Boresight alignment has traditionally been a cumbersome process in optical systems. It involves precisely aligning the optical axes of various components by physically adjusting mirrors or prisms during development and manufacturing. This mechanical approach is time-consuming, costly, and introduces reliability risks due to moving parts—despite attempts at stabilization with epoxy.

Electronic boresight offers a superior alternative. Instead of mechanically adjusting alignment elements, this method electronically shifts the camera’s field of view on its sensor. This minimizes or eliminates the need for physical adjustments after installation. Adimec’s latest cameras—the TMX-53 and TMX-55—feature enhanced electronic boresight capabilities that drastically reduce reliance on mechanical alignment.

How Electronic Boresight Works

In traditional systems, a camera’s maximum boresight adjustment capability was limited to ±20 pixels. While this allowed some flexibility through software compensation, it wasn’t sufficient to eliminate the need for mechanical adjustments in many applications.

Adimec cameras are aligned with six degrees of freedom precision. This level of accuracy enables certain optical systems to operate without any boresight alignment at all. However, outdoor or complex environments often require precise camera-to-optics alignment due to higher complexity factors.

The TMX-53 and TMX-55: Advanced Electronic Boresight Features

These cameras feature a high-resolution electronic reticle—a two-pixel-wide crosshair that can be controlled via software or the graphical user interface (GUI). This crosshair supports two modes of operation:

  1. Tracking Mode: It moves automatically in sync with a designated region of interest (ROI).
  2. Commanded Movement: The crosshair can be manually repositioned as needed.

The TMX-53 offers a resolution of 4096 × 3008, while the TMX-55 provides 4096 × 2176. At full resolution, boresight adjustment is limited to about ±16 pixels horizontally due to few extra pixels outside this area.

However, most applications use a lower-resolution ROI (e.g., Full HD: 1920 × 1080) for compatibility with monitors and displays. With this output resolution, the boresight range expands significantly—potentially hundreds of pixels in both horizontal and vertical directions.

Real-Time Boresight Adjustment

The TMX-53/55 cameras feature a new video pipeline that enables real-time sensor-level boresighting adjustments alongside full-color processing and adaptive resolution capabilities. This allows for dynamic shifts (e.g., ±100 pixels or more) even with Full HD output.

Design Implications of Advanced Boresight Capabilities

The expanded range of electronic boresight adjustment—potentially hundreds of pixels in common applications—opens up new design possibilities for system architects. It eliminates the need to precisely align cameras mechanically during manufacturing, significantly simplifying production and improving reliability.

Key Takeaways

  • Electronic boresight reduces reliance on mechanical adjustments.
  • The TMX-53/55 offer high-resolution electronic reticle functionality.
  • Real-time sensor-level adjustment is possible in full HD mode.
  • System architects can now design systems with simplified camera alignment requirements.

For more details about the TMX-53 and TMX-55 cameras, visit Adimec’s website to explore their features as next-generation security imaging solutions.

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 18:34:44