Camera Max Distance for a Pixel Density (DORI)

The farthest distance a camera still meets a target pixel density (a DORI task).

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Example

You enter

You get

Details, formula, and sources

distance = px x focal / (target ppf x sensor). A 1920 px camera with a 4 mm lens on a 5.37 mm sensor holds 76 ppf (Identify) out to about 18.8 ft; drop to 38 ppf (Recognize) and it doubles to 37.6 ft. Answers 'how far can it Identify' instead of the density at a set distance. FOV is fixed by the lens. A design aid; verify against the lens chart, low light, and a live view.

max_distance = h_pixels x focal_length / (target_ppf x sensor_width), the inverse of ppf = h_pixels / (distance x sensor_width / focal_length); fov = 2 x atan(sensor_width / (2 x focal_length)); DORI band by ppf (8 Detect / 19 Observe / 38 Recognize / 76 Identify).

IEC 62676-4 (Video surveillance systems - Application guidelines) DORI criteria, by name, solved for the distance; first-principles thin-lens field-of-view geometry.

The FOV and scene-width geometry is first-principles optics; the DORI pixel-density bands are published in IEC 62676-4 (and widely reproduced by camera manufacturers).

Estimate. AHJ and licensed electrician govern. Verify against the NEC edition adopted in your jurisdiction.

Field names used by the API: sensor_width_mm, focal_length_mm, h_pixels, target_ppf, max_distance_ft, fov_deg

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