Vision 2007 demos run gamut from sensor to software
-- Test & Measurement World, 11/12/2007 3:51:00 AM
STUTTGART, GERMANY. European companies demonstrating products including vision software, cameras and sensors, frame grabbers, lighting, and optics at the Vision 2007 show included Stemmer Imaging, XenICs, Sony Europe, MVTec, Baumer, Leutron Vision, Basler, Docter Optics, and Schott.
Stemmer Imaging highlighted release 9.0.2 of its Common Vision Blox (CVB) software, which includes the company’s GigE vision driver. In addition to providing a connection over a socket link, this driver also contains a filter driver that directly forwards camera data to an application without any loops. The driver implements GenICam and includes a grid control that provides access to all individual camera options without the need for complex development efforts in .NET and other languages.
XenICs demonstrated the latest release (Q4/2007) of its Cheetah PowerPC-based, high-speed imaging system—an InGaAs focal-plane array camera that covers the standard SWIR (short-wave infrared) wavelength area of 0.9 to 1.7 microns; it includes all control and communications circuitry in one housing. Cheetah offers 640 x 512 pixels at a maximum full frame rate of 1730 Hz. In a reduced-region-of-interest mode, more than 100,000 fps is feasible. Cheetah features a 640 x 512-pixel InGaAs array, which features a new XenICs ROIC (read-out integrated circuit) optimized for high speed with 16 outputs and a 40-MHz pixel rate. The camera's PowerPC allows for a data interface based on the TCP/IP Gigabit Ethernet protocol; a CameraLink data interface is also planned.
XenICs also announced it has extended the wavelength areas of its high-detectivity and high-uniformity InSb detector cameras for the midwave infrared (MWIR). New broadband versions extend performance from 3 to 5 microns up to 1 to 5 microns. The company also said it is extending the image-capture range of its SWIR product lines, the XEVA and XS (extra small) into the visible realm, covering a total wavelength area of 400 to 1700 nm. These extended optical features are based on InP substrate removal of InGaAs sensor arrays.
Sony Europe’s Image Sensing Solutions Division announced a new series of IEEE 1394.b digital cameras: the XCD line-up ranges from the XCD-V60 black-and-white VGA-resolution, 90-fps model to the XCD-U100CR color UXGA, 15-fps unit. A total of six new models in the lineup are each fitted with Sony Semiconductor CCD sensors utilizing 10-bit EXview HAD or simple HAD (hole-accumulation-diode) technology.
Sony also announced two additions to its XCL-5000 family of high-resolution industry-standard Camera Link-equipped camera modules, the XCL-5005 and XCL-5005CR. Designed for machine-vision applications, they now feature selectable Power on Camera Link (PoCL) capability, which provides power to the camera over the Camera Link interface cable. Units can be powered using PoCL or by a separate 12V DC supply. Using the PoCL function, the compact cameras can be installed in physically small spaces such as inside robotic arms and semiconductor pick-and-place machines. The XCL-5005CR adds 5-Mpixel color capability to the product family.
Sony also previewed additions to its XCI series of intelligent cameras. This second-generation series offers a 1-GHz processor with MMX and SSE support.
MVTec highlighted support for quad-core processors with its HALCON 8.0 software and demonstrated an industrial robot system that detects objects in any 3-D position with only one camera. The single-camera 3-D implementation employs HALCON within an environment that knows an object’s CAD model and precalculates all possible positions as 2-D projections. The robot system can then identify an object in any arbitrarily oriented pose, allowing a robotic arm to grasp it. MVTec also announced that HALCON can interface to uEye Gigabit Ethernet cameras from IDS, to microEnable IV Camera Link boards from Silicon Software, and to TXF and TXD cameras from Baumer.
For its part, Baumer demonstrated its TXG cameras, which add a Gigabit Ethernet interface; its FQX high-end FireWire cameras for scientific, medical, and industrial applications, and its VeriSens family of vision sensors, which inspect part completeness, presence, location, can positioning.
Leutron Vision demonstrated PoCL versions of its PicSight cameras and frame grabbers, a low-cost sensor module with enhanced NIR sensitivity, an energy-saving 10- to 26-V Gigabit Ethernet interface module, PicSight GigE cameras with enhanced FPGA-based on-board preprocessing, a line of PicSight smart cameras with a 500-MHz 32-bit RISC processor, and PhloxLEDs, which offer 20,000-cd/m2 luminance for backlighting applications.
Basler Vision Components introduced a new member of its Pioneer series based on Sony’s new ICX625 CCD sensor. The new piA2400 Gigabit Ethernet camera runs at 12 fps at 2456 x 2048 resolution. The piA2400 is available in mono and color and features a fully GigE Vision compliant interface. The piA2400 has been fully characterized using EMVA 1288 standard measurements. Key camera features include binning modes (up to 4 x 4 binning), a programmable area-of-interest (AOI) feature with speed increase, programmable exposure controls, 12-bit readout, packed data transfer for high frame rates even in color modes (YUV), and asynchronous external triggering and synchronization.
Basler also introduced a new member of its Runner series, the ruL2098-10gc tri-linear line-scan camera. This new camera employs the same sensor at the same speed as the L301kc, but adds GigE Vision. Three independent CCD lines with 2098 pixels per line collect the color information at a 9.2-kHz line rate.
Docter Optics showcased its new STILAR (for Sensor Transmission Image Large Angle Resolution) wide-angle lens for 1.2-in. sensor chips. The lens has a focal length of 8.5 mm with click-stopped apertures ranging from f/2.8 to f/11. The company also introduced new reflex-free Auto-Tessar lenses for cameras based on very light-sensitive sensors (such as HDR CMOS), and it highlighted optical-glass components (such as free-form lenses, light pipes, and integrator plates) for beam shaping.
In addition, Schott showcased high-brightness and high-frequency MaVi-S COLDVision strobe family, which features a xenon bulb and touchpad control. The company also highlighted a high-brightness family of surface mount LEDs, which come in lengths of 300 mm to 3000 mm and offer working distances from 50 to 100 mm. Finally, Schott demonstrated its LLS small-footprint LED-based light source—a hybrid product that combines LEDs with fiber optics.
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