24/7 Low Light USB Camera Module
0.0004 lx min. illumination, 660 m person detection, ≤ 28 g wide-FOV USB night vision module.
Ultra-Wide Night Vision at Minimal SWaP
What It Is
The XHC1602-L20U416 is a USB Night Vision Camera Module — an ultra-low-light electro-optical imaging device based on a BSI CMOS sensor with a 4 mm M16 wide-angle lens, delivering verified starlight-level sensitivity without active illumination in a bare-core OEM form factor.
Performance
The module achieves a minimum illumination of 0.0004 lx in B/W mode at 15fps and 0.001 lx in colour mode at 30fps. Against a 1.7 × 0.5 m person target under clear weather conditions (visibility ≥ 10 km, US NVESD standard), detection range is 660 m, recognition 160 m, and identification 100 m. Against a 3 × 9 m tank, detection reaches 3500 m. Dynamic range is 72 dB (default), power consumption is 0.92 W at 25fps, and the module weighs ≤ 28 g.
Key Technical Features
- BSI CMOS sensor (XHI1302C/B) with F1.0 aperture and M16 lens mount provides maximum photon collection for ultra-low-light performance without illuminators, producing a 93° × 73° FOV at 1280 × 1024.
- UVC-compliant USB output for zero-driver plug-and-play integration on Windows and Linux, with V4L2 parameter control for resolution, frame rate, encoding, and exposure at runtime.
- H.264 / H.265 hardware encoding with adjustable bitrate (512 Kbps – 12 Mbps) enables efficient streaming over constrained USB links in drone and portable platforms.
- Optional AI inference for face, human body, and vehicle detection available as a firmware-level add-on for autonomous embedded vision pipelines.
Platform Compatibility
The XHC1602-L20U416 is suited for integration into small and medium UAV payloads, loitering munitions observation modules, counter-UAS surveillance rigs, handheld portable tactical cameras, perimeter security embedded systems, and search-and-rescue drone platforms where SWaP constraints demand a sub-30 g, sub-1 W imaging core with wide-area coverage.
Starlight BSI CMOS Sensor
The XHI1302C/B back-side illuminated CMOS sensor maximises light collection per pixel by placing circuitry behind the photodetector layer. This architecture enables reliable colour and monochrome imaging in moonlight and starlight conditions without any active illuminator.
Verified DRI Performance
Detection, recognition, and identification ranges are calculated to US military NVESD standard under clear weather with visibility ≥ 10 km. Against a 1.7 × 0.5 m person, the 416 achieves 660 m detection, 160 m recognition, and 100 m identification in B/W mode.
UVC USB Plug-and-Play
The camera enumerates as a standard UVC device on any Windows or Linux host without custom drivers, accelerating integration timelines for OEM developers. V4L2-compatible software allows full runtime control of resolution, frame rate, encoding, and exposure.
Optional AI Inference
Firmware-level AI functions provide on-device detection and classification of faces, human bodies, and vehicles without a host GPU. This enables closed-loop target cueing directly from the camera module in autonomous UAV and surveillance applications.
Our technical team provides pre-sales support for system integration planning, field testing, and deployment assessment.
Contact Technical TeamFull Technical Specifications
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| GENERAL | |
| Model Number | XHC1602-L20U416 |
| Product Series | XHC1602-L20U Series |
| Product Type | Ultra Low Light USB Camera Module |
| OPTICAL | |
| Sensor Type | CMOS (EO/Ultra Low Light) — XHI1302C/B BSI |
| Resolution | 1280 × 1024 |
| Colour Mode | Colour / Black & White |
| Focal Length | 4 mm |
| Aperture (F-number) | F1.0 |
| FOV Horizontal | 93° (1280 × 1024) |
| FOV Vertical | 73° (1280 × 1024) |
| PERFORMANCE | |
| Min. Illumination | 0.0004 lx (B/W @ 15fps) |
| Frame Rate | 15 / 25 / 30 / 50 / 60 / 90 fps |
| Dynamic Range | 72 dB |
| Shutter Type | Rolling Shutter |
| MECHANICAL | |
| Dimensions | 20 x 46 mm |
| Weight | ≤ 28 g |
| Lens Mount | M16 Lens Interface |
| ELECTRICAL | |
| Operating Voltage | 5 V ± 0.5 V |
| Power Consumption | 0.92 W @ 25fps; 1.15 W @ 50fps |
| ENVIRONMENTAL | |
| Operating Temperature | −40 °C to +60 °C |
| Storage Temperature | −50 °C to +70 °C |
| FEATURES | |
| AI / SDK Support | AI detection: face, human, vehicle (optional firmware) |
| DRI PERFORMANCE | |
| DRI Test Standard | Clear weather, visibility ≥ 10 km; US military NVESD standard; B/W values; colour ≈ 70% |
| DRI Target — Person | 1.7 × 0.5 m body |
| DRI Target — Vehicle | 3 × 9 m Tank |
| Detection Range (Vehicle) | 3500 m |
| Recognition Range (Vehicle) | 870 m |
| Identification Range (Vehicle) | 540 m |
| Detection Range (Person) | 660 m |
| Recognition Range (Person) | 160 m |
| Identification Range (Person) | 100 m |
| INTERFACE | |
| Output Format | UVC |
| Video Encoding | H.264 / H.265 |
| Interface Type | USB (UVC) |
| Connector Type | USB-1.25-5P |
| Control Protocol | V4L2 |
Designed for the Field
Drone Night Vision Payloads
The XHC1602-L20U416 provides wide-angle all-night imaging for small UAVs and drone platforms operating in light-denied environments.
Tactical Ground Surveillance
The module enables covert perimeter and ground surveillance in starlight conditions for fixed and portable security systems without active illumination.
OEM Embedded Vision Integration
System integrators and OEM developers embed the XHC1602-L20U416 into custom enclosures for tactical, search-and-rescue, and commercial night-imaging products.
Drone Night Vision Payload
The XHC1602-L20U416 is purpose-built for small and medium UAV platforms requiring all-night imaging in light-denied environments. Its extreme light sensitivity and sub-1 W power draw make it the primary sensor choice for loitering munitions observation and counter-UAS surveillance drones. Its 4 mm wide-angle optics produce a 93° horizontal FOV at 1280 × 1024, and B/W person detection at 660 m provides wide-area situational awareness from low-altitude drone positions under US NVESD conditions.
- Min. Illumination: 0.0004 lx (B/W @ 15fps)
- Detection Range (Person): 660 m
- FOV Horizontal: 93° at 1280 × 1024
- Weight: ≤ 28 g
Tactical Perimeter Surveillance
Fixed and portable perimeter security systems embed the XHC1602-L20U416 for covert surveillance in starlight and moonlight conditions without betraying position with active illuminators. The UVC output integrates directly into Linux-based video management systems via V4L2. Person detection at 660 m and vehicle detection at 3500 m under US NVESD test conditions cover typical perimeter security response distances with a single compact sensor core.
- Detection Range (Vehicle): 3500 m
- Recognition Range (Person): 160 m
- Output Format: UVC (zero-driver Linux integration)
- Power Consumption: 0.92 W @ 25fps
OEM Embedded Vision Integration
System integrators and OEM developers embed the XHC1602-L20U416 into custom housings for tactical handhelds, search-and-rescue equipment, and commercial night-imaging instruments. The bare-core design with M16 lens mount and USB-1.25-5P connector allows mechanical adaptation to any enclosure. H.264 / H.265 encoding with adjustable bitrate (512 Kbps – 12 Mbps) and optional AI inference enable full-featured vision pipeline deployment without additional processing hardware.
- Encoding: H.264 / H.265
- Bitrate Range: 512 Kbps – 12 Mbps
- Lens Mount: M16
- Operating Temperature: −40 °C to +60 °C
System Integration
Interface Architecture
The XHC1602-L20U416 exposes a single USB-1.25-5P connector carrying both power supply and UVC video/data output, with full parameter control via V4L2-compatible host software.
Full integration schematics, SDK access, and AI function configuration are available to registered corporate accounts.
USB UVC Interface
The camera outputs UVC-compliant video over a USB-1.25-5P connector, enumerating as a standard video device on Windows and Linux hosts without custom drivers. V4L2-compatible applications can configure resolution, frame rate, encoding, and exposure parameters at runtime.
Documentation & Downloads
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