Cameras are listed on BIS Commerce Control List under categories 6 and 8. A lot of details that may not be covered even on the Data Sheet of an equipment. Following questions are helpful guide for ECCN determination.
Cameras (not underwater)
6A003
6A203
6A993
Is the camera capable of recording at rates exceeding 1,000,000 frames/s for the full framing height of 35 mm film, or at proportionately higher rates for lesser frame heights, or at proportionately lower rates for greater frameheights? Is the camera capable of having writing speeds exceeding 10 mm/ μs? Is the camera capable of having a speed exceeding 1,000,000 frames/s? Is the camera capable of having an electronic shutter speed (gating capability) of less than 1 μs per full frame? Does the camera have a read out time allowing a framing rate of more than 125 full frames per second? Is the camera equipped with plug-ins that are specially designed for instrumentation cameras which have modular structures? Does this camera incorporate solid state sensors, having a peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 10 nm, but not exceeding 30,000 nm? Does the camera have more than 4 x 106 “active pixels” per solid state array? Does the camera incorporate three solid state arrays? Does the camera have more than 12 x 106 “active pixels” for solid state array? Does the camera have any “Deformable mirrors” having either continuous or multi-element surfaces, and specially designed components therefor, capable of dynamically repositioning portions of the surface of the mirror at rates exceeding 100 Hz? Does the camera have any optical control equipment having steering, tracking, stabilization or resonator alignment bandwidths equal to or more than 100 Hz and an accuracy of 10 rad (microradians) or less? Does the camera incorporate gimbals that have a maximum slew exceeding 5? Does the camera incorporate gimbals that have a bandwidth of 100 Hz or more? Does the camera incorporate gimbals that have an angular pointing errors of 200 rad (microradians) or less? Does the camera have the capability for annotating internally generated camera tracking data (this includes: 1) the horizontal angle the camera line of sight makes with respect to the earth’s magnetic field direction and; 2) the vertical angle between the camera line of sight and the earth’s horizon)? Does the camera have a peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 10 nm, but not exceeding 30,000 nm? Does the camera have linear detector arrays with more than 8,192 elements per array? Is the camera capable of mechanical scanning in one direction? Does the incorporate image intensifier tubes? Does the camera incorporate “focal plane arrays”? Does the camera include “focal plane arrays” combined with sufficient signal processing electronics, beyond the read out integrated circuit, to enable as a minimum the output of an analog or digital signal once power is supplied? Does the camera incorporate linear “focal plane arrays” with twelve elements or fewer, not employing time-delay-and-integration within the element, designed for any of the following: (a) Industrial or civilian intrusion alarm, traffic or industrial movement control or counting systems; (b) Industrial equipment used for inspection or monitoring of heat flows in buildings, equipment or industrial processes; (c) Industrial equipment used for inspection, sorting or analysis of the properties of materials; (d) Equipment specially designed for laboratory use; or (e) Medical equipment? Does the camera have a maximum frame rate equal to or less than 9 Hz? Does the camera have a minimum horizontal or vertical Instantaneous-Field -of-View (IFOV is a lesser figure of the Horizontal FOV or the Vertical FOV; Horizontal IFOV = horizontal Field of View (FOV)/number of horizontal detector elements; Vertical IFOV= vertical Field of View (FOV)/number of vertical detector elements) of at least 10 mrad/pixel (milliradians/pixel)? Does the camera incorporate a fixed focal-length lens that is not designed to be removed? Does the camera incorporate a direct view display (‘Direct view’ refers to an imaging camera operating in the infrared spectrum that presents a visual image to a human observer using a near-to-eye micro display incorporating any light-security mechanism)? Does the camera have facility to obtain a viewable image of the detected field-of-view? Is the camera designed for a single kind of application and designed not to be user modified? Does the camera have recording rates greater than 225,000 frames per second? Is the camera capable of writing speeds greater than 0.5 mm per microsecond? Is the camera capable of 50 ns or less time resolution? Is the camera capable of 50 ns or less frame exposure time?
Underwater Cameras
8A002
8A992
Is it a television camera? What is the resolution (measured in air lines)? Is the camera designed or modified for remote operation with a submersible vehicle? Does it have image intensifier tube with a peak response in the wavelength range exceeding 400 nm but not exceeding 1,050 nm? Does it have image intensifier tube with a microchannel plate for electron image amplification with a hole pitch (center-to-center spacing) of 12 m or less? Does it have image intensifier tube containing any of the following photocathodes: S-20, S-25 or multialkali photocathodes with a luminous sensitivity exceeding 350 A/lm; GaAs or GaInAs photocathodes; or Other III-V compound semiconductor photocathodes? Does it have image intensifier tube containing compound semiconductor photocathodes with a maximum radiant sensitivity of 10 mA/W or less? Does the camera have more than 150,000 active pixels per solid state area array? Is the camera (camera system) specially designed or modified for remote operation with an underwater vehicle, employing techniques to minimize the effects of back scatter, including range-gated illuminators or “laser” systems? Is the camera capable of annotation of the film with data provided by a source external to the camera? Is the camera capable of automatic back focal distance correction? Is the camera capable of taking photographic still images? Is the camera specially designed or modified for underwater use below 150 m? Is the camera capable of having a film format of 35 mm or larger? Is the camera capable of automatic back focal distance correction? Is the camera equipped with Automatic compensation control specially designed to permit an underwater camera housing to be usable at depths exceeding 1,000 m? Is the camera capable of storing digitally more than 50 exposed images? Does the camera have autofocussing or remote focusing functions specially designed for underwater use?
