The Vision Show 2009—the sun shines on
Jana Knezovich, Contributing Editor -- Test & Measurement World, 4/9/2009 10:53:00 AM
It’s always a good sign at trade shows when scheduled editorial meetings get postponed because an exhibitor’s customer wants attention. This happened several times during the opening day of The Vision Show in Phoenix, AZ (March 31 to April 2). While the aisles were not overcrowded, several exhibitors said the quality of leads was unexpectedly high.
Much of the activity seemed driven by solar, medical, and homeland security applications. Dana Whalls, managing director of the AIA (Automated Imaging Association), the organization that produces the show, said this year's event drew unusually strong attendance from Argentina, Chile, and Mexico, as well as large delegations from locally represented giants such as Intel. Whalls credited the show’s relocation to Phoenix for drawing a new, solar-oriented crowd.
Despite the latest economic news, a number of firms were hiring, especially for solar arrays and supporting structures. Keynote speaker Peter Klaerner of SolFocus, emphasized "how solar energy heats up the machine-vision market," citing increased solar investments and factory automation needs. Machine vision is needed in both front-end and back-end processes, as well as in stress-relief inspection and advanced lighting and recognition of clear glass. In response to an audience question, Klaerner said that the number one entry barrier for machine vision is lack of experience working with glass or glass-like substances.
Noteworthy new products
Allied Vision Technologies, whose CEO Michael Cyros is also the AIA’s board chair, showed its expanded portfolio, including products from its recent acquisition, Prosilica. Allied showed its 5-Mpixel high-speed FireWire cameras, the Pike F-505 (15 fps) and Stingray F-504 (9 fps), as well as the Prosilica GE4900, a 16-Mpixel high-performance Ethernet camera with a GigE Vision interface.
Point Grey Research doubled bandwidth for faster frame rates and more cameras on the same FireWire bus. Its Grasshopper2 camera uses two IEEE 1394b S800 chips to achieve data rates of up to 160 Mbytes/s. SCHOTT’s Fiber Optics division announced a new generation of its LLS (LED light source) that generates about twice the intensity of light output in all colors compared to the two-year-old prior generation. The company claims very high demand for the LLS, which delivers a longer lifetime, low power consumption, a small form factor, and very low heat generation.
FLIR launched the ThermaVision SC6700, a high-speed, high-resolution science-grade infrared camera with plug-and-play software accessibility. Vision Components exhibited what it calls the world’s smallest smart camera with an open platform. Smaller than a business card, the camera is the latest example of the trend toward providing the most functionality in the smallest space, using the least amount of power.
Cabling and connection innovations included Intercon 1’s InfiniFlex cable assembly, a flat cable that has a flexing bend radius down to 50 mm, and new IEEE 1394 connectors from 3M's Interconnect Solutions division that offer a quick-release secure latching system in right-angle upright and horizontal configurations.
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One has to wonder whether the author actually attended the show.
Andy Wilson - 2009-17-4 13:45:00 EDT -
The Vision Show was indeed quite good. My colleagues and I, representing Leutron Vision, were exhibiting. Visitors were in general quite familiar with vision and have immediate needs. Industries were quite well represented from semi-conductor Intel to general integration.
Leutron Vision demonstrated its new 28 Power-over-gigabit-Ethernet cameras as well as the 28 cameras with integrated control for motorized lens.
We also had the latest Ultra Bright backlights from Phlox. with about 100k cd/m2 over 2"x2" or about 50k cd/m2 over 8"x8", this new generation of backlight can address many more applications such as high speed inspection or diffuse front lighting.
Also demonstrated was new Corona linear lights from Chromasens, a unique LED light source featuring a parabolic mirror to focus the light for best homogeneity and efficiency. They are idea for linescan inspection and particulary for color application.
Stephane Francois - 2009-9-4 15:10:00 EDT
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