What can you expect from this website? It is designed to help you get a better overview of the smart cameras from Vision & Control.
What is a smart camera?
A smart camera is an intelligent camera.
In a smart camera the image processing algorithms are processed directly in the camera. The output from a smart camera can for example be a good/bad decision or a measured value.
Smart camera solutions are particularly well scalable and are electrically compatible across different manufacturers. After all, the simple electrical signals for the trigger or for a good/bad decision are supported by almost every smart camera on the market. The separation of PC-based operation and image processing also offers improved process stability.
The minimal space and wiring requirements make smart cameras the method of choice for typical single camera applications and retrofitting solutions.
When does a smart camera make sense?
The ‘smart camera’ approach is advantageous if…
… you wish to integrate the image processing system retrospectively
… have a single task to focus on
… minimal planning and installation effort are important to you
… you wish to remain flexible in terms of models and suppliers
… scalability of the application is important
Areas of use
Today, industrial image processing systems are used in almost all areas of industrial manufacturing processes in order to increase automation levels and boost product quality, while delivering 100% controllability and safe, reliable process control.
- Automation technology
- Metal processing industry
- Automotive industry
- Machine construction
- Electrotechnical/electronics industry
- Timber industry
- Food industry
- Vehicle construction (ships, railway, aircraft)
- Pharmaceutical industry
- Precision engineering, optics
- Leather, textile, clothing industry
- Disposal
- Ceramics, glass and plastics industry
- Print industry
Industrial image processing systems offer industry/application-specific solutions on the basis of digital image processing systems for continuous monitoring and quality control of production processes. With digital image processing systems the quality and productivity of your applications can be efficiently designed and optimized.
Non-dimensional checking
- Inspection of attributes
- Checking of distances and positions
- Completeness/presence checks
- Color and pattern detection
- Determining the degree of distinctiveness
- Character recognition / reading text
- Code detection
- Object detection / identification of parts
- Material flow control
- Process control
- Yield optimization
- Surface inspections
- Print image inspection
- Assembly control
- Detection / checking of structures and textures
- Detection of position / rotational position (robot vision)
Service
A really important feature of the components and systems for industrial image processing from Vision & Control is that they are incredibly easy to operate, quick to integrate and are supplied with excellent documentation, which means that customers will require very little in the way of service and support.
But if there are ever any questions, our experienced project engineers are on hand to offer advice and practical guidance to users.
In addition, Vision & Control is continuously expanding the number of competence centers for industrial image processing.
We have created a comprehensive offering of industrial image processing training courses for initial and further training of employees in the industry, including various video tutorials, example programs and a simulator.
pictor® N series
The pictor® N series is a product for image processing professionals.

Thanks to the powerful vcwin software, complex test program sequences can be written and hundreds of commands can be combined into advanced applications.
The pictor® N series is the recommended series for new projects. The software is constantly being expanded and refined.
Features
- intelligent camera for industrial image processing
- particularly compact and space-saving design
- continuous function and operating concept, range of functions compatible with vicosys® MV systems
- on average 2.5x faster than comparable pictor® M devices
- extensive optics and lighting accessories
Available models:
Parameter | pictor® N | ||||||||
403M-ETH | 403C-ETH | 413M-ETH | 413C-ETH | 413NIR-ETH | 420M-ETH | 420C-ETH | 432M-ETH | 432C-ETH | |
Sensor size | 1/4“ | 1/4“ | 1/1.8“ | 1/1.8“ | 1/1.8“ | 1/1.8“ | 1/1.8“ | 1/1.8“ | 1/1.8“ |
Resolution (Pixel) | 752x480 | 752x480 | 1.280x1.024 | 1.280x1.024 | 1.280x1.024 | 1.600x1.200 | 1.600x1.200 | 2.048x1.536 | 2.048x1.536 |
Pixel size (µm²) | 4,5 x 4,5 | 4,5 x 4,5 | 5,3 x 5,3 | 5,3 x 5,3 | 5,3 x 5,3 | 4,5 x 4,5 | 4,5 x 4,5 | 3,45 x 3,45 | 3,45 x 3,45 |
Megapixel | 0,3 | 0,3 | 1,3 | 1,3 | 1,3 | 2 | 2 | 3,2 | 3,2 |
Type | Mono | Colour | Mono | Colour | NIR | Mono | Colour | Mono | Color |
Shutter | Global Shutter | ||||||||
Frame rate | 125 fps | 125 fps | 63 fps | 63 fps | 60 fps | 55 fps | 55 fps | 88 fps | 88 fps |
Interfaces | Digital I/O, Ethernet, Modbus | ||||||||
PROFIBUS, Profinet, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP, Ethernet POWERLINK possible by using a gateway | |||||||||
Operating software | vcwin® pro | ||||||||
Order number | 3-12-500 | 3-12-501 | 3-12-502 | 3-12-503 | 3-12-510 | 3-12-504 | 3-12-505 | 3-12-506 | 3-12-507 |
webHMI - Configurable operator interface for complex applications
Every device of the pictor® N - series supports the configurable user interface webHMI.
pictor® metimus

pictor® metimus is based on the same hardware as the pictor® N series, but includes customer-friendly software for simple tasks. The product is intended for users who are just starting out in the world of image processing and wish to solve typical image processing tasks.
| pictor® metimus 413M
|
Sensor size | 1/1,8“
|
Resolution (Pixel)
| 1.280 x 1.024 |
Pixel size (μm²) | 5,3 x 5,3 (with micro-lens)
|
Megapixel | 1,3 Type Mono |
Shutter technology | Global Shutter |
Frame rate | 63 fps |
Interfaces | Digital-I/O, Ethernet
|
Operating software | metimus for parametrisation & HMI
|
Lens mount | C-Mount, CS-Mount |
Product characteristics:
- Intuitive image processing for measuring and testing
- Enables the implementation of simple tasks in a short time
- Flexible adjustments of testing areas (also polygons with curved edges are allowed)
- Easy to learn, modern user interface with unique automatic functions
- Up to 256 different test programs on one device
- Integrated HMI and user management
- Automatic test procedure
pictor® M-Serie
The pictor® M series is a true classic among image processing systems.

In comparison to the pictor® N series, it additionally offers a direct monitor output via SVGA.
Although the image capture rate is similar to the pictor® N, the processor is significantly older and therefore slower.
Systems in the pictor® M series have a single processor core and therefore do not support webHMI.
Technical data at a glance
Common data – all pictor® MxxE Smart Cameras | |
Processor | TI-DSP 400 MHz, 3200 MIPS |
Memory | 32 MB-RAM, 3 MB Flash |
Video output | no |
Interfaces | Ethernet (max. 16 connections), RS232 (to 115 kbaud/s) |
Process interface | 4 In- and 4 output, 24 VCD, opto decoupled |
Fast TTL Trigger | In/Out, switching time < 0,5 µs |
Lens mount | C-Mount |
Power supply | 12 … 24 VCD, max 130 mA |
Mass | 260 g |
Dimensions | 91 x 50 x 45 mm³ |
Degree of protection | IP 50 |
Temperature | 0 … 45 °C |
Humidity | max. 80 %, non condensing |
analog-to-digital converter |
|
Special data for pictor® Smart Cameras | ||||
Model | pictor® M48/E | pictor® M48/EC | pictor® M58/E | pictor® M58/EC |
Sensor | 1/3" Sony CCD, s/w, progressive scan | 1/3" Sony CCD, colour, progressive scan | 1/3" Sony CCD, s/w, progressive scan | 1/3" Sony CCD, colour, progressive scan |
Pixel | 640 x 480 | 640 x 480 | 1024 x 768 | 1024 x 768 |
Frame rate | 32 Hz | 32 Hz | 16 Hz | 16 Hz |
Shutter | 33 µs … 2s | 33 µs … 2s | 46 µs … 2s | 46 µs … 2s |
pictor® M16xx Smart Cameras | ||
Model | Smart Camera pictor® M 1606/E | Smart Camera pictor® M 1617/E |
Processor | TI-DSP 400 MHz, 3200 MIPS | |
Memory | 32 MB SDRAM, 4 MB Flash, 128 MB User-ROM (SD-Card) | |
Video output | SVGA | SXVGA |
Data interface | Ethernet (max. 16 connections), RS232 (to 115 kbaud/s) | |
Process interface | 4 In- and 4 putput, 24 VCD, opto decoupled | |
Fast TTL Trigger | In/Out, switching time < 0,5 µs | |
Lens mount | C-Mount | |
Power supply | 24 VCD ± 20 %, max. 210 mA | |
Mass | 380 g | |
Dimensions | 111 x 50 x 45 mm³ | |
Degree of protection | IP50 | |
Temperature | 0 … 45 °C | |
Humidity | max. 80 %, non condensing | |
Sensor | 1/3" Sony CCD, s/w, progressive scan | |
Pixel | 640 x 480 | 1024 x 768 |
Frame rate | 63 Hz | 30 Hz |
Shutter | 5 µs – 20 s | |
analog-to-digital converter | 10 bit | |
DMA-Controller | Parallel image acquisition, image transfer and image processing |
pictor® M18xx Smart Cameras | |||
Model | pictor® M1817/E | pictor® M1821/E | pictor® M1856/E |
Processor | TI-DSP 1 GHz, 8000 MIPS | ||
Memory | 64 MB SDRAM, 4 MB Flash, 512 MB User-ROM (SD-Card) | ||
Video output | SXVGA | UXGA | SVGA |
Data interface | Ethernet (max. 16 connections), RS232 (to 115 kbaud/s) | ||
Prozess interface | 4 In- and 4 output, 24 VCD, opto decoupled | ||
Fast TTL Trigger | In/Out, switching time < 0,5 µs | ||
Lens mount | C-Mount | ||
Power supply | 24 VCD ± 20 %, max. 230 mA | ||
Mass | 380 g | ||
Dimensions | 111 x 50 x 45 mm³ | ||
Degree of protection | IP50 | ||
Temperature | 0 … 45 °C | ||
Humidity | max. 80 %, non condensing | ||
Sensor | 1/3" Sony CCD, s/w, progressive scan | ||
Pixel | 1024 x 768 | 1600 x 1200 | 640 x 480 |
Frame rate | 20 Hz | 10 Hz | 242 Hz |
Shutter | 10 µs … 20 s | 20 µs … 20 s | 5 µs … 20 s |
analog-to-digital converter | 10 bit | ||
DMA-Controller | Parallel image acquisition, image transfer and image processing |
Common data – all pictor Smart Cameras | |
Funktionality | Image analysis, measurement in image, PLC communication, subroutine technology, sending results via RS232 or Ethernet, system remote control of all commands |
Operation | without special programming knowledge under Windows with vcwin, setup with PC, stand-alone in process |
With serial interface (RS232) a conversion to Profibus and Interbus is possible | |
standardized software interface for C++, Visual Basic, Delphi |