Hamamatsu Photonics has released a new TDI X-ray Camera

Hamamatsu Photonics has released a X-ray TDI camera that is useful for in-line applications requiring high-speed operation, high sensitivity and high resolution.

The C12300-121 has achieved an ultra-high speed scan of 50 kHz by shortening the detection width to 73 mm.

This is ideal for capturing images of relatively small objects such as batteries that are conveyed at high speed.

TDI (Time Delay Integration) is a technology of scanning in which a frame transfer device produces a continuous video image of a moving object by means of a stack of linear arrays. They are aligned with and synchronized to the motion of the object to be imaged in such that, as the image moves from one line to the next the integrated charge moves along with it. This makes it possible to provide higher resolution at lower light levels.

Lithium-ion batteries (LiB) are widely used as the power source of electric vehicles, smartphones and tablet terminals. Due to the increasing demand for LiBs, X-ray inspection for ensuring the quality of LiBs or for improving product yield is becoming more critical.

The C12300-121 enables high-definition inline inspection due to its high resolution of 48 µm/pixel and its capability to acquire distortion-free images without stopping moving objects.

With X-ray inspection using 2D sensors, distortion sometimes occurs in images outside of the irradiation center of the X-ray source because of incident X-rays being directed at an angle to objects. This necessitates positional adjustment at each individual image capture point to ensure accurate inspection. Whereas, with X-ray TDI cameras, X-rays are irradiated at right angles to the carrying direction, and imaging is performed by integrating continuously captured imaged. As a result, distortion-free images can be acquired.