Show Highlights: The Vision Show West, Sensors Expo & Conference
By Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 7/1/2005
Machine-vision components and connectivity
The Vision Show West, May 17–19, San Jose, CA, www.machinevisiononline.org.
Sony Electronics (bssc.sel.sony.com) introduced two IEEE 1394b cameras—the XCD-V50 B&W model and the XCD-V50CR color model—as well as its XCI-SX1, the first member of the company's new Smart Camera suite. Cognex (www.cognex.com) introduced two new products: its FireWire acquisition software, which enables direct connection of IEEE 1394-compliant FireWire cameras to the vendor's PC-based vision systems, and its MVS-8600 series of Camera Link frame grabbers, which support 12-bit image acquisition.
The Ladybug2’s camera head unit holds six 1024x768-pixel color CCD sensors. Five point horizontally, and one points vertically.
Courtesy of Point Grey Research
Pleora Technologies (www.pleora.com) introduced its iPORT PT100-VB off-the-shelf board for adding Gigabit Ethernet connectivity to industrial cameras. Point Grey Research (www.ptgrey.com) unveiled its Ladybug2 IEEE 1394b-compliant spherical video camera, which delivers 360° real-time views at up to 30 frames/s.
Schott (www.us.schott.com) introduced the iQ421 LED lighting controller, the Mini LED Ringlight, and new members of its DCR light series. Leutron Vision (www.leutron.com) debuted its PicPort-Express-CL series PCI Express Camera Link frame grabbers, which employ 85-MHz Camera Link receivers, are available in x1 and x4 PCI Express configurations, support area-scan and line-scan cameras, and offer single or dual (mono or stereo) Camera Link connectors.
In presentations, Steve Kinney of JAI Pulnix (www.jaipulnix.com)—chair of the AIA's Camera Link committee—provided an overview of Camera Link and described efforts to adopt a specification for a miniature Camera Link connector and a smaller cable. Arndt Bake of Basler (www.basler-vc.com) described the importance of color in line-scan-camera applications.
Drew Buttress of Lumenera (www.lumenera.com) touted high-resolution area-scan cameras such as his firm's new LW620, a 6.6-Mpixel (3000x2200 pixels) product. Simon Stanley of StockerYale (www.stockeryale.com) discussed the application of LED illumination to line-scan applications and described his company's Cobra (Chip On Board Reflective Array) line-scan illuminator.
ZigBee buzzes through Chicago
Sensors Expo & Conference, June 6–8, Chicago, IL, www.sensorsexpo.com.
The buzz around the 2005 Sensors Expo was about ZigBee, a protocol specification that promises to produce wireless sensor networks. If ZigBee lives up to its hype, you'll be able to build a robust measurement and control system without wires.
Crossbow Technology (www.xbow.com) showed 802.15.4-compliant RF modules for embedded systems. Ember (www.ember.com) exhibited an IC that adds IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee-compliant networking to electronic devices and systems. Texas Instruments (www.ti.com) introduced a frequency-hopping, spread-spectrum UART chipset for use in short-range wireless sensing applications.
Maxstream (www.maxstream.net) exhibited XBee RF modules for embedded systems. ANT (www.thisisant.com) exhibited proprietary wireless networking software. Cirronet (www.cirronet.com) demonstrated a ZigBee wireless modem. Wireless Plug (www.helicomm.com) showed a line of ZigBee-compliant networking terminals. Innovative Wireless Technologies (www.iwtwireless.com) showed IEEE 802.15.4 and ZigBee-compliant transceivers.
Not all companies were focused on wireless technologies. Colibrys (www.colibrys.com) exhibited MEMS capacitive accelerometers. PCB Piezotronics (www.pcb.com) displayed a portable TEDS reader/writer that uses a PDA to let you read and write data to IEEE 1451-compliant sensors. Crossbow Technology (www.xbow.com) showed a navigation and servo-control board for use in radio-controlled vehicles. Endevco (www.endevco.com) announced a high-resonance piezoresistive crash sensor that captures high-frequency ringing that can occur in crash tests.
National Instruments (www.ni.com) gave presentations on graphical programming and displayed the CompactRIO configurable real-time controllers as well as data-acquisition hardware. Dexter Research (www.dexterresearch.com) announced the ST60 and ST60R infrared thermopile detectors. Sypris Test & Measurement (www.calibration.com) displayed current sensors, and company representatives discussed the CalWeb calibration services. Summit Instruments (www.summitinstruments.com) exhibited accelerometers.
FISO Technologies (www.fiso.com) announced the FOP-MA, a fiber-optic pressure sensor for acoustic applications. Sensor Synergy (www.sensorsynergy.com) showed its network-enabled equipment monitor. Honeywell Sensor Products (www.magneticsensors.com) displayed a three-axis magnetic sensor hybrid.
