tdi camera What Makes a TDI Camera a Game-Changer in High-Speed Imaging
In many inspection, microscopy, and scientific imaging applications, motion and low light pose two of the hardest challenges. A TDI camera—short for Time Delay Integration camera—addresses both by combining high sensitivity, high throughput, and excellent signal-to-noise performance. At Tucsen, our high-speed TDI camera lineup (such as the Dhyana 9KTDI) is designed to push the boundaries of what’s possible in inspection, spectral imaging, semiconductor manufacturing, and more.
How TDI Cameras Work
Time Delay Integration (TDI) is a technique used in line-scan imaging. Instead of capturing a full frame all at once, the sensor reads out one line at a time, and integrates (adds together) the signal from the same physical point in successive lines as the object moves. Essentially, as the sample or object moves (or the scanning happens), TDI shifts the charge in the sensor in sync with that movement, allowing longer “effective exposure” per pixel without smearing. The result? Much better sensitivity under motion or low light.
Key Advantages of a High-Speed TDI Camera
Challenge How TDI Helps What Tucsen Offers
Low light / weak illumination Increases signal integration by summing over many TDI stages. More photon collection per pixel. The Dhyana 9KTDI supports up to 256 TDI stages to boost signal-to-noise under dim conditions.
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High throughput / fast scanning Line-rate can be very high, so imaging can keep up with fast motion or high belt speeds, etc. The 9KTDI reaches 510 kHz at 9K line-rate, delivering ≈ 4590 megapixels/sec throughput.
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Wide spectral sensitivity Useful when imaging in UV, visible, or near-IR; many inspection or spectral imaging tasks require wide spectral coverage. Tucsen’s high-speed TDI uses back-illuminated sCMOS sensors with wavelength response from about 200-1100 nm.
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Reduced noise & better dynamic response Cooling, optimized readout, high full-well capacity, and low dark current all help maintain image quality. 9KTDI offers cooling (air & liquid), very good full-well capacity, and read-noise specs to support demanding applications.
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The Tucsen Dhyana 9KTDI: A Closer Look
To illustrate how Tucsen implements TDI camera technology at the high end, here’s what the Dhyana 9KTDI offers:
Sensor & Resolution: BSI (Back-Side Illuminated) sCMOS, 9072 horizontal pixels, 5 µm × 5 µm pixel size, with an effective area of about 45.36 mm × 1.28 mm.
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Line Rate & Throughput: Up to 510 kHz @ 9K resolution, giving ~4590 megapixels per second.
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TDI Stages: Flexible from 16 up to 256 stages, enabling users to optimize between speed vs. signal strength depending on scene brightness.
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Quantum Efficiency: Peak QE ~82% at 550 nm; still good sensitivity into ultraviolet and near-IR ranges.
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Dynamic Range, Noise, Readout: Read noise and dark current are minimized via cooling; dynamic range is high.
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Data Interface & Compatibility: High-speed interface (CoaXPress 2.0 / CXP-12) to handle the massive data flow.
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Typical Applications for a TDI Camera
Here are some use cases where a high-speed TDI camera like the Dhyana 9KTDI excels:
Semiconductor and wafer inspection — detecting defects, alignment, uniformity as wafers move rapidly under inspection.
Flat Panel Display (FPD) inspection — large surface area scanning with uniform lighting and fast line-rates.
Spectral imaging — when imaging across UV-Vis-NIR bands, weak signals (especially in UV or NIR) require good sensitivity plus integration.
Low light / fluorescence detection — biological or life-science imaging when fluorophores are dim or excitation must be minimal.
Materials science and industrial inspection under motion — conveyor belts, continuous processes where motion blur would otherwise degrade image quality.
What to Consider When Choosing a TDI Camera
If you’re evaluating a TDI camera, here are some key criteria to compare, and how Tucsen meets or surpasses them in the 9KTDI:
Spectral Response / Quantum Efficiency — can it see in the UV/NIR if needed, and how efficiently?
TDI Stage Flexibility — more stages generally improve signal, but at some trade-offs in speed or complexity. Flexibility is helpful.
Maximum Line Rate vs. Bit Depth — higher speeds often come with reduced bit depth; ensure you balance what you need (speed vs dynamic range).
Noise, Dark Current, Cooling — especially for long exposures or dim sources, cooling and low dark current are crucial.
Interface & Data Protocol — high data rates require high throughput interfaces (CoaXPress, etc.), and compatibility with downstream processing.
Triggering, Scan Direction, Region of Interest (ROI) — essential for integrating into custom inspection lines or microscopy setups.
Why Tucsen’s TDI Cameras Stand Out
High performance in low light & spectral range — thanks to back-illuminated sCMOS technology, wide spectral coverage, and strong QE.
Very high throughput — 9KTDI reaches 510 kHz at high resolution, enabling fast scanning without sacrifice in image quality.
Strong SNR and flexibility — many TDI stages, cooling, low read noise allow performance across different operating conditions.
Robust hardware & interfaces — high data transfer interfaces, good cooling design, reliable sensor behavior.
Conclusion
A TDI camera can provide a transformative advantage whenever imaging under motion or in low light is required. Whether for semiconductor inspection, spectral or UV-NIR imaging, FPD inspection, biological fluorescence, or industrial applications — the combination of high sensitivity, high speed, and strong signal integration makes these cameras essential tools.
Tucsen’s high-speed TDI series (especially the Dhyana 9KTDI) embodies these advantages: delivering state-of-the-art performance in throughput, signal quality, flexibility, and spectral coverage.
If you’re exploring how a TDI camera can improve your imaging workflows—especially where speed & sensitivity matter—it could be the upgrade that unlocks new precision, clarity, and efficiency.