The Technical Vault: SCHOTT ColdVision CV-LS A20980/3000K LED Light Source
Vault purpose: What matters in real use (guide geometry, stability, connectivity, and station standardization) for the warm-white CV-LS platform.
1) What the CV-LS is (and what it is not)
The CV-LS is a high-intensity LED fiber optic light source. It generates light in the housing and delivers illumination through a compatible fiber optic light guide (ACE / DCR3). This allows precise placement of illumination at the task while keeping the LED engine and most heat away from the work surface.
It is an illumination device (not a consumable) and is not sterile. Suitability for ISO-controlled or regulated areas depends on placement, cleaning procedure, and customer qualification requirements.
2) Why light-guide geometry drives outcomes
Rule of thumb: Pick the light guide geometry first (how you need the light to hit the part). Then optimize working distance and intensity.
- Single gooseneck: strong directional lighting; best for emphasizing surface texture; can create hard shadows.
- Dual gooseneck: better shadow control; enables cross-light to reveal scratches/films/edge defects.
- Ringlight: more uniform incident illumination; commonly used to reduce shadows and hot spots.
Optional guide examples sold on SOSCleanroom:
A08400,
A08410,
A08500,
A08575,
A08600.
3) Warm-white (3000K) use cases
- Operator preference: reduces perceived “blue harshness” in long inspection shifts.
- Material appearance: can improve subjective visibility of certain polymers, coatings, and color-tinted surfaces depending on task.
- Process standardization: helps keep a consistent viewing condition when your SOP references a warm-white station setup.
If you require a cool-white variant for maximum “daylight-like” appearance, compare the
A20980/6000K model.
4) Output, stability, and what “900 lm” means in practice
- Luminous flux (max): 900 lm
- Stability: internal light feedback stabilization helps maintain consistent intensity over time
“At-the-part” illumination is a system result: light source + guide + distance + aim + surface reflectivity. For reflective parts, reducing glare via angle and diffusion often improves defect detection more than simply increasing intensity.
5) Connectivity & controls (why CV-LS is used in machine vision)
- Digital control: USB (virtual RS-232), RS-232, dual Ethernet, multiport
- Analog + digital remote control: supports integration with automated cells and PLC/vision controllers
- Strobe capability: fast triggered strobe (25 μs rise time; 1 μs precision) for synchronized imaging
Best practice for multi-cell deployments: lock exposure strategy, define a target intensity setpoint, and document guide geometry + mounting so “Station A” matches “Station B.”
6) Power & environmental limits (deployment sanity checks)
- Power input: 24VDC / 5A max (18–28VDC)
- Power consumption: 120W
- Operating temperature: 0°C to 45°C
- Operating humidity: 5% to 95% (non-condensing)
- Storage temperature: −25°C to 85°C
Maintain ventilation clearance per the manufacturer’s instructions and avoid placing the source where it ingests solvent vapor or particulate beyond your facility limits.
7) Controlled-environment / clean work area guidance
CV-LS is not a cleanroom-certified consumable and is not sterile. If used near sensitive product zones, many facilities keep the source outside the most critical airflow region and route only the light guide to the work area.
If audit readiness matters, document: (1) placement, (2) wipe-down method and frequency, (3) cable routing and retention, and (4) standard illumination geometry (guide type, angle, distance, and setpoint).
8) Source basis (spec traceability)
