Sharp develops night-vision camera that captures color video in total darkness

Sharp Corp says it has developed the industry's first infrared color night-vision camera capable of capturing color video in pitch-dark (zero lux) environments. The new infrared color night-vision camera will be marketed to corporate customers such as security camerasystem manufacturers.

This new camera is equipped with an infrared color night-vision CCD developed jointly by Sharp and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST). It uses near-infrared light for illumination to enable color images to be captured in total darkness (zero lux) — a first for the industry.

In addition, this infrared color night-vision camera takes high-definition images (at 1280 × 720-pixel resolution) with smooth video capture at 30 frames per second. Its single-sensor system uses a single CCD chip, enabling a more compact camera size. Further, this camera is also compatible with standard HD-SDI output, making it an easy replacement for existing camera systems.

The infrared color night-vision camera allows users to capture video with a high level of visual recognition at any hour of the day or night. Beyond deployment in conventional anti-theft cameras, it will find use in a broad range of applications, for example, in monitoring patients in hospitals and nursing homes.

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