What Are the 5 Key Features of 3D iToF Cameras – And How Does DepthVista Helix Offer Them?

In an era where spatial awareness and depth perception are becoming crucial, 3D imaging technology has become more popular than ever. This has resulted in Time-of-Flight (iToF) cameras, an advanced imaging solution, changing how machines perceive and interact with the world around them.

Unlike traditional 2D cameras that capture only X and Y image data, a 3D iToF camera provides Z-axis depth information. It enables direct measurement of the distance between the camera and objects in the scene. It is ideal for applications where understanding spatial geometry is more critical than visual texture.

In this blog, you’ll learn about how 3D iToF cameras work, their key features, and how e-con Systems’ latest camera, the DepthVista Helix, delivers all these and more.

What is a 3D iToF Camera?

A 3D indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) camera is a type of depth-sensing device that measures distance by emitting modulated, continuous-wave (CW) infrared light and calculating the phase difference between the transmitted and received signals.

The advantage of iToF technology lies in its ability to capture high-resolution depth data in real-time, independent of ambient lighting to a large extent. Since it processes the phase shift of the reflected light, the camera can generate a dense point cloud or depth map.

Hence, it is valuable for robotics, automation systems, and other embedded vision devices that require precise, real-time 3D perception of an environment. Its use cases range from obstacle avoidance for autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) to precise bin-picking in manufacturing.

5 Key Features to Look for in a 3D iToF Camera

1) High accuracy across a broad depth range

Look for a camera that offers high precision across both short and long distances. An ideal solution should provide impressive 2) Flexible multi-mode capability

Versatility is a must-have capability, especially in dynamic environments. Therefore, a top-tier 3D iToF camera should offer programmable modes to adapt to different scenarios. It includes a high-resolution mode for detailed close-range work and a long-range VGA mode that uses dual-frequency technology to extend the unambiguous range and improve signal stability at a distance.

This multi-mode capability makes the camera perfect for navigation and large-scale scene analysis.

3) Superior low-light/ambient light performance

The 3D iToF camera must perform reliably in controlled lighting, as well as unpredictable real-world conditions. That’s why superior low-light and ambient light performance is of utmost importance. Our design incorporates powerful infrared VCSELs to illuminate the scene, ensuring the camera can capture accurate depth data even in complete darkness.

Advanced sensors then work in tandem to mitigate issues from bright sunlight or dark shadows, ensuring stable depth measurements where other technologies might fail.

This is critical for indoor use cases like warehouse automation and outdoor use cases like smart agriculture.

4) Integrated safety monitoring

Safety-related compliance should never be an afterthought, which is why features like integrated laser eye safety monitoring are the need of the hour. Laser safety monitoring is implemented to ensure laser emission levels remain within defined safety limits. The system is designed to ensure that, across all operating modes and under any single fault condition, the illumination optical power remains within the limits specified by applicable laser safety standards.

It is particularly useful in collaborative robotics, public spaces, and any application where humans may be present in the camera’s field of view.

5) Ruggedized, real-world design

A camera is only as good as its ability to survive its operating environment. An IP67-rated enclosure provides complete protection against dust ingress and can withstand temporary water immersion in harsh factory environments, agricultural applications, outdoor deployments, and more.

This rating, along with extended cable support (up to 15 meters), ensures your investment remains operational even in the most demanding conditions while simplifying installation in complex facilities.

What Makes e-con Systems’ DepthVista Helix a Must-Have 3D iToF Camera

e-con Systems’ latest offering, DepthVista Helix, a 1.2MP 3D Depth (CW iToF) USB camera, is built on the proven onsemi Hyperlux ID AF0130 sensor. This 3D iToF camera illuminates a scene with 940nm wavelength infrared light, capturing the reflected signal through a specialized CMOS sensor. It processes depth directly on-board, reducing host processor load, increasing frame rates, and delivering precise, ready-to-use depth data.

This makes it a perfect match for seamless integration with powerful embedded platforms like the NVIDIA® Jetson™ AGX Orin. Furthermore, DepthVista Helix can be customized with multiple VCSEL illumination options. These include a 4-VCSEL configuration for outdoor deployments, which comes with extended depth sensing of up to 6m. DepthVista Helix can also be used with an optional RGB sensor alongside depth output, thereby enabling simultaneous capture of visual and depth data.

Other highlights:

• Impressive depth accuracy: e-con Systems’ DepthVista Helix delivers exceptional on-camera depth processing with less than 1% deviation up to 6 meters. The AF0130 sensor includes pre-configured settings optimized for different material properties.
• High-resolution mode: DepthVista Helix provides 1280×960 resolution, delivering 2x more pixels than VGA. This makes it far less likely that thin hazards will fall between pixels and go undetected. Using dual-frequency modulation, it improves multipath suppression and flags pixels with low confidence.
• onfidence-based validation: DepthVista Helix’s sensor flags these problematic measurements with low confidence scores. So, robotic systems can easily ignore these false targets, leading to accurate 3D information.
• Purpose-built for seamless integration: Unlike competitor solutions limited to MIPI or Ethernet, e-con Systems’ DepthVista Helix supports a GMSL interface and is optimized for NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin.

e-con Systems Offers next generation iToF Camera Solutions

Since 2003, e-con Systems designs, develops, and manufactures embedded vision solutions – from custom OEM cameras to complete ODM platforms. We offer iToF cameras, such as DepthVista Helix, that leverage NIR wavelengths (940nm) and enable consistent 3D imaging – indoors or outdoors.

Explore all our ToF cameras

Use our Camera Selector to check out our complete portfolio.

To learn more about DepthVista Helix or to request samples for evaluation, please visit our website or contact us at camerasolutions@e-consystems.com

FAQs

What is a 3D iToF camera, and how does it measure distance?

A 3D indirect Time-of-Flight camera emits modulated, continuous-wave infrared light and measures the phase difference in the reflected signal. That phase shift gets converted into per-pixel distance, producing a dense depth map or point cloud in real time.

What depth range and accuracy should you look for in robotics and automation?

For tasks like AMR obstacle detection and bin-picking, look for depth accuracy under 1% across short and long distances, up to 6 meters. That level of measurement quality helps reduce distance errors during navigation, pallet edge detection, and object placement.

Why does multi-mode support matter in an iToF camera?

Multi-mode operation lets teams switch between a high-resolution mode for close-range detail and a long-range VGA mode for larger scenes. Dual-frequency modes help extend the unambiguous range and improve range reliability at distance, which suits navigation and wide-area depth capture.

How does e-con Systems’ DepthVista Helix deal with ambient light and reflective surfaces

e-con Systems’ latest 3D iToF camera, the DepthVista Helix, is positioned for depth capture across low-light and bright ambient conditions using 940 nm illumination. It also uses multipath rejection and confidence scoring so systems can filter low-confidence pixels caused by reflections and indirect returns.

Which features of DepthVista Helix matter most for embedded vision applications?

e-con Systems’ DepthVista Helix focuses on real-time depth generation at the camera level, reducing dependency on host-side processing. This camera supports 1280×960 depth output at