The ECS LED Advantage
ECS has incorporated LED technology as its primary light component for both the ECSTM View and RetroSpekTM product lines. LED technology has several distinct advantages as compared to incandescent (halogen/high intensity discharge - HID) and high frequency fluorescent. Key to the ECS design is to pulse the LED light to a high frequency synchronized to a setting that is controlled by the frame rate and shutter speed of the camera. This is called ‘flashing’ and the LED is only on from 10% to 25% of the time just as a camera is only exposing the chip (CCD) for a fraction of a second (to achieve stop action clarity). If the camera only needs light for a one millisecond burst - why use a constant-on light source? This flashing minimizes the duty cycle of the LED, increases life, eliminates the need for specialized heat dissipation concerns, allows for a smaller power supply and provides for a small form factor light that can easily outperform traditional high wattage HID lighting systems. This synchronization between camera and light requires a cable between the two components.
In some cases existing systems may incorporate analog cameras that do not have easily available synchronization outputs or providing for a connecting cable may not be possible. In these situations the same LED light can be used in a constant-on mode but active cooling may be required.
No Heat
- No air required for cooling (in flashing mode)
- Eliminates safety concerns in converting operations where air is not available
Energy efficient and low power consumption
- LED’s are at least 10 times more efficient than incandescent and twice as efficient as high frequency fluorescent (lumens per watt). Flashing the LED significantly increases this comparison value
Lower installation costs for converting systems and more flexibility for mobile cameras
- The camera and light can be powered by the same small gauge power cable
Lower operating costs
- Operating life of LED’s is a matter of years. Eliminates the need for costly bulb replacement
Even illumination and more effective use of system lumens
- LED’s provide even illumination – there are no hot-spots that are common with single point HID lighting systems. Why - see notes at end of data sheet.
Rugged - shock resistant
Small form factor
- Enclosures include the power supply
- Units can be as thin as 2” in depth. Excellent applications for converting lines to place light inside the machine frame
Backwards compatible to analog cameras
- Most vision grade GigE and analog cameras have a synchronization output on the camera that provides the signal to the LED. If a synchronization signal is not available - a similar LED model can be used with active cooling.
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