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Omron / Sentech STC-MBS43CXP3 / STC-MCS43CXP3 machine vision camera
Omron / SentechArea scan cameras
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Omron / Sentech Sentech STC-MBS43CXP3 / STC-MCS43CXP3

STC-MBS43CXP3

The STC-MBS43CXP3 (mono) and STC-MCS43CXP3 (color) are 0.4MP CoaXPress area-scan cameras based on the Sony IMX287 1/2.9-inch global shutter CMOS sensor with 720 x 540 effective pixels at 6.9 µm pixel pitch. Both models achieve up to 523 fps over a single CXP-3 lane, powered entirely via PoCXP (Power over CoaXPress) at 3.0 W or less. Housed in a compact 28 x 28 x 40 mm C-mount body weighing approximately 52 g, they support ROI scanning, analog gain up to 42 dB, digital gain up to 7x, and defective pixel correction for up to 512 pixels.

Brand
Omron / Sentech
Camera type
Area Scan
Interface
CoaXPress CXP-3 (1 lane)
Resolution
0.4 MP
Horizontal resolution
720 px
Mono / color
Mono (STC-MBS43CXP3) / Color (STC-MCS43CXP3)
Sensor manufacturer
Sony Pregius
Sensor model
Sony IMX287
Shutter
Global Shutter
FPS
523 fps
Mount
C-Mount
Sensor size
1/2.9"
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Technical overview

The STC-MBS43CXP3 / STC-MCS43CXP3 pair is built around Sony's IMX287 — a 1/2.9-inch Pregius global-shutter CMOS that reads out all 720 x 540 pixels simultaneously with no rolling-shutter skew. The 6.9 µm pixel pitch is generous for a 0.4 MP sensor, which translates directly into strong light-collection efficiency and a wide dynamic range that holds detail in both shadowed recesses and bright specular reflections. For inspection engineers this means the camera tolerates moderate variation in illumination uniformity without the careful zoning work that a smaller pixel would demand. Analog gain reaches 42 dB and digital gain extends to 7x, giving the system designer latitude to dial in sensitivity without switching hardware; defective-pixel correction for up to 512 positions ensures cosmetic blemishes in the sensor die do not propagate as false-reject artifacts in production imagery.

The headline performance figure — 523 fps at full 720 x 540 resolution over a single CXP-3 lane — sets this camera apart from typical 0.4 MP offerings on GigE or USB3. CoaXPress CXP-3 carries image data and PoCXP power over a single coaxial cable, so the entire camera runs on a single coax drop at 3 W or less. This cabling simplicity is significant in confined installations: the 28 x 28 x 40 mm body weighing just 52 g can be mounted on a robot arm, inside a conveyor shroud, or directly above a high-speed web with no power pigtail. ROI scanning allows the frame rate to climb further when only a sub-region of the sensor is needed, which is common in edge-detection or 1D profile tasks. The camera communicates over GenICam with CoaXPress Standard Version 1.1.1, ensuring compatibility with any compliant frame-grabber and software environment.

Lens mount is C-mount, matched to the 1/2.9-inch optical format. A broad catalog of C-mount lenses covers this sensor format, making optics selection straightforward. Operating temperature spans 0 to +45 °C, appropriate for climate-controlled factory floors, cleanroom environments, and enclosed machine cabinets. The STC-MBS43CXP3 (monochrome) variant is preferred where maximum sensitivity, sharper contrast at a single wavelength, or compatibility with UV or IR illumination is required; the STC-MCS43CXP3 (color) suits tasks where hue is a primary classification feature. Both variants share identical mechanical, electrical, and performance specifications, making them interchangeable at the hardware level when a line runs both monochrome and color inspection stations.

Best for

  • High-speed component inspection on fast-moving conveyors where 523 fps at full resolution eliminates motion blur without requiring stroboscopic lighting — particularly suited to small electronics and semiconductor devices where part presentation is rapid and consistent.
  • Robot-mounted vision guidance on collaborative or articulated arms, where the single-coax PoCXP connection, 52 g weight, and 28 x 28 mm footprint minimise the cable management burden and keep the camera within axis payload budgets.
  • Traceability and 2D/DPM code reading on high-throughput lines in pharma or packaging, where the global shutter's distortion-free capture of moving codes prevents the partial-read errors that a rolling shutter produces on angled or skewed symbols.
  • Surface and defect inspection in electronics or semiconductor fabs where the IMX287's large 6.9 µm pixel pitch delivers high signal-to-noise in low-contrast scratch or particle detection under structured or darkfield illumination.
  • Multi-camera installations inside constrained machine enclosures where running separate power cabling per camera is impractical — PoCXP and the camera's 3 W draw allow many heads to be served from a single multi-port frame-grabber without auxiliary power distribution hardware.

Selection notes

  • Frame-grabber compatibility: CXP-3 requires a CoaXPress-compliant frame-grabber; verify that the grabber supports CXP-3 link speed and PoCXP power delivery, as not all CXP grabbers supply PoCXP on every port.
  • Variant choice — mono vs color: the monochrome STC-MBS43CXP3 delivers greater sensitivity per pixel than the color STC-MCS43CXP3 at any given illumination level due to the absence of a Bayer mosaic; choose color only when hue discrimination is a primary inspection criterion, otherwise default to mono for maximum SNR.
  • Lens selection for 1/2.9-inch format: confirm the chosen C-mount lens image circle covers the 1/2.9-inch sensor format to avoid vignetting at the corners — many economy C-mount lenses specify coverage for 1/3 inch or 1/2 inch and may not cover 1/2.9 inch; verify the lens datasheet.
  • ROI and frame-rate headroom: the 523 fps figure is at full 720 x 540; if the application requires higher throughput on a sub-region of the sensor, confirm the ROI stepping increments and minimum ROI dimensions with the frame-grabber driver to ensure the specific sub-window needed is achievable.
  • Thermal management: the 0–45 °C operating range covers most climate-controlled industrial environments, but closed enclosures with multiple cameras or other heat sources should be checked for worst-case ambient temperature, especially when the camera is mounted in a tightly sealed housing with little convection.

Specifications: General
BrandOmron / Sentech
Camera typeArea Scan

Specifications: Sensor
Resolution0.4 MP
Horizontal resolution720 px
Mono / colorMono (STC-MBS43CXP3) / Color (STC-MCS43CXP3)
Sensor manufacturerSony Pregius
Sensor modelSony IMX287
ShutterGlobal Shutter
Sensor size1/2.9"
Pixel size6.9 µm

Specifications: Performance
FPS523 fps

Specifications: Interface
InterfaceCoaXPress CXP-3 (1 lane)
ProtocolsCoaXPress Standard Version 1.1.1, GenICam

Specifications: Optics
MountC-Mount

Specifications: Electrical
PowerPoCXP (Power over CoaXPress)
Power consumption3 W
Supply voltagePoCXP

Specifications: Environment
Operating temperature0 to +45 °C

Specifications: Mechanical
Dimensions28 x 28 x 40 mm
Weight52 g

Frequently asked questions

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