Vision: Software, training, cameras, CCDs

There’s a lot to "see" among developments in machine vision. Recent announcements include a new American Eltec frame grabber, free seminars from Cognex, a new camera configuration utility from Coreco Imaging, Dalsa-made CCD image sensor chips on Mars, Diagraph printers for scanners to read, ipd company’s easy-to-configure integrated machine vision system, online learning from Microscan, and a new Toshiba camera.

By Control Engineering Staff January 29, 2004

There’s a lot to ‘see’ among developments in machine vision. Recent announcements include a new American Eltec frame grabber, free seminars from Cognex, a new camera configuration utility from Coreco Imaging, Dalsa-made CCD image sensor chips on Mars, Diagraph printers for scanners to read, ipd company’s easy-to-configure integrated machine vision system, online learning from Microscan, and a new Toshiba camera.

Frame grabber: American Eltec offers p3i_SEC frame grabber, part of a family of p3i frame grabbers, available for PCI buses or as PMC mezzanine cards. It records data from analog color cameras via 16 analog inputs; each contains a separate A/D converter to provide fast switching over ensuring interruption-free display of all areas monitored by the cameras. A Linux driver is available in source code.

Free vision seminars: Cognex Corp . is hosting a new series of free machine vision seminars. ‘Understanding and Applying Machine Vision Sensors’ runs a half day and shows how vision sensors can perform automated inspection tasks in the automotive, medical, pharmaceutical, food and beverage, consumer products, and electronics industries. The tutorial covers how vision sensors work in manufacturing applications to accurately gauge, guide, identify and inspect products to reduce scrap costs, inventory problems, and achieve a high level of product quality. Participants will receive free In-Sight Explorer trial software on a CD. The seminars will run from February through June in major cities across the U.S. and Canada. Register online .

Camera configuration utility: Coreco Imaging announced CamExpert, a powerful new Microsoft Windows-based camera configuration utility that is bundled within its latest release of Sapera LT 5.0 image acquisition and development library. CamExpert provides an interactive environment for creating new—or modifying existing—configuration files for area and linescan camera applications. In other news, Coreco recently obtained ISO9001:2000 certification for its design, development and manufacturing processes.

Like what you see on Mars? Mars Exploration Rover ‘Spirit’ color images use CCD (charge-coupled device) image sensor chips, designed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, CA, and manufactured at Dalsa’s semiconductor wafer production facility in Bromont, Pq, Canada. There’s more about it on the Dalsa site :

ipd NetSight II integrated machine vision systems have point-and-click configuration.

Printers for the scanners to read: Diagraph , an ITW Company, announces dual technology product identification solutions. They provide ANSI verifiable bar codes on shipping cases and cost savings compared to other common marking and coding methods. They use existing Diagraph coding and labeling systems: IJ/3000 Integrated Valve ink jet system IJ/3000 Impulse Jet, and the PA/5000LT print-and-apply labeling system.

Easy, integrated machine vision: ipd , the intelligent products division of Coreco Imaging Inc., introduced its new NetSight II Integrated Machine Vision Systems. Designed for rapid deployment in plant-floor applications, these robust industrial vision systems offer a range of advanced performance capabilities in a compact (8 x 7 x 3 in.), cost-effective package. Features include multiple camera support and support for numerous standard communications and I/O options. It has three synchronous progressive scan analog inputs, a 400 Mbps FireWire port, point-and-click Sherlock vision software, and compatibility with the Microsoft Windows embedded XP operating system. See image.

This Toshiba 10-bit digital signal processing camera works for machine vision and other applications.

Online learning: Microscan , manufacturer of automated bar code scanners, revamped its Website and established an E-learning center. Seminars are said to be in a new, easy-to-use format powered by Microsoft Windows Media Player. Choose from viewing the courses on-line, downloading a PDF for the presentation materials, or ordering courses on CD.

Camera: Toshiba IK-TU51 3CCD, 10-bit Digital Signal Processing camera is designed for machine vision, microscopy, broadcast and other quality-sensitive applications. It provides digital and RGB analog output, plus offers the flexibility of interchangeable 1/2- or 1/3-in. remote heads. Significant new features include IT Exwave HAD CCD technology, 800-line resolution, six vector color enhancement circuitry, and one or two-pulse triggers.

—Mark Hoske, Editor-in-Chief, Control Engineering, MHoske@cfemedia.com