Products

Providing tools that allow engineers to prototype, benchmark, and create advanced vision applications, National Instruments has introduced the Vision 7 Development Module for LabView 7 Express. The menu-driven Vision Assistant allows engineers to experiment with more than 200 machine-vision functions, including optical-character recognition and bar-code reading. A single mouse-click generates code for LabView, LabView Real-Time, C, and Visual Basic.

The Vision 7 Development Module delivers improved performance over previous software. In particle-analysis applications, for example, engineers can choose from more than 80 particle measurements that run 2 to 10 times faster than previously. With the LabView Real-Time Module, engineers can take advantage of time-bound vision algorithms to develop deterministic, real-time machine-vision applications that finish within a specified period of time. This function, combined with the new National Instruments Compact Vision System, creates a combination useful for assembly, robotics, and industrial inspection.

Vision-system features for LabView users include a native, embedded display for viewing images at full-frame rates on the LabView front panel. Users can also acquire and decode color images from Bayer-encoded color cameras at full-frame rates and save multiple images as compressed .AVI movie files. National Instruments, Austin, TX. 888-280-7645; http://www.ni.com/vision .

The Pro Ultra LED Controller from Schott Fostec is a regulated, constant-current, variable-intensity controller for machine-vision applications. Automatically recognizing the connected LED's light head, the controller requires no adjustments when changing heads. A trigger function extends the LED head's lifetime and provides dark periods during part inspection. The Pro Ultra also has automatic over-temperature protection and an overdrive intensity mode, which provides up to 150% light output.

The Pro-Ultra controller features a heavy-duty, grounded metal industrial housing with mounting holes on both sides. A single light-intensity knob adjusts from 0 to 150%, and a temperature indicator light alerts the user to check intensity settings or ambient temperature. Schott Fostec, Auburn, NY. 315-255-2791; http://www.schott.com/fiberoptics .

Providing connectivity with a new class of high-speed digital cameras, PPT Vision has introduced IMPACT CL—a new addition to the IMPACT machine-vision micro-system product line. IMPACT CL interfaces with Camera Link-compatible cameras, allowing users to choose from a broad selection of camera formats, including line-scan, color, and high resolution. PPT Vision, Minneapolis, MN. 952-996-9500; http://www.pptvision.com .

Matrox Imaging has introduced an LVDS/RS-422 frame-grabber module for its Odyssey Xpro vision processor. The conventional digital module aims at applications that cannot take advantage of the Camera Link standard, such as legacy camera systems. The module addresses LVDS/RS-422 limitations such as transmission distances greater than 10 m and camera synchronization for surface inspection. The plug-in module supports simultaneous acquisition from up to four independent inputs using a 16-bit-wide LVDS or RS-422 interface. Sampling rates are 65 MHz for LVDS and 32 MHz for RS-422. The unit also supports both frame and line-scan cameras, and can combine inputs to accommodate component RGB or 2-, 4-, or 8-tap monochrome video sources. Matrox Imaging, Dorval, QC, Canada. 514-685-2630; http://www.matrox.com/imaging .

Coreco Imaging has entered a partnership with Toshiba subsidiary Tokyo Electronic Industry (TELI) to introduce a high-speed system for inspecting automobile parts, safety products, semiconductors, and electronics assemblies. The system, which has an acquisition rate of 640 million pixels/s, consists of Coreco's X64-CLP 64-bit Camera Link digital frame-grabber and the CSB-1000, a high-resolution, high-speed camera from TELI. Coreco Imaging, St. Laurent, QC, Canada. 514-333-1301; http://www.imaging.com . Tokyo Electronic Industry Co., Tokyo, Japan. http://www.teli.co.jp/english/index-e.htm .