Sony FCB camera block
In the field of industrial automation, liquid level detection is directly related to production quality and safety. Facing this challenge, SONY’s two high-performance camera modules, FCB-ER9500 and FCB-EV9520L, have become popular choices. As an officially authorized distributor of SONY (China), Xuanzhan Technology will conduct an in-depth analysis of these two products to help you find the most suitable solution for liquid level detection.
I. Technical Challenges of Liquid Level Detection
Liquid level detection may seem simple, but it is actually full of challenges: the reflective property of liquids can cause overexposure, the liquid surface in transparent containers is difficult to identify, the color and viscosity of different liquids vary greatly, and changes in environmental light can also affect the accuracy of identification.
In addition, industrial sites require detection systems to have real-time performance, high precision and stability. Choosing a suitable camera module is the key to solving these technical problems.
Ii. FCB-ER9500: Expert in 4K Ultra-high-definition Detail Capture
The FCB-ER9500 is SONY’s first 4K/60fps all-in-one camera module, equipped with a 1/1.8-inch STARVIS 2 CMOS sensor and approximately 8.4 million effective pixels, delivering extremely clear image quality.
Core advantage
4K ultra-high definition resolution: Compared with 1080P, the 4K resolution provided by FCB-ER9500 has a pixel density four times higher, capable of capturing the most subtle fluctuations and bubbles on the liquid surface, offering more image details for precise judgment.
Outstanding low-light performance: Equipped with a large STARVIS 2 sensor, each pixel has a larger light-sensitive area. Even in a low-light environment of 0.028lx, it can output high-quality color images, with a minimum light of 0.00016lx.
25x optical zoom: It enables close-up observation of liquid surfaces in distant or dangerous environments without physically moving the camera. Combined with 4K resolution, even at the telephoto end, the image quality will not be compromised.
Image stabilization: It offers two stabilization modes, Super and Super+, effectively suppressing image blurring caused by mechanical vibration and ensuring the stability of liquid level detection.
Iii. FCB-EV9520L: The King of Wide Dynamic Range Performance
The FCB-EV9520L is equipped with a 1/2.8-inch STARVIS 2 CMOS sensor, featuring approximately 2.13 million effective pixels and supporting 30x optical zoom. It stands out with its 130dB ultra-wide dynamic range.
Core advantage
Ultra-wide dynamic range (130dB WDR) : The 130dB wide dynamic range of the FCB-EV9520L far exceeds the recognition ability of the average human eye (approximately 120dB), enabling it to simultaneously capture the details of both the brightest and darkest areas in the scene. This is particularly effective in dealing with the reflection on liquid surfaces, achieving a visual effect of “not dazzling in strong light and clearly visible in dark areas”.
Dual HDR engine technology: Equipped with DOL HDR and Clear HDR dual technologies, it effectively eliminates motion artifacts through the synthesis of different exposure images and intelligent algorithms, ensuring clear images even when the liquid level fluctuates.
30x optical zoom: With a higher zoom ratio than the FCB-ER9500, it offers greater flexibility in focal length and is suitable for scenarios that require long-distance liquid level detection.
Lightweight design: Weighing only 239g, the FCB-EV9520L lightweight version developed by Xuanzhan Technology can be as low as 165g, making it more suitable for space-constrained or weight-sensitive application scenarios.
Iv. Comparative Analysis in Liquid Level Detection Scenarios
1. Liquid level detection in transparent containers
For liquid level identification in transparent containers, the 4K ultra-high resolution of FCB-ER9500 demonstrates a significant advantage. Its rich image details can clearly capture the subtle visual changes caused by the refraction of the liquid surface. Even for the most difficult-to-identify transparent liquids, it can provide more identification features.
2. Detection in environments with strong reflection
The 130dB wide dynamic range of the FCB-EV9520L performs exceptionally well in environments with strong light exposure or intense reflection on liquid surfaces. Its Wide-D area independent processing technology can divide the picture into multiple areas, adjust the brightness independently, and retain the details of highlights and the information of dark areas at the same time.
3. Low-light environment detection
Both cameras adopt STARVIS 2 technology and have excellent low-light performance. The FCB-ER9500, with its larger sensor size, can still maintain good performance under extremely low light conditions (0.00016lx), making it suitable for liquid surface detection scenarios with harsh light conditions.
4. Rapid change liquid level monitoring
For flowing or rapidly changing liquid levels, the Clear HDR technology of the FCB-EV9520L can effectively reduce dynamic artifacts, ensuring the clarity and accuracy of the image when the liquid level fluctuates. Of course, the 4K60fps of the FCB-ER9500 can also maintain the smoothness of the picture in the rapidly changing liquid level.
V. System Integration Solution
Both FCB-ER9500 and FCB-EV9520L can be perfectly combined with different interface boards of Xuanzhan Technology to achieve efficient integration.
For the FCB-ER9500, it is recommended to pair it with a 12G-SDI interface board, which supports 4K/60fps lossless video transmission at a speed of up to 12Gbps and is backward compatible with 6G-SDI and 3G-SDI.
The FCB-EV9520L can be paired with the VRS-UD35 LVDS/MIPI to IP network interface board to achieve network transmission of high-definition video streams, facilitating remote monitoring and data analysis.
Conclusion
When choosing between FCB-ER9500 and FCB-EV9520L in liquid level detection applications, the key lies in clarifying one’s own priority: if ultimate detail and low-light performance are pursued, choose FCB-ER9500. For complex lighting and dynamic scenes, choose the FCB-EV9520L. No matter which one you choose, the outstanding image quality brought by SONY STARVIS 2 technology will provide strong technical support for your liquid level detection system and help industrial automation detection reach a new height. There is no absolute best in technology; there is only the most suitable choice. Only by accurately assessing your requirements can you find the most suitable “Industrial Eye” for your liquid level detection application.