Line scan bar - how it works, the benefits and applications

As well as the video, Stemmer Imaging has prepared a line scan bar infographic that can be downloaded free of charge.

Line scan bars were first used in products such as photocopiers, flat bed scanners and fax machines, but the technology has since progressed a long way; today's line scan bars are much faster and can be used for a far wider variety of applications.

The video starts by explaining the components parts of a line scan bar, which is a single product unlike conventional line scan camera systems that are comprised of many individual products including cameras, lenses and light sources. A self-contained line scan bar, also referred to as a CIS (contact image sensor) is therefore more compact and simpler to specify. Furthermore, pre-calibrated register holes make the unit very quick to install in exactly the right position.

Next, the video explains how a self-focusing rod lens array ensures near-perfect imaging of the object using the large pixels in the sensor.

Thanks to the very high image quality, line scan bars are particularly suitable for metrology and high-accuracy inspection applications. Examples include print inspection, foil and film inspection (eg holograms), solar panel wafer inspection, textile inspection and PCB inspection.

Follow the links to watch the video, download a line scan bar infographic or contact Stemmer Imaging to discuss specific line scan bar applications.