Cameras add FireWire DFW-SX900 and DFW-X700 1/2-in. progressive-scan CCD cameras come with the one-cable IEEE-1394 (FireWire) digital interface. They provide uncompressed color (YUV 4:2:2) digital output resolution of 1.45 million pixels (1280 x 9600 at 7.5 frames/s for the SX900 and 0.8 million pixels (1024 x 768) at 15 frames/s for the X700. SX900 contains 4.65-µm square pixels; X700 houses 6.25-µm square pixels. Both cameras measure 55 x 50 x 110 mm, weigh 300 g, come with a C-mount, accommodate a range of lenses, and offer pan and tilt controls. Exposure times run from 1/20,000 to 2 s. Sony Electronics Inc., Park Ridge, NJ 07656; (201) 930-6357.
Software kit promotes prototyping The Imaging Developer's Kit provides a development platform for rapid prototyping of imaging and video systems based on the TMS320C6000 platform. It comes with a TMS320C6000-150-MHZ-based DSP board with 16 Mbytes of on-board memory, a snap-on capture/display daughter board for composite/S-video I/O, and an NTSC/PAL compatible video camera. Sofware support includes application demonstration programs, foundation libraries and utilities, and development tools such as Code Composer Studio IDE, DSP/BIOS II RTOS, and a range of software modules from third-party developers. Host graphical user interface handles MPEG-4, JPEG/JPEG2000, MPEG-2 video, and H.263. Texas Instruments, Houston, TX 77029; (713) 674-7048.
Camera adds PowerPC The MachineCam area-scan digital camera contains a PowerPC processor with 64 Mbytes of memory, VxWorks operating system, and Ethernet connectivity. It can operate in stand-alone mode in go/no-go inspection applications or run with Data Translation's Vision Foundry software while Ethernet-connected to a PC. The camera offers 640 x 480-pixel resolution, a 30 frames/s rate, RS-232/RS-422 communications, 10Base-T Ethernet connection, NYSC video outputs, four product select inputs, six dedicated outputs, general-purpose inputs and outputs, and an IP address for Internet compatibility. Applications can use Tool Control Language, C, C++, and company interface software for connectivity to Windows-based computers. Wintriss Engineering Corp., San Diego, CA 92121; (800) 550-7300.
Camera contains multiple chips Three-chip, 10-bit Model IK-TU51 digital-signal processing camera offers interchangeable 1/2- or 1/3-in. remote heads, needs no frame grabber, and delivers RGB analog outputs. It features CCD sensors with 2-lux sensitivity, 880 TV lines, and a 64-dB signal-to-noise ratio. A built-in six-vector color-enhancement circuit refines image quality. Electronic shutter speeds range to 1/50,000 s. Other features include white balance, one or two pulse triggers, 14-step detail enhancement, freeze frame, autoexposure, and RS-232C interfacing. Toshiba America Information systems Inc., Irvine, CA 92618; (949) 461-4986.
Inspection system is upgraded The Industrial Vision Controller (IVC), version 1.1, is a complete hardware and software system for a range of inspection applications. It comes in two configurations. IVC Shoebox system provides an industrial processor and a passive backplane for severe environments. IVC Compact system provides a desktop processor for light industrial environments. Both systems offer VisionBlox and Common VisionBlox development software as well as an updated set of programming tools, including Light Meter, Image Math, Convolution, RS-232 Communications, and Math Expression. They also come with keyboard and mouse, as many as four monochrome RS-170 CCD or progressive-scan cameras, cables, and input/output hardware. Integral Vision Inc., Farmington Hills, MI 48335; (248) 471-2660.
Software extends vision Stockcar, version 2.0, machine-vision software offers more than 500 functions, 100 sample programs, optical character recognition, pattern recognition, neural network, and mathematical tools. Demonstration programs provide high-speed machine-vision applications for a range of cameras and frame grabbers, including USB and IEEE-1394 (FireWire) cameras using various interface boards. The software is compatible with Windows 98/NT/2000/ME, and all functions are written in OS-independent C, C++, VisualBasic, and MMX Assembly. It can be ported to Linux, MacOS, and SmartCameras. Standard tools include image processing and filtering, convolution, morphology, thresholding, blob analysis, edge detection, and geometric analysis, among others. Lecky Engineering, Williston, VT 05495; (802) 879-3331.
Software adds functions Matrox Inspector 3.1 scientific and industrial imaging software is a Windows-based application for image capture, processing, analysis, display, and archiving. Based on the Matrox Imaging Library, it provides point-and-click access to a set of functions for image processing, blob analysis, gauging and measurement, and pattern matching. Added interactive tools include optical character recognition, bar- and matrix-code recognition, and watershed-based image segmentation. Image capture is supported for Matrix Orion and Meteor-II/1394 boards, and image-compression and decompression for the Meteor-II MJEPG add-on module. The software runs under Windows 98/2000/NT 4.0. Matrox Imaging, Dorval, QC, Canada H9P 2T4; (514) 685-2630.
Software adds functions WiT 7.0 has been enhanced to offer more than 300 image-processing and analysis functions, Pro Toolkit, and FastSeries Libraries for programming industrial and scientific machine-vision applications. It features a faster scheduler, new memory and control operators, and improved subparagraph management. The toolkit adds a C-code generator and supports a binary code file format for loading and intellectually protecting algorithms. It allows igraphs to be exported from WiT for execution within Visual basic or C/C++ environments based on either a dynamic link library or ActiveX control. Coreco Imaging Inc., Bedford, MA 01730; (781) 275-2700).
Camera packs processor VC2065 monochrome camera can deliver more than 50 frames/s with 800 x 600-pixel resolution. Measuring 100 x 50 x 36 mm and weighing 250 mg, it comes with a digital-signal processor, 16 Mbytes of DRAM, 10 Mbytes of flash ROM, and an 8-bit graphical overlay. Eight 24-V inputs and one 5-V input/output, all optically isolated, and an RS-232 interface are available. Other features include a real-time clock, temperature monitoring, and an SVGA output. Vision Components, Burlington, MA 01803; (781) 229-5842.
Board-level camera The CV-M10 board-level camera uses two printed-circuit boards, each measuring 1.57 x 1.57 in. A 1/2-in. CCD sensor and driver circuits are located on one board; timing and video circuits are located on the other board. Both boards are permanently interconnected via a 2.17-in. flexible cable that allows the boards to be freely positioned. The camera can be operated in continuous mode at 25 progressive-scan frames/s, externally pulse-triggered to govern shutter speed, or edge-triggered at a preset shutter speed between 1/50 and 1/10,000 s. The camera provides synchronization with HD/VD pulses (HD/WEN in the case of external-trigger mode.) A frame-delay readout mode stores the captured image in the CCD sensor within 80 ms. Using this feature, three cameras can be configured with a single frame grabber for 3-D image capture. JAI America Inc., Laguna Hills, CA 92653; (949) 472-5900.
Sensor offers wide dynamic range The Kodak KLI-8023 8000-pixel trilinear CCD image sensor delivers a 15-bit dynamic range. It features 9-µm-square pixels arranged in three rows of red, green, and blue photoelements. Independent electronic exposure control for each color row achieves system color balance, and a single shift register per channel minimizes system electronics. Color filter material boosts responsivity by more than 2.5X in the blue region of the visible spectrum. Photoresponse nonuniformity is 3% across the 72-mm sensor length. Eastman Kodak Co., Rochester, NY 14650; (716) 722-4385.
Converter module supports standards The DFG/FW1 uncompressed video to IEEE-1394 converter module can be connected to x-ray, ultrasound, infrared, and video cameras and supports up to eight PAL, NTSC, and SECAM video inputs and the IEEE-1394 serial bus standard. Video signals are digitized by two 9-bit A/D converters and comb filters and transferred to a PC via a FIFO buffer. A built-in multiplexer switches among the eight video sources with 768 x 576 x 24-bit resolution at 30 frames/s. Contrast, brightness, hue, and saturation can be adjusted. Software support includes a software developer's kit and drivers for Windows 98/2000. The Imaging Source, Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 370-0110.
Camera offers multiple resolutions The Pirahna2 linescan camera offers resolutions of 1k, 2k, 4k, and 8k, two- or four-output models, a Camera Link interface, and cables. It delivers 8 or 10 bits (selectable) of data with correlated double sampling and programmable flat-field correction at 40 MHz per tap. Data rates run up to 160 MHz. Dalsa Inc., Waterloo, Ont., Canada N2V 2E9; (519) 886-6001.
Software adds functions Visionscape, version 2.3, software provides updated support for the Visionscape 2644 PCI vision processor. This processor interfaces to progressive-scan, double-speed, or high-resolution cameras and supports four concurrent acquisitions, exposure control, and synchronized image capture over multiple boards. Added tools include 10X faster FastEdge and enhanced inspection algorithms. RSVI Acuity CiMatrix, Canton, MA 02021 (800) 646-6664.
Microcameras serve vision Microcamera series of CCD color remote head cameras come with a CC421E camera control unit, 410,000-pixel resolution, DSP circuitry, a C mount, and an on-screen display. The QN42H offers a 1/4-in. CCD, a 7-mm-diameter housing, and a 3.5-m cable. The MN42H provides a 1/2-in. CCD, a 17-mm-diameter camera housing, 51X low-light sensitivity, and optional lenses and cable lengths to 30 m. The CN42H furnishes a 1/2-in. CCD, 31X low-light sensitivity, and optional cable lengths to 30 m. Elmo Manufacturing Corp., Plainview, NY 11803; (516) 501-1400.
Line arrays shine The WebLite fiberoptic line arrays use 0.66-NA glass fiber to project uniform lines of cool illumination. The arrays range in aperture length from 18 to 112 in. and can be customized to adapt to specific web widths. They are constructed with an aluminum extruded housing, sealed to meet NEMA-12 requirements. A sealed lens hood encloses a fixed focus rod lens that projects a 0.25-in. stripe of light at a working distance of 4 to 6 in. A sealed PVC covered metal hose NEMA-type sheathing allows flexible positioning. StockerYale Inc., Salem, NH 03079; (603) 893-8778.
CMOS camera provides chaining The Phantom V5.0 digital CMOS camera uses IEEE-1394 interfacing to chain as many as 64 cameras together with one camera linked to a controller. Its sensor offers monochrome or color 1024 x 1024-pixel resolution at 1000 frames/s with a variable exposure time to 10 µs and a blooming ratio of 100,000:1 with no pixel-to-pixel spillover. The 5 x 4.5 x 10-in. camera weighs 6 lb and comes with a Nikon lens mount. Key features include 1024 Mbytes of image memory, NTSC or PAL video outputs, and Windows-based Phantom software. Instrumentation Marketing Corp., Burbank, CA 91506; (818) 842-2141.
Camera offers megapixels The monochrome or color Retiga 1300 2/3-in. microlensed progressive-scan CCD camera provides 1300 x 1030-pixel resolution with 6.7 µm square pixels at 12 frames/s and uses an IEEE-1394 interface. It features 12-bit digital outputs, a 66-dB dynamic range, and a 20-MHz readout rate. Programmable exposure time ranges from 40 µs to 15 min. Binning modes of 2 x 2, 3 x 3, or 4 x 4 and programmable gain and offset are available. Quantum efficiency at 500 nm is 43%. Quantitative Imaging Corp., Burnaby, BC, Canada V5A 1W9; (604) 708-5061.
Camera opts for IEEE-1394 The ORCA-1394 progressive-scan interline CCD camera provides 1.3 million pixels and a 1300:1 dynamic range. Frame rate is 9.4 Hz at 1 x 1 binning, 17.6 Hz at 2 x 2 binning, 31 Hz at 4 x 4 binning, and 50 Hz at 8 x 8 binning. Exposure times range from 10 µs to 10 s. Other features include Peltier cooling, a 12-bit A/D converter, C lens mount, and 8 to 12 electrons of readout noise.Hamamatsu Photonic Systems, Bridgewater, NJ 08807; (908) 231-1116.
Software aids 3-D imaging The 3D-Doctor, version 3.0.5h, three-dimensional (3-D) imaging software suits CT, MRI, microscopy, and other volumetric images. It offers improved real-time volume and rendering algorithms, volume and surface-area calculations, and image-processing functions. The proprietary vector-based surface-rendering algorithm creates 3-D surface models from cross-section images in real time for a PC. Models can be saved to a 3-D format, for prototyping or VRML for display over the Internet. Voxel-based volume rendering supports maximum density, transparency, direct voxel, and ray-casting methods for direct volume visualization of 3-D medical images. Other functions include automatic generation of surface contours, multimodality image registration, and color and focus fusion. Able Software Corp., Lexington, MA 02420; (781) 862-2804.
Cameras use plug-in boards Model 20D489 color camera board comes with a 500-horizontal-line, 1/3-in. CCD sensor that offers 1-lux sensitivity. Digital and analog outputs consist of S-video, composite video, and YUV and RGB signals. Other features include operational frequencies to 85 Hz, manual or automatic gain control, edge enhancement and backlight compensation, white balance function, and RS-232 remote control. Snap-in add-on feature boards come with a 24-Vac line lock, dc auto iris, and extended integration functions; all boards are 50 x 50 mm.Videology Imaging Solutions Inc., Greenville, RI 02828; (401) 949-5332.
Camera does microscopy The Photometrics CoolSNAPfx color-imaging system targets digital microscopy. It includes a CCD camera cooled to -30°C, a C mount, custom PCI card, and RS Image software. The system offers 1300 x 1300-pixel resolution and delivers images at 20 MHz. Roper Scientific Inc., Acton, MA 01720; (978) 263-3584.
