LANO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
LANO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.

Line scan cameras have great advantages in scanning speed. Because the line scan camera lens only scans one line at a time, its scanning speed is very fast and can meet the demand for real-time inspection of items on high-speed production lines. The area scan camera needs to scan the entire image line by line, so the scanning speed is relatively slow and cannot meet the detection needs of high-speed moving objects.

How Does Line Scan Camera Lens Work?

Optical Precision: The lens is designed to provide high resolution and minimal distortion across a single row of pixels, ensuring accurate image capture.

Continuous Scanning: Unlike traditional area scan cameras, which capture full images at once, a line scan camera builds an image line by line as an object moves past the camera.

Synchronization with Motion: The lens works in coordination with a conveyor belt, rotating drum, or other moving systems, ensuring that each captured line aligns perfectly to form a seamless image.

High-Speed Performance: These lenses handle fast-moving objects without motion blur, making them ideal for print inspection, semiconductor manufacturing, and packaging quality control.

Even Illumination: Proper lighting is essential, as the lens captures only a single line at a time. Uniform lighting ensures consistent image quality across the scan.


How To Select Lens For Line Scan Camera?

Selecting the right lens for a line scan camera involves careful consideration of several factors to ensure optimal performance. Begin by understanding the camera's specifications, including sensor size, pixel size, resolution, and spectral sensitivity. Calculate the desired field of view (FOV) based on application requirements, object size, and working distance. Choose a line scan camera lens with an appropriate focal length using the formula (Focal Length = Sensor Width × Working Distance / FOV). Ensure compatibility between the lens mount and the camera's mount type. Consider aperture size, lens resolution, optical distortion, and any special requirements such as low-light performance or environmental sealing. Test the selected lens with the camera to validate its performance before finalizing the choice. This systematic approach ensures the selected lens complements the line scan camera, delivering high-quality imaging results tailored to the application's needs.

What is the difference between line scan lens and camera lens?

A line scan lens is specifically designed for line scan cameras, which capture images one line at a time instead of a full frame. These lenses are used in high-speed industrial applications where objects move continuously, such as conveyor belt inspections, printing quality control, and web inspection in textiles or packaging. They provide high optical precision, ensuring uniform sharpness and minimal distortion across the scanning line. Line scan lenses are optimized for a narrow field of view and require even, controlled lighting to achieve accurate image reconstruction.


A camera lens, commonly referred to as an area scan lens, is designed for traditional cameras that capture complete images in a single exposure. These lenses are used in general imaging applications such as photography, surveillance, and standard machine vision tasks. They come in various focal lengths, such as wide-angle, telephoto, and macro, allowing flexibility for different imaging needs. Unlike line scan lenses, area scan lenses depend on ambient or artificial lighting to illuminate the entire frame at once.


FAQs of Line Scan Lens

  • What is the function of line scan camera?

    A line scan camera is designed to capture images of objects or scenes one line at a time, as opposed to traditional area scan cameras that capture entire images at once. The primary function of a line scan camera is to produce high-resolution images of continuously moving objects or scenes with exceptional clarity and detail. It achieves this by capturing individual lines of pixels rapidly and sequentially, allowing for precise inspection, measurement, and analysis of objects in motion. Line scan cameras are commonly used in industrial applications such as web inspection, surface inspection, sorting, quality control, and printing, where fast-moving objects or continuous processes need to be accurately monitored and analyzed.

  • What is the difference between line scan and area scan?

    Line scan cameras capture images one line at a time and are suited for inspecting continuously moving objects, like those on a conveyor belt. They excel in applications such as web and surface inspection. In contrast, area scan cameras capture entire images at once, making them versatile for stationary scenes. Area scan cameras are commonly used in general photography and surveillance. Both camera types offer unique advantages tailored to specific imaging needs and applications.

  • How to choose the suitable line scan lens?

    To select a suitable line scan lens, start by understanding the camera's specifications, including sensor size and resolution. Calculate the desired field of view and choose a lens with an appropriate focal length. Ensure compatibility with the camera's mount type and consider factors like aperture size and lens resolution. Check for optical distortion and consider any special requirements such as low-light performance. Test the selected lens with the camera to validate its performance before finalizing the choice.