VA Imaging MER2-160-249U3C-HS-VA 2/3" Monochrome CMOS (Sony IMX421) Camera, 3 Megapixels, 1936 x 1464, 139 fps, Global Shutter, C-Mount, USB 3.0 Output

Industrial USB 3.0 Vision camera IMX273

The Mercury2 USB3.0 camera represents a robust industrial vision solution featuring a USB 3.0 connection. This interface supports high-resolution and rapid frame rates, making it ideal for embedded systems such as Raspberry Pi (version 4 or newer), NVIDIA platforms, and conventional PCs.
This model is particularly relevant if your application requires:
-    An industrial-grade camera
-    Cable lengths up to 4.5 meters (extendable to 10 meters with optical USB3 cables)
-    Single-cable connectivity
-    Compact size (29x29x29mm)
-    Compatibility with x86 computers and embedded ARM V7 & ARM V8 systems
-    Hardware triggering capability (requires I/O cable)

For enhanced image quality, we suggest the standard MER2-160-227U3C. Nonetheless, this variant delivers a higher frame rate and is recommended solely when the default camera’s FPS does not meet your application’s demands.

Additional information about our industrial USB 3.0 vision cameras is available in our manual.

MTBF, warranty & product life cycle

Daheng Imaging manufactures over 100,000 industrial cameras annually, adhering to stringent quality protocols. The mean time between failures (MTBF) exceeds 400,000 hours (equivalent to 45 years of continuous operation). These cameras hold TÃœV Rheinland certification and include a 3-year warranty. Each camera model remains available for a minimum of 7 years post-launch, with many models supported for significantly longer periods. For further insights on product life cycle management, please refer to this article.

Industrial Color Camera

Color imaging is achieved through a Bayer filter array that generates color images by calculating each pixel’s RGB values based on its own and adjacent pixels’ data. This process results in images that are generally less sharp compared to monochrome cameras. Because of the RGB filter, each pixel captures approximately 66% fewer photons under white light than a monochrome sensor, reducing light sensitivity. To address this limitation, you can:
-    Increase illumination intensity
-    Raise the gain setting
-    Extend shutter speed or exposure time
-    Choose a sensor with greater light sensitivity
-    Opt for a lens with enhanced light-gathering capability
Compared to typical security cameras or webcams, industrial color cameras feature larger, more light-sensitive pixels, delivering superior image quality.

I/O port for hardwaretrigger, strobecontrol or PLC communication

The USB camera’s I/O interface utilizes an 8-pin HR25 Hirose connector, which is standard in industrial machine vision applications. This camera includes an input for hardware triggering and an output to activate external devices such as industrial lighting. Additionally, it provides two GPIO pins (General Purpose Input/Output) programmable via our SDK. Electrical schematics for I/O usage are included in the manual. For further guidance, see our article: hardware triggering of multiple industrial cameras.

If the I/O port is not needed, the camera can be ordered without it. For volume orders, this option reduces the unit cost by €10. The minimum order quantity for cameras without I/O is 10 units. Please contact us if you wish to purchase the industrial USB3 camera without the I/O interface.