmware
- GigE Vision SDKs and other Vision API support
Professional Services
The imaging experts at FRAMOS are always available for your questions about our products and services. FRAMOS believes service and customer engagement are key to our business growth. We provide support in all areas of imaging and image processing, from the sensor to the complete imaging system. Regular product and application training, that combines a close cooperation with our product manufacturers, strengthens our team’s expertise. Our technical services include:
- Development of system level engineering requirements
- Identification of the necessary vision subsystem requirements
- Component selection and evaluation
- Vision system POC, design, and development
- Accelerated camera and system development
- Reference Design Kits (RDKs)
- Complete proprietary IP packages
- Inhouse product testing and performance evaluation (like EMVA1288 and ISO standards)
- Volume production and supply chain management
Production
FRAMOS’s excellent production support is complementary to its engineering services. Depending on your individual needs, we support you with product specific adaptations or the development of hardware and/or software, from the prototype to the finished product, with FPGA programming, or with fully customized image processing solutions that are ready for mass production:
- Sensor, lens, or camera selection and development
- Design, development, and production teams working closely, under one roof
- Rapid inhouse production of prototypes
- Rigorous, manufacturable designs
- Qualified network of suppliers and partners for components, PCB / PCBa and mechanicals
- Capacity for medium to high volume production inhouse, with the option for offshore high volume production
- Custom image quality and testing
- Custom Outgoing Quality Control (OQC)