JUNE 6--Cognex Corp. (Natick, MA; www.cognex.com) unveiled the CDC-200 at the recent International Robots & Vision Show (Rosemont, IL). The CDC-200 extends the range of vision applications with faster frame rates and global shuttering capabilities. At roughly half the size and weight and twice the speed of typical CCD-based high-resolution cameras, the CDC-200 is well suited for use in space-constrained environments.
Additionally, the CDC-200 camera can accommodate mixed-resolution applications using a configurable ROI (region of interest) acquisition feature. This feature allows users to optimize vision application performance by defining a region of interest of any size anywhere within the possible field of view. For example, the CDC-200 can deliver high-resolution SXGA images (1280 x 1024 pixels) at up to 26 frames/s, a standard VGA image (640 x 480 pixels at frame rates up to 100 frames/s, or a 320 x 240-pixel image at frame rates up to 340 frames/s.
Tuning image resolution in this way allows users to maximize the frame rate, while minimizing the amount of data that must be acquired and transferred across the PCI bus. Moreover, users can reduce system cost and optimize performance by specifying ROI size and location to change image resolution on the fly. This eliminates the need for multiple cameras to view parts of different sizes under different magnifications. For example, an electronic component placement system can view large leaded and small chip components with the same camera without sacrificing accuracy when viewing large parts or speed when viewing small parts.
The CDC-200 camera performs a direct 1:1 conversion of the digitized image, providing low-noise images with no "pixel jitter". This provides a machine-vision system with better image data for making decisions, such as where an object is located and whether it is defective, thus maximizing the performance of the company's vision software.
The CDC-200 camera is designed for use with the Cognex MVS-8100D frame grabber. The 8100D features a full library of proven vision software tools, including PatMax for locating objects despite changes in angle, scale, or appearance. Available in one-, two-, and three-channel configurations, the 8100D enables interchangeability of any combination of up to three CDC-50, CDC-100, and CDC-200 cameras, eliminating the need to purchase multiple frame grabbers for different camera types. Asynchronous acquisition support enables each camera to accept triggers and acquire images independently of one another.
