2025/10/29Over the past two decades, imaging equipment has undergone significant evolution driven by the growing demand for high throughput. The transition from CCD to sCMOS camera technology has been a major milestone in this journey. Today, as AI-driven big data automation continues to gain momentum, cameras, which serve as the primary source of raw data, face a series of emerging challenges.
Challenges Facing Camera Technology
1. Escalating Data Throughput
Data processing requirements have shifted from gigabytes (GB) to terabytes (TB), demanding a systematic enhancement of camera throughput performance to handle this massive scale.
2. Higher Data Quality Standards
AI-powered automated analysis places stricter requirements on the quality, consistency, and accuracy of raw image data.
3. Accelerated Instrument Upgrades
The rapid pace of technological advancements has led to quicker instrument upgrades, creating a need for camera manufacturers to build stronger collaboration across different technological domains to stay competitive.
Tucsen Introduces the Leo 3243 Scientific Camera
In response to these challenges, Tucsen has launched the Leo series of scientific machine vision cameras. The Leo 3243 is the first product in this series: it is not merely a simple upgrade in camera technology, but a high-throughput imaging solution deeply customized to address the pain points and development trends in high-end instrument applications. Integrating cutting-edge industry technologies, the Leo 3243 is designed to help high-throughput instruments enter the new era of ultra-large data applications.
Key Technologies of Leo 3243
Stacked BSI sCMOS Technology: A Tenfold Increase in Data
Traditional sCMOS chip architectures often sacrifice resolution and speed in the pursuit of high sensitivity, which has become a significant bottleneck for high-throughput imaging.
The Leo 3243 incorporates advanced stacked BSI (Backside Illuminated) chip technology, achieving 80% quantum efficiency, 2e- readout noise, and a 20Ke- full well capacity per pixel. It also supports high-speed output at 100 fps with 43 MP resolution. The data throughput is ten times greater than that of traditional sCMOS, enabling a systematic breakthrough in sensitivity, resolution, and speed.
100G CoF High-Speed Interface: Breaking Through Data Transmission Bottlenecks
Traditional high-speed interfaces, such as CameraLink and CXP 2.0, no longer provide sufficient bandwidth for the growing data throughput demands. Multi-channel solutions, while offering more bandwidth, face challenges such as complex protocols, data latency, and high integration difficulty, which hinder the integration of future high-end instrument systems.
The Leo 3243 utilizes 100G CoF high-speed interface technology, providing 100G bandwidth through a single interface. This enables real-time transmission of high-throughput data at 100 fps with 43 MP resolution. It boasts advantages such as high speed, stability, and strong scalability, effectively breaking through the technical limitations of traditional interfaces.
31mm Large Sensor: 2.5x Increase in Imaging Field of View
Traditional sCMOS cameras typically feature an 18.8mm imaging sensor. However, as microscope fields of view expand to 25mm and high-end instruments extend to 30mm, the standard sCMOS sensor no longer meets the demands of high-throughput imaging.
The Leo 3243 features a 31mm sensor, providing a field of view 2.5 times larger than traditional sCMOS sensors in a single frame. This design aligns perfectly with the evolving trends in modern high-throughput instruments. Not only does it significantly improve imaging efficiency, but it also reduces image stitching errors, further enhancing data accuracy.
3.2µm High-Resolution Pixels: Precisely Matched to Optical Resolution
To expand the field of view in high-throughput imaging, optical designs are increasingly trending toward lower magnification systems. Traditional sCMOS cameras with 6.5µm pixel sizes face undersampling issues in low-magnification optical systems, leading to a loss in optical resolution and affecting data accuracy.
The Leo 3243, with its 3.2µm high-resolution pixels, is better suited to the Nyquist sampling rate for optical systems with magnifications of 40X or lower, ensuring higher-quality raw data for automated analysis.
The Era of Big Data Has Arrived: The Leo 3243 is Ready
For over two decades, I have personally witnessed the evolution of camera technology from CCD to sCMOS, and the new opportunities this transformation has brought to the development of high-end instruments.
The launch of Tucsen's Leo series—scientific machine vision cameras—was precisely aimed at driving these breakthroughs. From the product definition and functionality development to the full system reliability testing of the Leo 3243, we have deeply realized that creating a product with such multidimensional technological advancements would have been nearly impossible without a profound industry application and technical foundation, as well as deep collaboration with upstream and downstream partners.
We are grateful to our R&D team for delivering this groundbreaking product, the Leo 3243, to our customers at such an impressive speed.
— Feng Lou, Director of Product Business Development, Tucsen
Visit Us at the Shanghai Munich Optical Expo
The Leo 3243 will soon be showcased at the Shanghai Munich Optical Expo, and we warmly invite you to join us for an on-site experience and discussion.
We understand that technological progress cannot happen without a collaborative ecosystem. Tucsen looks forward to partnering with industry players to jointly usher in a new era of ultra-large data applications in high-end instruments.
About Tucsen Photonics
Tucsen Photonics is a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance imaging solutions for scientific and industrial applications with operations in China, Singapore, UK, USA and Europe. With a commitment to innovation and quality, Tucsen Photonics continues to redefine the possibilities of digital imaging.
If you would like to obtain detailed product information or request a sample for testing and evaluation, please contact us. We’ll provide personalized application advice and integration support to help you bring your system to market quickly and efficiently.
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