PPT Vision adds Ethernet/IP to Impact smart cameras

PPT Vision reports that it has added Ethernet/IP communication protocol to its Impact intelligent cameras, including its Impact T-series intelligent cameras and Impact C-series machine vision micro-system.

By Control Engineering Staff May 5, 2005

Impact intelligent camers from PPT Vision now have Ehternet/IP communications capability.

PPT Vision reports that it has added Ethernet/IP communication protocol to its Impact intelligent cameras, including its Impact T-series intelligent cameras and Impact C-series machine vision micro-system. The firm says EtherNet/IP will enable its cameras to seamlessly integrate with many third-party industrial products for data sharing and expanded I/O points.

“Impact is the industry’s first economical, self-contained vision product with all the features of a full-scale vision system,” says Joe Christenson, PPT Vision’s president. “The addition of EtherNet/IP tools enables our machine vision products to integrate easily with commercial off-the-shelf Ethernet/IP-enabled devices.” Christenson adds that Ethernet/IP is a natural extension for the product line because Impact cameras are already programmed and deployed using Ethernet technologies.

In addition, EtherNet/IP is available in PPT Vision’s Inspection Builder 6.1 software, which can be downloaded by clicking here . This software features innovations in image processing technology, as well as tools for deploying complete inspection solutions in the factory environment. Ethernet/IP enhances Inspection Builder by extending data communications between Impact cameras and industrial devices, such as PLCs and sensors.

Unlike other industrial Ethernet fieldbuses, the company adds, EtherNet/IP uses an open protocol at the application layer, and because of its non-proprietary characteristics, has widespread support from multiple vendors and organizations, including ControlNet International (CI), Industrial Ethernet Association (IEA), Open DeviceNet Vendor Association (ODVA), and others.

—Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com