IDS Imaging Adds Nion ToF Camera to 3D Sensor Portfolio

IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH has expanded its 3D sensor portfolio with the Nion iToF sensor, an industrial time-of-flight camera that brings integrated depth processing and 1.2-megapixel resolution to applications where conventional vision systems struggle: fast motion, variable lighting, and demanding environments.

What the Nion Delivers

The Nion 3D camera provides high resolution and temporally stable depth information at 30 fps. Critically for production environments, it continues to work during rapid movements and under changing lighting conditions — the two scenarios that most often break depth-sensing deployments on real factory floors.

IDS positions the camera for applications requiring precise 3D data at real-world process speeds, naming logistics, automation, and robotics as target use cases. The company states the Nion captures moving objects with virtually no blur, and its high resistance to stray light supports reproducible measurement results both indoors and outdoors. The measurement range of 0.3 to 7.5 m (0.9 to 24.6 ft) covers typical industrial scenarios, from close-range inspection to wider-area automation cells.

"The Nion provides stable depth data even under variable lighting conditions," said Patrick Schick, product manager for 3D vision and imaging software at IDS. "This provides a solid foundation for automation processes that rely on fast and accurate 3D data."

The Sensor Underneath

The Nion is powered by the onsemi AF0130, an indirect time-of-flight sensor from the Hyperlux ID family. According to IDS, this depth sensor offers higher resolution, lower noise, more stable results in ambient light, and better motion stability compared to standard ToF cameras on the market. That sensor foundation is what enables the camera's depth accuracy with fast-moving objects.

Built for the Floor, Not the Lab

Deployment practicality gets real attention here. The camera ships in a rugged IP67-rated housing suitable for more demanding environments, and Power over Ethernet (PoE) support reduces installation effort and cabling — a meaningful consideration when retrofitting depth sensing into existing lines.

On integration strategy, Schick offered a pragmatic take:

"In many cases, existing 2D processes can be retained and supplemented with depth data where necessary, if that aids decision-making in the process."

That framing matters. Rather than forcing a full migration to 3D, the Nion is designed to slot into existing systems, adding depth data only where it improves decisions.

The Company Behind It

IDS Imaging Development Systems GmbH, based in Obsersulm, Germany, offers 2D and 3D cameras, monitoring cameras, and AI-supported models across a portfolio of around 5,000 products. The company employs more than 320 people from 21 countries, with branches in the U.S., Japan, South Korea, and the U.K., plus representative offices in France, the Benelux countries, and India.