[cpia] Technical information about VLSI Vision chip (Utobia camera)

[Steve Miller]

adavis@saipan.com wrote:
> 
> I have traded a case of beer for a utobia USB camera, which is working
> fine on my Debian GNU/Linux (sid) box, now.
> Many sites on the internet describe modifications to the Quickcams, but I
> have not found much technical information on the VLSI Vision based
> cameras, including mine.
> 
> I wish to modify the camera to be an IR sensitive camera.  A site
> describes the modifications for the Quickcam:
> 
>  http://sunflower.bio.indiana.edu/~rhangart/quickcaminfo/quickcammod.html
> 
> This procedure involves removing an IR filter from the internals of the
> camera.  I have disassembled the utobia USB camera, and it is nicely made,
> but I don't immediately see any IR filter.  There IS a glass plate
> overlying the CCD.  How can I find out what the function of this plate is?
>  If it is an IR filter, then I would remove it.  I rather like the camera,
> and I don't wish to take a chance if it this going to certainly end in
> grief.
> 
> The camera is at least modestly sensitive to IR without any modification
> at all.  Interestingly, many astronomy sites describe the use of IR
> filters with Web cams to do telescope work.
> 
> Any pointers would be appreciated...
> 
> Alan Davis
> Marianas High School
> Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
> adavis@saipan.com
> 
This is not a ccd camera, it uses a cmos sensor array.  The clear plate
is just to protect the array, it is not intended as an IR filter. Do not
remove it.  The diodes in the array itself are infused with dye to
filter out all but the appropriate color (assuming you have a color
camera).  I don't know offhand what the spectral characteristics are for
these arrays, but if you know which sensor you have (6410, 6407, 6500,
etc for color, greyscale is 5xxx) you can get the specs from the vvl
website (www.vvl.co.uk).  If the chip is in current production you can
find a pdf of the datasheet.  If you can't find it there (somewhere
under the "products" tree), let me know and I'll see if I can track
something down (VVL is now part of ST), but no promises that I can find
anything.

Steve

-- 
Steve Miller
Software Engineer
STMicroelectronics
phone (602) 485-2014