Scallop Imaging advantages
Camera design has not changed much since camera obscura, dating back to 300 B.C.: A box, one lens and one piece of “film”.
Blackhawk/Scallop Imaging offers something new and better: Distributed Imaging
Distributed Imaging is Blackhawk/Scallop Imaging’s unique approach to image capture. Instead of the traditional “one lens, one piece of film” box camera approach, we distribute the imaging task among multiple sensors and combine their output at video rates in the camera itself .
Situational awareness + zoom windows
Distributed Imaging has allowed us to build the first cameras that mimic human vision: a constant 180° view, plus simultaneous zoom details from wherever you want in a beautiful 180° view, all combined in one standard video frame.
Two video streams
We provide two video streams: a Full Resolution (5120 x 1280 pixels) and one High Definition (1280 x 720 pixels). Why?
- Because this allows you to chose the one that is most appropriate for your needs (Full Resolution for forensics, High Definition for typical security applications)
- Bandwidth management: We display the 180° panoramic situational awareness and up to four zoom windows. The zoom windows are derived directly from the High Resolution video stream for up to 4x zoom effect.
All Scallop cameras capture images at frame rates up to 15 frames per second (fps). We have slowed our Full Resolution stream to 1 fps to conserve bandwidth. However, you get the benefit of the Full Resolution in the zoom windows.
Full video created in the camera itself
We create the full situational awareness and zoom windows in the camera itself. We do not send separate, sometimes badly synchronized video streams from the edge to the VMS. All our available pixels are “fused together” into one integrated video frame.
Unlike some of our competitors we do not experience people or other moving objects “disappearing” as they move across the field of view.
No moving parts
Our vision systems are solid state and without any moving parts. This makes them durable and easy to install. No lenses to focus or adjust. Our products have an extremely low failure rate.
All pixels on target all the time – no fish-eye lenses
Fish-eye lenses can waste up to 75% of the available pixels! A 5 megapixel camera with a fish-eye lens may actually provide less than 1.25 megapixels.
- A camera using a fish-eye lens typically projects a circular image onto a rectangular image sensor. More than 50% of the available pixels may be lost.
- A 5 megapixel camera is reduced to less than 2.5 megapixels
- A 5 megapixel camera is reduced to less than 2.5 megapixels
- A fish-eye lens image typically required cropping. Few crimes are committed on the ceiling. This can reduce the available pixel count by an additional 50%.
- The 2.5 megapixels remaining from the mismatch between the circular lens and the rectangular sensor may be reduced to less than 1.25 megapixels.
Scallop’s technology preserves all available pixels on target all the time.
No fish-eyes – no de-warping required
Fish-eye lenses distort the image. De-warping compromises the image quality.
Images created through a fisheye lens are inherently distorted and the image quality is significantly degraded towards the outer edges of the image.
- In order to create an image the human brain can make sense of, fish-eye images have to be “de-warped”. De-warping is achieved by using algorithms that “flatten” the distortions and interpolate of fill in missing pixels. The integrity of of the de-warped image is compromised.
Scallop Imaging products do not use fish-eye lenses.
True 180° panorama – not 144° or 180° diagonal
While “spec-manship” may suggest that competitive cameras are “180° panoramics” – they often aren’t!
No moving parts
Scallop’s proprietary imaging technology is built without any moving parts. No lenses to aim or focus. All solid state electronics. Our cameras have survived winters in Alaska and are deployed on some of the tallest buildings in New York City. Other cameras are used on vehicles. Scallop cameras have experiences extremely low failure rates.
Superior low light performance
Conventional day/night cameras have color image sensors with filters over all the pixels. It is well known that color filters block as much as 75% of the light to the pixels. Poor actual low light performance is therefore the norm. Our M6-200 is a monochromatic High Dynamic Range sensor with no filters. The result is exceptional low light performance and great daylight performance.
Below is a single frame from the M6-200 captured in the middle of the night (0.46 lux). Compare it to the image below this one!
M6-200 field test. 0.48 lux
Below: Same night, same scene! A competitor’s low light camera.
Competitor’s camera. 0.48 lux
Unique, different and customizable
With their sleek and discreet form factor, and the nearly limitless ability to customize, Scallop’s vision systems blend in where conventional cameras would not. No wonder our cameras can be found in some of the world’s leading retailers, universities and museums!
We offer custom surface finishing services. The best results are achieved when we start with a physical sample of the desired surface.
One panoramic camera replaces several conventional
One Scallop camera can replace from three to five standard security cameras. That means at least 60% savings on wiring, licenses, storage requirements, NVR ports, and energy.
Also, with multiple traditional cameras, the scene is broken up into multiple separate views:
In contrast, Scallop’s all solid-state camera combine of a constant 180° view plus simultaneous zoom details from wherever you want in that beautiful 180° view.
It’s an image that’s easy to understand with no blind spots, and high-resolution detail where you need it. This solution means you get the benefits of super resolution without the penalty of high bandwidth.
Made in the USA
Blackhawk/Scallop Imaging’s technology has been and continues to be developed from the ground up in Bentonville AR. All hardware and software is conceived, developed and ultimately turned into products in the United States. While some of our components may be sourced internationally, our electronics are designed locally and the printed circuit boards are populated and soldered in New Hampshire. All planning, procurement, logistics, inventory management, production, calibration and testing is performed in our own facility in Bentonville AR.
We have chosen to manufacture our products in the United States to maintain the high quality and extremely low failure rate Blackhawk/Scallop Imaging’s products are known for. Moreover, close proximity between product development and manufacturing provide efficiencies and valuable input into new product enhancements, our research and development. While others may use the “Made in the USA” label when two parts are finally assembled or put in a box Stateside, Blackhawk/Scallop Imaging can proudly say that our products are Made in America!