Architecture supports multiple-input capture
Morphis Quad, a variation of the Matrox Morphis frame grabber, features four video decoders working in tandem that support rapid switching between 16 standard video sources for sequential capture. The board captures from NTSC, PAL, RS-170, and CCIR video sources and supports simultaneous acquisition of up to four live video streams. Other features include 16 TTL auxiliary I/Os, an RS-485 serial interface, as well as a watchdog timer for automatically recovering from application or system failure. Software support is available for Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP and consists of hardware-independent Matrox Imaging Library/ActiveMIL or MIL-Lite/ActiveMIL-Lite development toolkits.
Matrox
Dorval, QC, Canada
www.matrox.com
IR camera captures images fast
SILVER 420 is based on a cryogenically cooled staring focal plane array and offers frame rates up to 100 images/s in full-frame mode and several kilohertz in subwindowing mode, while maintaining sensitivity of less than 20 mK. Built for operational flexibility, the camera operates in the 3-5-μm waveband, with a spatial resolution of 320 * 256 pixels. It comes with USB 2.0 and digital video output, bayonet lens mount, and removable filter wheel for multispectral filtering. Calibration curves can be determined and loaded directly from software.
CEDIP Infrared Systems
Croissy-Beaubourg, France
www.cedip-infrared.com
System delivers spatial uniformity analysis
Flat-panel measurement system can deliver uniformity measurements as a function of viewing angle for displays of up to 1.7 * 1 m. The PM-FPMS combines an imaging photometer with a goniometric motion system and includes ProMetric 8 software. The system can produce qualitative display images, as well as a variety of quantitative plots, such as isoplots, CIE color analyses, and radar plots, for any sampling area size and view angle. It includes a fully integrated motion-control system.
Radiant Imaging
Duvall, WA, USA
www.radiantimaging.com
Vision system uses dual CPUs
F270 vision system integrates into a single unit two CPUs with up to four high-speed cameras, two independent triggers, and dual real-time position-compensation ASICs to capture images in 8 to 16 ms in either field or frame mode. This higher speed enables higher throughput, while multiple cameras allow inspection of targets from multiple views or at different stages of processing. Optimum inspection speed for the F270 is 5000 parts/min.
Omron Electronics
Schaumburg, IL, USA
www.packaging.omron.com
Sensors automate inspection
S24 series sensors, controlled via a trigger input and an input for the program mode, are housed in a compact, robust case and comprise a DSP-based machine-vision unit, a matched and preset lens, and an LED ringlight. The full-frame shutter automatically adjusts to ambient lighting. Image acquisition is based on a CCD chip, which can resolve detail down to 0.05 mm. Outputs for Part OK, Part not OK, as well as Ready simplify integration into automation equipment. Discreet results can be sent for further processing to the upstream control units via RS-232 or Ethernet interfaces. S24 sensors can inspect up to 20 parts/s.
Vision Control
Suhl, Germany
www.vision-control.com
CCD microscope delivers sharp images
Inf-500 CCD microscope incorporates a high-quality CCD imaging system and adjustable high-intensity LED lighting to deliver sharp well-lit images from 1X to 500X magnification without changing lenses. Proprietary LED lighting is arranged in two concentric rings. By selecting combinations of the LED arrays in the inner and outer rings, subject lighting can be optimized so that features can be highlighted or unwanted reflections eliminated. The microscope is equipped with both analog (composite and S-video) and digital (NTSC and USB 2.0) outputs. Software is supplied for viewing and image storage.
Moritex USA
San Jose, CA, USA
www.moritex.com
Camera aids light microscopy
The ALTRA20 2-Mpixel CMOS color camera offers a CMOS chip with 1596 × 1196-pixel resolution for light microscopy and digital documentation. Images are transferred from camera to PC via a USB 2.0 interface, with frame rates up to 10 frames/s. The ALTRA20 is operated fully via analySIS FIVE image-analysis software that provides automatic image acquisition, image evaluation and analysis, image and data archiving, and report creation. The camera comes with base-level analySIS getIT software for live-image display and for acquisition, loading, and printing of images.
Soft Imaging System
Lakewood, CO, USA
www.soft-imaging.com
Color camera has on-board processing
TMC-6700CL, a progressive-scan CCD digital color camera, features a 1/2-in. CCD imager with 640 × 480-pixel resolution at 60 frames/s. The camera uses a Bayer RGB color filter array with on-board color interpolation using real-time proprietary digital-signal processing. There is 24-bit LVDS digital output via Camera Link, RGB analog output, a built-in YCrCb 4:4:4 and 4:2:2 converter, and fast, asynchronous reset with electronic shutter up to 1/32,000 s or pulsewidth exposure control. A GUI provides serial control of all camera functions.
JAI Pulnix
Sunnyvale, CA, USA
www.jaipulnix.com
Interferometer measures topography
TMS-300/320 TopCam, a white-light interferometer, is for on-line part inspection and production/quality control. The interferometer can be mounted in any direction and can be controlled via operator- interface software using COM/ActiveX or LabView drivers. Telecentric lenses allow proper imaging along high, steep edges and within deep, drilled holes. Measurements of imaged surfaces with substantial relief are characterized by scanning the large Z dynamic range. The camera simultaneously acquires 325,000-point interferograms over the entire field of view. Software package includes all commands for instrument operation, data acquisition, analysis, and presentation.
Polytec
Tustin, CA, US
www.polytec.com
System has megapixel resolution
FASTCAM-X 1024 PCI high-speed video imaging system uses a 10-bit CMOS sensor with 17-µm-square pixels. The global electronic shutter can operate down to 2 µs, ensuring that high-speed events are captured. Variable aspect ratios are achieved by user-specified “building blocks” that are available in 128 × 16 pixels and are automatically configured to any user-selected framing speed. The camera has both a C-mount and an F-mount lens adaptor. It connects to the PCI specification 2.1 card by a single 16-ft (5-m) flexible cable and occupies only a single slot, regardless of the memory configuration selected.
Photron USA
San Diego, CA, USA
www.photron.com
Panel Web-enables devices simultaneously
G306 operator-interface panel features a 5.7-in., 256-color QVGA ultra-STN LCD display with 320 × 240-pixel resolution and a five-button keypad for on-screen menus. The G3 HMI Series offers up to five communication ports and a built-in gateway to Web-enable any device connected to the panel. It includes a 10Base-T/100Base-TX Ethernet port, USB connection, 4 Mbytes of on-board Flash memory, integrated Web server, Type I/II CompactFlash card reader, and one-click, MS-Excel-compatible data-logging activation. One RS-422/485 port and two RS-232 ports are standard, and each port is format- and baud-rate programmable up to 115,200 baud.
Red Lion Controls
York, PA, USA
www.redlion.net
Motor controls robots
Microcomputer-based dual-channel dc motor controller can directly drive up to 60 continuous amps on each channel at up to 40 V. Fitted on a compact 4.2 × 6.75-in. board, the controller accepts commands from either standard R/C radio for simple remote-controlled robot applications or serial-port interface. Using the serial port, the AX3500 can be used to design fully or semi-autonomous robots by connecting it to single-board computers, wireless modems, or wireless LAN adapters. The AX3500 includes inputs for two Quadrature Encoders up to 25 kHz and four limit switches for precise speed and odometer measurement.
Roboteq
Scottsdale, AZ, USA
www.roboteq.com
Frame grabber supports four cameras
PC-EYE/ASYNC PCI Express frame-grabber board has four simultaneous asynchronous input channels enabling the acquisition of four simultaneous, nonsynchronized monochrome input signals at 40 MHz/8-bit using four independent ADCs. Design is based on two FPGAs containing the PCI Express on one chip and complete frame-grabber control circuit on the second. Four Hirose 12-pin input connectors connect to the cameras. Parallel acquisition into main memory and graphics memory is supported in real time through DMA.
ELTEC Elektronik
Mainz, Germany
www.eltec.de
Image processor delivers speed
Silver Bullet Reconfigurable Image Processing System provides a modular architecture consisting of up to three Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGAs, six PowerPC 405 processors, and 768 Mbytes of SDRAM. Full-profile Camera Link input, Gigabit Ethernet, and/or digital I/O allows integration of existing technologies. The system weighs 1.3 kg and is 10 × 10 × 10 cm. Reference frameworks and example applications are available to assist in development projects or applications.
Pixel Velocity
Ann Arbor, MI, USA
www.pixel-velocity.com
