Vision + Automation Products

Aug. 1, 2008
Camera is high speed; Small cameras are for OEM applications; Software supports IEC61131-3; Digital camera captures live images and MORE…

Camera is high speed

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The i-SPEED 3 high-speed video camera has 1280 × 1024-pixel resolution up to 2000 frames/s. Higher speeds up to 150,000 frames/s are achievable with windowed resolution. Combined with user-selectable shutter settings to 1 µs, very fast events can be captured. The camera does not require connection to a PC for operation. A GigE port is available as standard.
Olympus Industrial America
Orangeburg, NY, USA
www.olympusindustrial.com

Small cameras are for OEM applications

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Credit-card-sized GB-Series of single-board OEM cameras with Gigabit Ethernetinterface are designed for OEM applications where there is a need to fit machine-vision cameras within tight spaces. They are available in color or monochrome models, with landscape or portrait orientation and with in-line or vertical connection orientation to offer low-cost options and ease of integration. Cameras are fitted with a C-mount with adjustable back focus or an optional CS-mount. The series has four models—GB650, GB660, GB1380H, and GB2450—ranging from VGA to 5-Mpixel resolution.
Prosilica
Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.prosilica.com

Software supports IEC61131-3

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Company’s motion-control software now supports the IEC61131-3 programming language. Designated ADK 6.0, the PLC Open-compliant control software allows users to program using any of the five languages in addition to ACSPL+. The advanced ADK 6.0 software provides fully variable mapping that enables flexible bidirectional interfacing, mutual synchronization, and functionality exchange between ACSPL+ and IEC 61131-3 programs. The software supports newly available second TCP/IP Ethernet port on all MC4U products.
ACS Motion Control
Plymouth, MN, USA
www.acsmotioncontrol.com

Digital camera captures live images

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ProgRes C7, equipped with SXGA live image, mechanical shutter, and 7-Mpixel CCD sensor, records small specimen structures. With integrated shutter, the ProgRes C7 can take only a single shot of objects in motion and accommodates flash illumination techniques. The ProgRes C7 is suitable for any illumination technique in light microscopy and performs with high light sensitivity and reproduction of colors. C-mount and IEEE-1394 FireWire provide standard interfaces for connection with all common types of microscopes and computers.
Jenoptik Laser, Optik, Systeme
Jena, Germany
www.progres-camera.com

Flexible cables assist machine vision

New flexible cables are for camera-to-frame-grabber connections. The cables mate to industry-standard MDR 26-position camera connections and can be used in applications where the full bandwidth provided by Camera Link cable assemblies is not required. There are three versions: a flexible cable, standard version, with straight exit thumbscrew backshells; a flexible cable extension, or bulkhead version (male-female) that allows for extension applications or connects to a bulkhead panel for feedthrough; and a flexible cable, overmolded, right angle cable drop for space-constrained applications.
3M
St. Paul, MN, USA
www.3M.com/interconnects

2-D profiling sensor has built-in display

Model ZG two-dimensional profiling laser sensor completes a full height and width inspection to capture entire shapes by measuring the x and z axis in a single pass in milliseconds. The sensor measures up to four items simultaneously, allowing accurate and stable in-line measurement at full production speed. A real-time profile display on the controller’s built-in LCD monitor enables the ZG sensor to both reduce hardware costs and deliver profile data at a cost lower than other solutions. A range of sensing heads capture profiles from 3 to 70 mm wide using a visible laser.
Omron Electronics
Schaumburg, IL, USA
www.omron247.com

Camera gives sharp thermal images

HotShot HD Portable Infrared Camera is a 640 × 480-pixel resolution thermographic camera. It produces infrared images that are sharp, making diagnosis of equipment reliability issues more accurate, intuitive, and precise. HotShot HD is designed for maintenance professionals responsible for inspection of high-voltage electrical systems, production machinery, and building envelopes. The camera includes a laser-highlighting system that permits camera users to easily identify objects on the thermal image. Camera software suggests to the user typical problem causes and recommendations for observed equipment symptoms. HotShot HD also features the company’s LaZir-X target-marking system.
Electrophysics
Fairfield, NJ, USA
www.electrophysics.com

Lens assembly is flexible

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Large-format lens assembly has optional microscanning and step-stare sensor capability for enhanced imaging requirements. The 50-mm lens offers flexibility as either a stand-alone solution for large-format detectors or in conjunction with the enhanced resolution features. The speed of the lens is based on an f/2.3 cold-shield arrangement, and the 50-mm focal length for the lens is derived from the required 1-m sampling area at an operating distance of 2.5 km. The MWIR large-format lens assembly offers diffraction-limited performance over the entire field of view, enabling the microscan image enhancement feature to achieve clarity.
StingRay Optics
Keene, NH, USA
www.stingrayoptics.com

LEDs light small areas

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LED illumination spots are designed for lighting small object areas and are suitable for rugged environments. A variety of filters can be used for the spots. An adapter on a light pipe is available. They can substitute for cold light sources.
IB/E Ing.-Büro Klaus Eckerl
Hutthurm, Germany
www.ib-eckerl.de

Camera series can be integrated

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CVA camera series are cost-effective, flexible GigE cameras for high-speed data transfer using Gigabit Ethernet and 100-Mbit LAN. CVA cameras use open source μClinux as the operating system with a GNU compiler. The series can be specified with several CMOS or CCD sensors in either monochrome or color. They are stand-alone units and can be integrated into existing LANs, allowing the user to view the video stream or processed data with any standard Web browser.
Stemmer Imaging
Puchheim, Germany
www.stemmer-imaging.de

Cameras serve wide range of uses

BOBCAT series of cameras are compact (45 × 45 × 39 mm), feature-rich Camera Link cameras designed to address a wide range of applications. All models share the same size, features, and command set, making it easier for end users to switch or upgrade. BOBCAT cameras come equipped with horizontal and vertical binning at 2X, 3X, and 4X; multiple programmable areas of interest; and fully programmable 12-bit look-up tables.
Imperx
Boca Raton, FL, USA
www.imperx.com

Zoom cameras have fast frame rate

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Line of cost-effective FireWire VGA and XVGA zoom cameras have a 4.8–46-mm motor zoom lens, auto iris, and one-push autofocus. Zoom and focus are set by stepper motors, thus all adjustments can be reproduced. All camera functions are software controlled and can be set either manually or automatically via an easy-to-use interface. Optionally, the cameras can be equipped with a ringlight system, which can be powered by the camera.
The Imaging Source Europe
Bremen, Germany
www.theimagingsource.com

SoC verification system is fast

New generation of the PROC_SoC Verification System is designed to debug and verify SoC designs of diverse styles. Incorporating an Altera Stratix III EP3SL340 FPGA, the PROC_SoC has a flexible interconnect topology that allows any FPGA device to directly connect to any other programmable device in the system. It is designed to operate at clock speeds up to 300 MHz. Two scalable, multiple-board, card-cage-based configurations are available. The PROC_SoC system includes a comprehensive suite of software tools for implementing and debugging designs.
GiDEL
Or-Akiva, Israel
www.gidel.com

Camera is standards compatible

ThermoVision A320G infrared camera is designed to be compatible with GigE Vision and support the GenICam protocol for easy integration with digital cameras and third-party software. Rugged, compact, and lightweight, the A320G is an affordable way to add accurate thermographic imaging and noncontact temperature measurements to machine-vision systems. Features include image flow control that allows an external signal to control the image streaming, digital I/O for triggering and synchronization with external equipment, and IR monitor software to run up to nine cameras simultaneously.
FLIR Systems
N. Billerica, MA, USA
www.goinfrared.com

Intelligent camera is versatile

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The IMPACT A20 camera is industrially rugged yet compact, offering high-performance on-board image processing, a digital imaging sensor, real-time I/O, and 256 Mbytes of on-board memory. Included in the IMPACT Software Suite, the IMPACT Vision Program Manager now has more than 120 tools, including OCR, blob analysis, circle gauge, circular pattern find, line find, and subpixel gauging. In addition, The IMPACT Software Suite comes with multilanguage support. A broad array of discrete I/O, serial, Ethernet/IP, TCP/IP, HTTP, and ActiveX communication protocols make the IMPACT A20 compatible with a full spectrum of industrial control equipment and instrumentation.
PPT Vision
Eden Prairie, MN, USA
www.pptvision.com

Telecentric lenses give high contrast

TC UV series telecentric lenses, operating in the 365–425-nm range, provide high image contrast at high spatial frequencies and are therefore compatible with the smallest pixel sizes. Used in combination with normal cameras, they can tolerate object displacements (field depth) much larger than VIS lenses before any image defocusing becomes evident. The lenses can work with UV illuminators operating in the 356–420-nm range.
Opto Engineering
Mantova, Italy
www.opto-engineering.com

Nontelecentric lenses inspect parts

Designed to provide an alternative to CCTV lenses, compact, high-performance ML-N series lenses combine low cost, choice of magnification (0.1x–1.0x), and long working distance (70–350 mm) to enhance moving-part inspection with cameras with up to 1/2-in. sensors. By limiting the number of lenses in each ML-N lens system to fewer than three, the company has developed a high-performance model at a reasonable price. The magnification and working distances of ML-N lenses can be customized.
Moritex Europe
Cambridge, UK
www.moritex.com

Software provides color imaging

HexSight 4.0 software provides color-based geometric pattern-matching supported by Gigabit Ethernet camera acquisition. Tools include vectorized descriptions of gray-scale and color images to locate key features regardless of size, rotation, nonlinear lighting, occlusions, clutter, and contrast reversal; image processing and region sampling, color segmentation, and metrology tools for subpixel edge extraction and dimensional measurement; OCR and symbology tools supporting standard SEMI fonts and decoding for most 1- or 2-D barcodes; and a process manager that easily strings together multiple tools into a customized execution sequence.
LMI Technologies
Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.lmitechnologies.com

Robot handles carton loading

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Cobra s800 inverted IP65 robot brings high-speed handling solutions to case- and carton-loading applications. It is a high-performance SCARA system that offers maximum flexibility and scalability, 70% reduction in wiring over other SCARA robots, and cost-saving expansion capabilities. The Cobra s800 SCARA robot supports high-performance options, including conveyor tracking, vision-guided motion, auxiliary servo axes, and general machine control.
Adept Technology
Livermore, CA, USA
www.adept.com

Additions to camera family

Two models have been added to the Grasshopper IEEE-1394b (FireWire) 800-Mbit/s digital cameras. The new models are based on the addition of monochrome and color Kodak KAI-0340 640 × 480 1/3-in. CCDs to the line of Sony progressive-scan CCD image sensors available in the Grasshopper. Offering 200-frame/s, full-resolution VGA readout, low noise, high quantum efficiency, and sensitive 7.4-µm square pixels, the new models are for imaging applications in machine vision, astronomy and life sciences, high-speed test and measurement, industrial inspection, and motion detection. Key features include a frame buffer for image storage and retransmission and memory channels for defining custom power-up settings.
Point Grey Research
Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.ptgrey.com

Cameras now available with GigE Vision

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GigE Vision data interface is now available for MegaPlus cameras, which have resolution from 1.6 to 16 Mpixels. The cameras also feature Camera Link and FireWire (IEEE 1394a) interfaces. They are compact and have been designed for vision applications including semiconductor inspection, particle imaging velocimetry, ophthalmology, and aerial imaging. To ensure the lowest noise possible, active and passive cooling options are available.
Princeton Instruments
Trenton, NJ, USA
www.piacton.com

Repeater makes long connection

FireNEX-CAT5, an IEEE-1394a/b-compliant repeater for long-distance connection, can send IEEE-1394 signals across a regular Cat5e cable up to 75 meters long at a data rate of 400 Mbits/s. It is easy to set up, and no is configuration necessary. A FireNEX-CAT5 S400 SET includes two FireNEX-CAT5 S400 repeaters and a manual. A dc power jack allows connection to an optional power supply, such as the FIRENEX-POWER.
Newnex Technology
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
www.newnex.com

Zoom lens is compact

TM30Z1028-IR motorized zoom high-resolution, superapochromatic response, IR-corrected lens is for day/night use. The compact C-mount 1/2-in. format 30X lens is made for mil-spec type use and is suitable for low-light surveillance applications such as border control. Video and dc options are available. It also features a maximum aperture of f/2.8 and a focal length of 10–300 mm.
Tokina Industrial
Tokyo, Japan
www.tokina-usa.com

FireWire camera gives high resolution

FireWire OEM board camera is an IEEE-1394- and IIDC 1.31-compliant progressive area-scan CCD camera. The camera is equipped with a CS/C-type lens mount for flexible use of industrial CS and C-mount lenses. Support is also provided for miniature lenses—M12 × 0.5 compliant. Camera has low smear, excellent antiblooming, and consumes less than 2 W at 12 Vdc.
Unibrain
San Ramon, CA, USA
www.unibrain.com

Camera delivers high resolution

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GP-US932 remote-head HD camera system consists of the GP-US932H 3CCD HD camera head mated to either the GP-US932CU camera-control unit with HDMI output or GP-US932CUS with SDI output. The HD camera head is both 1080i and 720p selectable with 3 1/3-in.-type 16 × 9 high-sensitivity progressive sensors running at 60 frames/s. A DSP offers accuracy with 14-bit A/D conversion and 19-bit inner processing, and progressive scanning improves vertical resolution for high HD and SD video output image quality. Additional features include 12-axis matrix control for color accuracy with independent color control, as well as a dynamic range feature that expands contrast in dark areas while maintaining detail in bright areas.
Panasonic Vision Systems
Secaucus, NJ, USA
www.panasonic.com

Line lasers support image processing

FP-HOM series line lasers, developed for industrial image processing, have optics with aperture angles of 30°, 45°, 60°, and 90° that make it possible to project lines of different lengths from a single operating distance. The lasers are available at wavelengths of 532 nm (green) or 635–670 nm. The main feature is the linear intensity distribution along the line.
Blau Optoelectronik
Olching, Germany
www.lasercomponents.com

Small imagers meet demanding apps

Two lightweight imagers, the MS-1 Engine and the MS-2 CCD reader, allow engineers to incorporate scanning solutions into their system designs with minimal impact on equipment budget and operation. Weighing less than 0.3 oz, the MS-1 Engine has a footprint of 1.26 × .095 in. and is 0.44 in. tall. The MS-2 CCD reader is slightly larger and is fully packaged for easy integration. Both include the company’s Easy Setup Program. Programmable features include multisymbol reading, match code, trend analysis, symbol quality reporting, and multiple I/O programming.
Microscan
Renton, WA, USA
www.microscan.com

Board supports Intel processors

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TQ9 graphics-class system host board, coupled with a PICMG 1.3 industry-standard backplane, can support multiple system designs that use the latest PCI Express, PCI-X, and PCI option cards. The TQ9 x16 PCI Express link provides 3.5 times more bandwidth than an AGP8X interface and can be used to support PCI Express graphics and video cards, including the latest ADD2 cards. Other types of PCI Express cards, as well as 32-bit/33-MHz PCI option cards, are supported directly by the TQ9 on a PICMG 1.3 compatible backplane. The TQ9 also supports 64-bit PCI and PCI-X cards on backplanes with the appropriate PCI Express-to-PCI-X bridge chip technology.
Trenton Technology
Gainesville, GA, USA
www.trentontechnology.com

PCI-bus controller card is flexible

MLH20-1030 Mechatrolink-II interface controller card operates at 10 Mbits/s and controls industry-standard stepper and servomotors of various NEMA sizes. By managing 30 programmable control channels from a slave station with an onboard communication IC, users can control several motion parameters. Features includes two inputs, an output interface with photocoupler input and output circuitry, and a sensor power source of +24 Vdc below 0.1 A. The system is lightweight, with a baseplate external size of 64 × 120 × 20 mm.
Nyden Corporation
San Jose, CA, USA
www.nyden.com

Positioning stages are precise

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Slipstream Series 1 linear stages are low cost, ready-to-run, compact linear stages that feature 0.2-mm/300-mm accuracy and 0.1-mm repeatability. Available in travel lengths to 6 m, these easy-to-install stages have “T-Slots” on three sides for installation and/or accessories. Motor options include a NEMA 23 stepper, and a 100- or 200-W servomotor with encoder. Motors can be mounted on the left or right side, and a fail-safe brake is available as an option.
LM76
E. Longmeadow, MA, USA
www.lm76.com

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