SMALL COLOR VIDEO CAMERA

This project is very simple - it just shows how a miniature video camera module can be used. The actual camera is a pre-fabricated module, avaiable at www.conrad.com.

The camera is a web-cam quality color camera for the PAL system. It is designed to be very simple to use - just connect power and You get video signal out from it. Here are some data taken from the Conrad catalogue:

* C-MOS color camera for PAL system
* Resolution: 628 x 582 = 265 496 pixels (340 TV-lines)
* Power supply: 5V=/10mA
* Size: 22 x 22 x 26mm
* Included lens: FOV = 51deg x 43deg, focal length = 6mm
* Automatic white balance

The camera module - as You can see, it isn't that big.
Same module with extra lenses (left - tele, right - wide angle).
The complete camera module with voltage regulator.
Here can the 7805 (5V) regulator and the two connectors be seen. The camera is very simple to use - just connect power (9 - 15V=) and video out to some video device (TV, PC, VCR...).
Just an other view...

What to use it for?
It is up to You - it works fine like Web-cam (requires some video capture board in the PC) or for surveillance (the primary task the camera was built for). It is also useful for video conferencing (with NetMeeting for example). This is not a replacement for a DV-camera or a good analog video camera - the picture quality isn't good enough. The small size also makes it possible to put it inside a radio controlled aeroplane or car - just use Your imagination...
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