[One-Minute Summary] This article provides an in-depth analysis of “Line Scan Strobe” (also known in the industry as: Time-Division Stroboscopic Technology / Time-Division Strobe Technology) technology. Addressing the pain points of limited production line space and the need for simultaneous detection of complex defects, this technology achieves “one pass, two images in a single station,” directly replacing the traditional multi-camera architecture. OPTICKS TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd. breaks through traditional limits, offering a rare industry integration service for both color and monochrome line scan camera flashing. This significantly reduces hardware costs and creates a zero-blind-spot visual inspection solution.
Are line scan camera images always blurry after speeding up the production line? Or are you facing a shortage of space at your inspection stations?
In modern high-end Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), space on the production line is at a premium, and defect types are becoming increasingly complex. To detect defects with different characteristics (such as surface scratches and deep cracks), past practices often required setting up multiple cameras and light sources. This not only significantly increases hardware costs but also heavily challenges the mechanical space of the production line.
To solve this pain point, Line Scan Camera Strobe technology has emerged as the ultimate solution for continuous web and large-area inspection. In this article, OPTICKS decodes how to break through space constraints and achieve the extreme inspection efficiency of capturing two images in a single station through line scan strobe / time-division strobe technology.
What is Line Scan Camera Strobe? (Understand the Terminology at Once)
When discussing this technology, there are slight variations in professional terminology, but they all refer to the same breakthrough imaging technology:
- Commonly used in Taiwan’s industry: Line scan strobe or line scan camera strobe.
- Commonly used in China’s industry: ：Line Scan Time-Division Stroboscopic Technology / Line Scan Time-Division Strobe Technology.
Whether it’s called “strobe” or “time-division strobe,” the core principle utilizes a controller to precisely synchronize the camera’s Line Rate with multiple light sources of different angles and wavelengths. At the exact moment the camera captures each line at high speed, the light sources alternate their flashes at an extremely high frequency to acquire their respective images. Ultimately, the system perfectly separates these alternately exposed lines and stitches them together into independent, complete images.
▲ Figure: Line scan camera strobe (also known in the industry as time-division strobe) technology architecture. OPTICKS TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd. exclusive software and hardware tuning capabilities perfectly integrate color and monochrome cameras, realizing a high-speed automated optical inspection (AOI) solution of “one pass, two images in a single station.“
Subverting Traditional Architecture: One Pass, Two Images in a Single Station
After introducing line scan strobe (time-division strobe) technology, the production line will welcome a breakthrough change—generating two images in a single station with just one material pass.
In the past, to detect “bright field defects (e.g., dirt)” and “dark field defects (e.g., fine scratches)” on a PCB or panel, two cameras had to be set up, occupying two inspection stations. Now, through line scan strobe technology, the object under inspection only needs to pass beneath the camera once:
- Save of Hardware Space: No more worrying about mechanical interference from multiple lenses and cameras; simply integrate various light sources into the same station.
- One-Time Detection of All Defects: The software automatically separates the captured data into two clear images under different lighting conditions, achieving zero-blind-spot inspection.
- Eliminate Mechanical Vibration Errors: Since the two light source images are captured at the same physical location and time, the coordinates of the two images are perfectly identical, saving the trouble of subsequent software alignment.
Traditional Multi-Camera vs. Line Scan Flash Technology Benefits Comparison
| Comparison Item | Traditional Multi-Camera Architecture | Line Scan Strobe Technology | Benefit Summary |
| Hardware Space | Requires setting up two or more cameras, occupying multiple stations. | Integrates multiple light sources into a single station. | Saves space, eliminating mechanical interference from multiple lenses. |
| Inspection Efficiency | Requires separate stations to inspect bright/dark field defects. | Software automatically separates data into clear images under different lighting conditions. | One-time detection of all defects, achieving zero-blind-spot inspection. |
| Image Alignment | Image coordinates differ between stations; software alignment is tedious. | Captures two lighting images at the exact same physical location and time. | Eliminates mechanical vibration errors; coordinates match perfectly, avoiding alignment hassles. |
▲ Figure: OPTICKS Actual Footage | Material Passing and Photography Display
OPTICKS TECHNOLOGY’s Core Strength: Perfect Flashing for Both Monochrome and Color
Although some manufacturers in the market have started promoting line scan strobe, the vast majority of system integrators only implement this technology on “Monochrome” cameras. Therefore, they are often helpless when encountering complex processes that require identifying color differences.
This is exactly our industry-leading core advantage: we can achieve strobe technology not only on monochrome cameras but also on Color Line Scan Cameras.
The difficulty of strobe color cameras is extremely high because it involves more complex sensor architectures (Bilinear or Trilinear), white balance correction, and the precise separation of RGB color channels under high-speed alternating light sources. Relying on profound optical tuning expertise and self-developed technology, we have successfully overcome the color distortion issues associated with alternating color exposure.
▲ OPTICKS Test: Through line scan strobe technology, a single material pass simultaneously captures the bright field (left) and dark field (right) images of the wafer, revealing both surface dirt and fine scratches.
By choosing OPTICKS TECHNOLOGY, you gain:
- Rare industry integration capabilities for color line scan camera strobe.
- The realization of “one pass, multiple images,” pushing production line inspection efficiency to the absolute limit.
- Comprehensive turnkey services covering hardware selection, light source matching, software/hardware integration, and subsequent tuning, ensuring your AOI equipment is never left unsupported.
📖 More related articles on line scan technology:
- [AOI Vision Inspection Guide] How to Choose Between Line Scan vs. Area Scan Cameras? Full Analysis of Application Scenarios, Pros, and Cons
- [2026 Latest] How to Choose a 32K Line Scan Camera for AOI Inspection? Allied Vision (AVT) 32K Specs & Advantages Explained
- Achieving HDR Imaging with Line Scan Strobe Technology | OPTICKS Technical Tutorial
- See Finer, Scan Faster — OPTICKS CIS High-Precision Scanning Systems Fully Upgraded
- Welcome to visit our [Line Scan Camera Specific Page] for detailed product information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): About Line Scan Camera Flash Technology
Q1: What is the greatest practical benefit of introducing line scan strobe technology to the production line?
A: Simply put, it’s “saving space, saving hardware, and getting it done at once.” Originally, a production line might need to set up two or three stations with cameras and lights to detect surface scratches and deep defects; now, with just one material pass, the camera can simultaneously produce multiple images with different lighting effects. For factories, this not only directly halves the cost of inspection equipment but also significantly reduces the footprint occupied by the machines.
Q2: What is the difference between “line scan time-division strobe” and “strobe”?
A: They are actually the exact same technology! “Line scan time-division strobe” is primarily the common terminology used in China’s industry, while Taiwan’s automation industry is accustomed to simply calling it “strobe”. Regardless of the name, the core is using a controller to switch multiple light sources at high speeds to achieve the ultimate inspection efficiency of “one pass, two images in a single station.”
Q3: Can all line scan cameras achieve the strobe (time-division strobe) function?
A: No. Limited by technical thresholds, the vast majority of manufacturers on the market can currently only manage to strobe “monochrome cameras”. If the production line needs to identify minute color differences, traditional methods usually fail. This is precisely the greatest industry-leading advantage of OPTICKS TECHNOLOGY Co., Ltd.: we are not only proficient in monochrome cameras but also one of the few experts capable of integrating “color line scan camera strobe.” Through exclusive optical tuning, we ensure colors remain undistorted during alternating lighting, accurately capturing every critical detail.
If you are troubled by insufficient production line space or the inability to capture all complex defects at once, please feel free to contact us. Our vision experts will evaluate the most suitable line scan strobe solution for you.
- Phone: +886-2-2219-2669
- Email: service@opticks-tech.com.tw
- Official LINE: https://line.me/R/ti/p/@optickstechnology