Quick Answer

Compact vision devices often need to observe nearby objects across a broad area, with limited room to position the camera farther away. The SF-SAC0115OV-HDR-MONO-FPC V1.0 combines a 114° diagonal field of view, manually adjustable focus and a 400 × 400 monochrome global shutter sensor for projects where scene coverage matters more than fine image detail.

Why This Matters

Inside a small device, camera placement is often constrained by the enclosure. A narrow viewing angle may leave part of the interaction or detection area outside the image, while moving the camera backward may be mechanically impractical.

A wide-angle configuration provides another option, but coverage comes with a trade-off: each object occupies a smaller portion of the available pixels. This module is therefore more relevant to tasks involving presence, position or broad movement than applications requiring detailed texture, small text or distant object identification.

Its manually adjustable lens also lets developers set focus for the intended working distance. This suits installations with a defined observation area, where continuous autofocus is unnecessary.

Key Advantages

1. Wide Coverage for Limited Camera Placement

The 0.47 mm lens provides a 114° diagonal field of view and 88° horizontal and vertical fields of view. This configuration can help a nearby camera include more of an interaction area or internal mechanism within one image.

The documented focusing range is 15 mm to infinity. Focus should be adjusted and checked at the intended operating distance; this range does not mean that everything from 15 mm onward remains sharp simultaneously.

Wide-angle distortion also needs consideration. Projects that depend on accurate position or shape across the image should evaluate calibration and usable edge coverage.

2. Global Shutter for Scenes Involving Movement

Built around the OMNIVISION OG0TC1B monochrome sensor, the module supports 400 × 400 output at 30 FPS. Its global shutter configuration is relevant when the subject, the camera or both may move during capture.

For applications such as tracking broad hand movement or observing moving parts, this provides a useful starting point for motion-related evaluation. However, global shutter does not remove exposure-related motion blur. Lighting, exposure time and target speed still determine whether captured images contain enough usable information.

The selection question is therefore whether the required movement can be observed adequately at the available resolution and frame rate.

3. HDR and NIR Enhancement for Lighting Evaluation

The sensor supports HDR and NIR enhancement, making it a candidate for monochrome vision projects that need to evaluate changing illumination or near-infrared lighting.

These capabilities should be assessed against the actual scene. HDR performance depends on the configured operating mode, while NIR results also depend on illumination wavelength, lens transmission and the module's optical filter configuration.

The module provides 8-bit or 10-bit RAW output, allowing integration into a compatible host imaging pipeline. Developers should confirm the required output mode and processing support before selecting a sample configuration.

Typical Applications

Compact Robot Interaction Cameras

A robot with limited space for camera installation may need to observe a nearby interaction zone. Wide coverage can help include approaching objects or broad hand movements, provided the target remains large enough within the 400 × 400 image for the intended algorithm.

Object-Presence Monitoring Inside Equipment

Inside a dispenser or small automated mechanism, the camera may need to determine whether an object has entered or reached a defined location. Manual focus can be set for that observation plane, while monochrome imaging is relevant when the decision does not depend on color.

Embedded Gesture Interfaces

A compact interface may use broad hand position or movement as an input. The wide-angle lens offers coverage for evaluation, but developers should test the smallest required gesture features at the farthest operating distance before committing to this resolution.

When Should You Consider This Camera Module?

Consider this configuration when:

Installation space limits how far the camera can sit from the observation area.

The task relies on monochrome shape, presence or movement information.

Target features remain distinguishable at 400 × 400 resolution.

Focus can be adjusted during setup for a defined working distance.

The host supports the required MIPI connection and RAW processing.

For small-feature inspection, color-based decisions or finer gesture recognition, a higher-resolution or different optical configuration may be more suitable.

FAQ

Is 0.16MP sufficient for embedded vision?

It can be sufficient when the task uses relatively large image features. Evaluate target size in pixels at the actual working distance, especially near the edges of the wide-angle image.

Does the lens automatically focus from 15 mm to infinity?

No. The lens uses manual focus. The listed range describes focus adjustment capability, rather than automatic focusing or guaranteed depth of field.

Does NIR enhancement mean the module works in complete darkness?

NIR enhancement alone does not establish a complete dark-scene imaging solution. Confirm suitable illumination, optical transmission and image quality for the intended wavelength and distance.

Can the 24-pin MIPI interface connect directly to any host?

Compatibility requires more than matching the connector. Check the pin assignment, power supplies, clocking, driver support and RAW data handling against the host platform.

Discuss Your Imaging Requirements

Share your target size, working distance, required viewing area, motion speed, lighting conditions and host platform. These details can help determine whether the SF-SAC0115OV-HDR-MONO-FPC V1.0 provides sufficient coverage and image information, and which focus and imaging settings should be evaluated.

Short News-List Teaser

Need to observe a nearby interaction area from a compact device? Explore how a 114° wide-angle lens and monochrome global shutter imaging fit projects focused on presence, position and movement.