VA Imaging MER2-630-60U3C-VA 1/1.8" Color CMOS (Sony IMX178) Camera, 6.3 Megapixels, 3088 x 2064, 60 fps, Rolling Shutter, C-Mount, USB 3.0 Output

Industrial USB 3.0 Vision camera IMX178

The Mercury 2 USB3.0 camera represents a professional industrial vision solution featuring a USB 3.0 connection. This interface supports high-resolution and rapid frame rate cameras efficiently. It is well-suited for embedded systems like Raspberry Pi (version 4 or newer), NVIDIA platforms, as well as conventional PCs.
This particular industrial vision camera model is ideal if your application meets these criteria:
- An industrial-grade camera
- Cable length up to 4.5 meters (extendable to 10 meters with optical USB3 cable)
- Single-cable connectivity
- Compact size (29x29x29mm)
- Compatible with x86 computers and embedded ARM V7 & ARM V8 platforms
- Supports hardware triggering (requires I/O cable)

For additional information on our industrial USB 3.0 vision cameras, please refer to our manual.

MTBF, warranty & product life cycle

Daheng Imaging manufactures over 100,000 industrial cameras annually, adhering to rigorous quality standards. The mean time between failures (MTBF) exceeds 400,000 hours (equivalent to 45 years of continuous operation). These industrial cameras hold TÜV Rheinland certification and come with a 3-year warranty. Each camera model remains available for a minimum of 7 years after launch, with many models supported for even longer periods. For further insights into our product life cycle management, read this article.

Industrial Color Camera

A color camera utilizes a Bayer filter array to generate color images. The RGB color value for each pixel is computed by combining the pixel s value with those of adjacent pixels. This process results in images that are 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, making color cameras less sensitive to light. To address this limitation, the following adjustments can be made:
- Increase illumination intensity
- Raise the gain setting
- Extend shutter speed or exposure time
- Choose a sensor with higher light sensitivity
- Opt for a lens with enhanced light transmission
Compared to typical security cameras and 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 uses an 8-pin HR25 Hirose connector, a standard in industrial machine vision applications. This camera includes an input for hardware triggering. Its output can activate external devices such as industrial vision lighting. Additionally, it offers two programmable GPIOs (General Purpose Input/Output) accessible via our SDK. Electrical wiring diagrams for the I/O connector are available in the manual. For more information, see our article on hardware triggering multiple industrial cameras.

If the I/O port is not needed, the camera can be ordered without it. For bulk orders, this option reduces the camera s cost by 10. The minimum order quantity for the USB3 camera without I/O is 10 units. To place an order for the industrial USB3 camera without I/O, please get in touch with us.