You may have noticed in recent years the increased number of multi-tap CCD sensors on the market. Multi-tap sensors were created to enable faster frame rates from CCD sensors. The multi-tap CCD structure splits the image frame into two or more areas that are clocked out in parallel. Each sensor tap requires an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with its own dedicated amplifier. The circuitry associated to each tap has different electronic performance characteristics which impacts the consistency of output between taps, hence tap matching/balancing algorithms are required to provide a uniform image.
Tap matching can be implemented in many different ways so even though a camera manufacturer might be using the same multi-tap sensor as another camera manufacturer, the tap matching technology can be very different. Proper tap matching should result in uniformity across the entire image. Lumenera’s team of engineers have developed calibration tools that provide the best possible tap matching performance under a wide variety of conditions. Lumenera’s tap matching process covers a wide gain range and temperature range and is unique to each camera which results in optimal balancing of the taps and a quality image.
All Lumenera cameras built with multi-tap sensors have been designed to use all available taps to leverage the capabilities of the sensor. Multi-tap modes also permit a faster readout of the image off the sensor which reduces blur for high speed targets. Lumenera offers a portfolio of cameras designed to maximize the output of multi-tap sensors and we pride ourselves on the images quality our customers are able to achieve with these cameras.
