Sony intros first 'Smart' camera

 

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By Steve Malone

Posted on 6 Sep 2005 at 10:49

Consumer electronics giant Sony has introduced what it is calling its first 'smart camera'. The company says that the XCI-SX1 can process the images it captures internally through off the shelf software. Later, the processed data is transmitted directly to a PC via a network.

Measuring just 55 x 55 x 110mm and weighing 400g, the processing is performed by a 400Mhz AMD Geode 533 processor. Sony says that the built-in memory and internal Linux kernel allows maximum flexibility for the XCI-SX1 and can be deployed for many end-user applications. The company says that the camera can be used with the standard image processing software installed, or for more complex solutions system integrators can customise software as required.

The camera is equipped with a 1280 x 1024 progressive scan (PS) CCD. Images can show via a direct PC monitor output and USB connector. There is also an external trigger for simplified configuration, and an electronic shutter with a full range of control.

An integrated 10Base-T/100Base-TX interface allows image data to be sent to a remote PC without any additional hardware.

Sony says that the XCI-SX1 should hit the shops soon, but pricing has not been confirmed.