Glossary · Machine vision
Color camera
Also known as: Colour camera, RGB camera
German: Farbkamera
In machine vision, a color camera is a camera that captures color information, usually with a single sensor covered by a color filter array (Bayer pattern) whose values are interpolated into RGB pixels, or with separate sensors per color channel.
- Machine vision
In one sentence
A color camera captures color images, usually through a Bayer filter on one sensor, for tasks where color distinguishes parts or defects.
Example
A color camera checks that the red, yellow and green wires are inserted into the connector in the right order.
How it applies
- Engineering: Color cameras are used when color carries the information: wire colors, labels, sorting by color or ripeness. Bayer interpolation reduces effective resolution compared with a monochrome camera of the same pixel count.
- Commissioning: White balance and stable, color-consistent lighting are essential; changes in ambient light or LED aging shift colors.
- Documentation: The documentation team should document color reference samples, white balance procedure and lighting specifications, since color checks drift silently when lighting changes.
Color camera vs. monochrome camera
A color camera sees hue; a Monochrome camera sees only brightness but with higher sensitivity and effective resolution. A monochrome camera with colored light can often separate colors well enough and is preferred for measurement.