Product Update

Used with the DCR series of halogen light sources, the Equalizer light feedback module stabilizes light output for machine-vision inspection.

• Provides user-defined intensity settings.
• Includes a feedback indicator that signals when it is time to change the lamp.
• Accommodates both off-the-shelf and custom fiber-optic products.

Schott-Fostec, Auburn, NY. 315-255-2791; www.schott-fostec.com.

Called the ovhm|module, this addition to Phoenix X-ray's line of x-ray inspection systems maintains up to 2000X magnification, regardless of the angle of tilt or rotation.

• Provides 3-D-like imagery with 2-D image-acquisition speed.
• Inspects defects in surface-mount assemblies, component packaging, and multilayer PCBs.
• Uses a motorized detector to acquire an oblique view.

Price: $190,00 (for a complete system). Phoenix X-ray, Camarillo, CA. 877-749-9729; www.phoenix-xray.com.

The Leica DC 500 digital camera boasts a resolution of up to 12 million real pixels and a color depth of 42 bits RGB.

• Uses a standard C-mount interface for connection to any microscope, stereomicroscope, or macroscope.
• Ensures image quality without interference from moiré effect, color fringing, rustling, and blooming.
• Provides excellent detail, even with poor fluorescent lighting.

Leica Microsystems, Bannockburn, IL. 800-248-0123; www.leica-microsystems.com.

In addition to an Intel i960 RISC embedded processor and PCI bus interface, the Viper CamLink frame grabber integrates a high-speed Camera Link communication interface.

• Captures data at rates of up to 160 Mbytes/s at resolutions of 32x32 to 64kx64k.
• Works with a range of digital area-scan and linescan multi-tap cameras.
• Useful for 300-mm semiconductor wafer inspection.

Base price: $3500. Coreco Imaging, Bedford, MA. 781-275-2700; www.imaging.com.

Enhancements to the OptiCon automated optical inspection system increase fault coverage for the inspection of solder joints.

• Checks solder presence on chip components.
• Verifies the integrity of solder joints on the gull-wing leads of multi-pin devices.
• Identifies insufficient solder, lifted leads, unwetted solder, and shorts.

Goepel Electronic, Jena, Germany. +49-3641-6896-79; www.goepel.com.

Chip-Space virtual navigation software overlays Knights format or GDSII format CAD files directly onto an illuminated emission microscope image to precisely locate a failure site.

• Zoom capability allows the CAD map and emission to be enlarged beyond spatial resolution.
• Helps resolve emission sites with features smaller than 0.2µm.
• Works with Knights'Merlin CAD navigation software.

Hypervision, Fremont, CA. 510-651-7768; www.hypervisioninc.com.

Version 6.0 of IMAQ Vision software lets you create applications for color inspection and high-accuracy gauging.

• Provides color pattern matching.
• Adjusts to the orientation of a product as it comes off a production line to ensure an upright image.
• Works with Measurement Studio acquisition and analysis software.

Base price: $2495. National Instruments, Austin, TX. 800-258-7022; www.ni.com/vision.

Designed specifically for digital micro-scopy, Vitana's PixeLINK PL-A642 digital camera provides a resolution of up to 1.3 megapixels.

• Employs a Firewire interface to communicate with either a Windows or Macintosh computer.
• Supports TWAIN, QuickTime, and DirectShow formats.
• Mounts to any microscope.

Vitana, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 613-247-1211; www.vitana.com.

To achieve a high-quality image, the HC7501 color camera employs dynamic frame accumulation to expand the camera's low-light performance.

• Useful for microscopy and machine-vision applications.
• Combines a 1/2-in. color interline CCD with digital signal processing circuitry.
• Requires minimum illumination of 1.8 lux at F1.2 standard mode or 0.225 lux or less in frame-accumulation mode.

Elmo Manufacturing, Plainview, NY; 516-501-1400.

Operating at a throughput of up to 150,000 components/hr, the Vi-3200 automated optical inspection system handles boards as large as 24x24 in.

• Verifies component positioning, polarity, and presence/absence.
• Inspects solder joints and paste and detects bridges.

Vision Inspection Technology, Haverhill, MA. 978-372-1230; www.vitechnology.com.