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KEYENCE Laser Displacement Sensor Provides Fast Sensing
July 13, 2010 by Randy Frank
Filed under Featured, Image, Vision
KEYENCE LK-G5000 Laser Displacement Sensor uses a newly developed RS-CMOS sensor to provide a sampling rate of 392 kHz – eight times faster than previous models. With ±0.02% Full Scale Linearity and 0.01µm repeatability, the sensor also has several additional capabilities. ABLE (Active Balanced Laser Control Engine) II balances laser emission time, laser power and gain for optimum performance. The sensor has three selectable built-in algorithms:
1-Real Peak Detect (RPD) algorithm avoids pattern distortion of translucent object
2-Multi-Able Control optimizes the laser intensity for transparent targets
3-Center and Peak Composition (CPC) algorithm attains more stable high-definition measurements for high luster resins
The LK-G5000 can also measure speed and acceleration while measuring displacement.
For more information about KEYENCE LK-G5000 Laser Displacement Sensor, click here.
IC Insights Says Image Sensors will Grow 31% in 2010
June 30, 2010 by Randy Frank
Filed under Featured, Image, Market Research, Vision
With growth of 31% in 2010, image sensor devices will reach a record high of $8.5 billion in 2010 according to a new report from IC Insights. Driven by applications for CMOS-based devices, that are projected at 61% of sales, the remaining 39% will come from charge-coupled devices (CCDs). The increased demand is expected from the increased use of vision sensors in digital cameras, camera phones, and machine-vision systems. Automotive applications are projected to be 17% of the total 2014 market of $8.3 billion.
For more information on IC Insights’ Image Sensor research bulletin click here.
Compact Vision System Ideal for 3D Vision Robotic Guidance
ADLINK Technology, Inc., released the EOS-1000, the industry’s first compact vision system based on the Intel® Core(TM)2 Duo P8400 processor. The EOS-1000 provides four independent PoE (Power over Ethernet) ports with data transfer rates up to 4.0 Gb/s and combines high computing power and multi-camera imaging-ideal for applications such as 3D vision robotic guidance.
The EOS-1000 is a compact-size 7.8″ W x 6.5″ D x 3.3″ H (200 x 165 x 85 mm) vision system designed for demanding industrial environments and mission critical applications. It has undergone harsh vibration and shock testing during its design to ensure durability. While in operation, the EOS-1000 can tolerate vibrations of up to 5 G. Long-life embedded components were selected and system monitoring components were incorporated to monitor CPU temperature, fan speed, and system responsiveness to further provide a very robust and reliable platform.
The PoE technology featured on the EOS-1000 allows power to be supplied through the Ethernet cable. Vision applications will greatly benefit by the extended cable distances of up to 100 m. Such PoE solutions can simplify system installation and lower the maintenance costs. The EOS-1000 also provides an auto detection function to ensure compatibility with both PoE, and conventional non-PoE devices.
The recent emergence of 3D robot guidance has improved accuracy and speed. Position and orientation are determined based on the obtained three-dimensional data. Processing this information requires a high performance, multi-core solution. The EOS-1000 combines this processing capability with four on-board PoE ports to provide a cost-effective system ideal for 3D robotic guidance, vision inspection, and other such applications used on production lines.
The EOS-1000 also features multiple I/O options, including two RS-232/485, four USB, 32 isolated digital lines, and dual storage options (HDD and CompactFlash) for a ready-to-use vision system.
“Smart” Contact Lens Promises To Detect Glaucoma Earlier
STMicroelectronics will develop and supply a wireless MEMS sensor that acts as a transducer, antenna and mechanical support for additional read-out electronics in a breakthrough platform developed by Swiss company Sensimed AG. This solution will enable better management of glaucoma patients via earlier diagnosis and treatment that is optimally tailored to the individual patient.
Known as the SENSIMED Triggerfish®, the solution is based on a “smart” contact lens that uses a tiny embedded strain gauge to monitor the curvature of the eye over a period of, typically, 24 hours, providing valuable disease management data that is not currently obtainable using conventional ophthalmic equipment.
Glaucoma(3), the second most common cause of blindness around the world, is an irreversible progressive disease of the optic nerve that can eventually lead to blindness. Â Although it cannot be cured, its progress can be controlled once it is diagnosed and treated properly. The standard test is the measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP), using an instrument known as a tonometer, during periodic visits to an ophthalmologist. However, the tonometer may fail to detect an elevated IOP, especially in glaucoma patients, because the pressure varies during the day and often peaks during sleep or outside of office hours. As a result, the disease is often diagnosed only after significant damage to the optic nerve has already occurred, and the disease keeps progressing in many patients due to inadequate treatment.
Sensimed’s ingenious solution is a two-part system comprising the smart contact lens and a small receiver worn around the patient’s neck. Â In addition to the strain gauge the lens contains an antenna, a tiny dedicated processing circuit and an RF transmitter to communicate the measurements to the receiver. The lens is powered via the received radio waves and does not need to be connected to a battery. The embedded components are positioned in the lens in such a way that they do not interfere with the patient’s vision. The lens is fitted by the ophthalmologist and when the patient returns the next day the ophthalmologist removes the lens and receiver, obtaining a complete record of IOP changes over the preceding 24 hours.
The SENSIMED Triggerfish® has obtained the CE mark(4), is currently running numerous application trials, and is commercially available in selected centers.  ”The device is easy to use and has facilitated and improved patient care substantially,” said Dr.Kaweh Mansouri who has been using the Triggerfish at the University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
ST engineers are now working with Sensimed to translate this breakthrough technology into a reliable commercial MEMS product ready for mass production. ST expects the development of the MEMS sensor to be completed in Q2 2010 and manufacturing to start in Q3 2010, with availability outside trials to doctors and patients subject to regulatory approvals. Sensimed and ST anticipate progressively rolling out the product country-by-country across Europe beginning in Q3 and entering the US market by the end of 2011.
Digital Light Sensor Works Behind Darkened Glass
Texas Advanced Optoelectronic Solutions®, Inc., announced the first members of its next generation digital ambient light sensor (ALS) and proximity detection family that is designed to provide consumer electronics manufacturers with greater freedom to produce sleeker, more appealing and innovative product designs. These latest TAOS devices eliminate the need to use clear glass/plastic in front of the sensor or drill holes/slots into the display, bezel or frame in order for light to reach the sensor.
Specifically designed to operate behind darkened glass or other translucent materials, the TSL2771 device family provides both ambient light sensing and proximity detection in a single device that consumes far less power than currently available comparable solutions. Proximity detection is ideally suited for touch screen smart phones to automatically turn off the display or control other user functions and can also be used in laptops, desktop computers and monitors to conserve energy or maintain information privacy when the user is not present. Other emerging applications for proximity sensing technology include touchless display controls activation and management as well as human gesture detection.
Scanning Spot Laser Sensor Speeds Welding of Wind Towers
A new, scanning-spot laser sensor designed to automate and speed the manufacture of wind towers and other structures containing metal of different thickness has been launched by Meta Vision Systems. Designated DLS200, the sensor is produced at the company’s factory in Eynsham, Oxfordshire.
The thickness of the steel plates that form the base of a wind tower can be 50 mm or more, while the middle section is fabricated from lighter gauge metal and near the top, the steel is thinner still. Welding of these various gauges requires different procedures.
The base is typically prepared with a U joint profile and welding takes place in several passes. The middle section requires a V type joint and is welded in one or two passes. Steel at the top is welded with a simple butt joint preparation. The DLS200 sensor has a fully programmable scan configuration, which means that a wide scan can be used for the U and V joints, but a narrow scan with high resolution can be used for the smaller butt joints.
Another exclusive feature of the DLS sensor is that the stripe produced by the normal laser scan can be shrunk to a spot. This is useful for welding cap passes where the edges of the weld preparation may have melted away.
At the touch of a button, the sensor can project the spot to measure and control the height of the welding head. At the same time, the machine operator can use the laser spot as a guide for controlling manually the horizontal position of the welding head.
DLS200 sensors are already assisting automated welding of wind towers at test sites and have been well received. Wind tower manufacturers say that the main benefit of using the sensor to provide automatic control of the welding process is improved quality. Defects are reduced, which translates into large savings, especially considering the time and cost of repairing root weld defects in thicker material.
www.meta-mvs.com
Vision Sensors Built for Harsh Environments
Banner Engineering Corp. introduces the PresencePLUS P4 IP68-rated, sealed OMNI vision sensor. Featuring a compact, yet durable nickel-plated aluminum housing, the P4 Sealed OMNI vision sensor withstands demanding wash-down conditions – as well as dust and debris common in harsh-duty environments – with the use of an integrated ring light or lens cover.
The P4 Sealed OMNI vision sensor performs reliable, repeatable quality inspections in challenging automotive, assembly, food handling, printing, pharmaceutical and packaging applications, including:
The PresencePLUS P4 IP68-Rated, Sealed OMNI Vision Sensors can stand even the toughest of conditions
*Label alignment inspection
*Color verification and matching
*Flaw detection
*2D and 1D bar code reading
*Optical Character Reading and Verification (OCR/OCV)
*Packaging inspection
*Assembly verification
*Fill level detection
*Adhesive bead inspection
*Vial stopper inspection
*Drilled hole inspection
*Orientation inspection
*Part or model identification
*Error proofing
Banner claims the IP68-rated vision sensors with their space-saving, rugged housing can be installed anywhere where shock and vibration might normally be a problem for general vision products. They also say that they are ideal for aseptic and industrial clean-room environments, as well as anywhere dust, water and contaminants might be a problem.
The P4 Sealed OMNI vision sensor offers advanced features that make it useful in a variety of complex applications:
*Sealed, IP68-rated housing and connectors withstand dust, moisture and wash-down
*Durable nickel-plated aluminum housing in a compact form factor tolerates shock and vibration
*Banner’s complete suite of location, inspection, analysis and geometric tools; can be used simultaneously for inspecting multiple features and complex applications
*Premium tools deliver enhanced inspection capabilities, including Bar Code Reading (BCR), OCR/OCV and Bead Inspection
*Proven user interface common to all PresencePLUS sensors
*Intuitive setup procedure and common graphical interface; supports nine languages
*Ethernet, serial, flexible discrete I/O and real-time video output in the same full-featured sensor
*Exports inspections, images and results using the Microsoft ActiveX platform
http://www.bannerengineering.com
Electro-optical Sensor System for Navy Helicopters
The Raytheon Co. Space and Airborne Systems segment in McKinney, Texas, is providing the U.S. Navy with a helicopter-based electro-optical sensor suite — with infrared capability, laser designator, illuminator laser, and visible light sensor — under terms of a $44.3 million order awarded late Friday.
Raytheon is providing 62 of its AN/AAS-52 Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) airborne sensor suites for Navy UH-60R and UH-60S helicopters to enhance their forward-looking infrared (FLIR) sensor capabilities, Navy officials announced.
The Raytheon MTS is a multi-use electro-optical infrared (EO/IR), and laser detecting-ranging-tracking set for long-range surveillance, target acquisition, tracking, rangefinding, and laser designation for the Hellfire missile and for all tri-service and NATO laser-guided munitions.
The MTS is designed for growth options such as multiple wavelength sensors, TV cameras (near-IR and color), illuminators, eyesafe rangefinders, spot trackers and other avionics through add-in circuitry.
Raytheon will build the systems in McKinney, Texas, and should be finished filling the Navy’s order by November 2011. Awarding the order were officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane Ind.
Iris Recognition Sensor Gets a Speed Boost
September 11, 2009 by admin
Filed under Featured, Industry News, Vision
Smart Sensors Limited, a spin-out from the University of Bath, UK, has
introduced version 2 of its MIRLIN software toolkit, enabling security system
developers to create iris recognition systems capable of 2 million matches per
second, four times faster than other current technologies. Functions include
image acquisition, enrollment, and verification or determination of identity
(ID) from human irises.
Analyzing a digital image of the iris using techniques similar to those employed
in video encoding, the Smart Sensors patented solution requires less processing
power than alternative methods and the software code can operate in only around
300 Kilobytes of memory on a silicon chip. As a result, systems can be based on
small, low-cost microcontrollers with less processing power than an ordinary
personal computer. This makes the technology suitable for use in fixed or
battery-operated, handheld equipment.
Smart Sensors` MIRLIN software development kits (SDK) enable systems to be
optimized for the best combination of speed and accuracy. Images can be scanned
in segments from 18 degrees to 0.72 degrees wide, depending on the accuracy
required. The technology works with iris characteristics that generally conform
to ISO/IEC standards but it is capable of delivering accurate results with
images that are significantly poorer than those defined by the standard.
The SDK can work with a variety of image sources, including several
manufacturers` iris cameras. Versions are available to support various
processors and operating systems. To make licensing more attractive for
customers, the company only charges a fee for each product or each server on a
network, not for every user or enrollment. Customers are supported through
service level agreements that provide bug fixes and product enhancements.
Smart Sensors, which is based in the SETsquared business incubator at the
University of Bath, has recently been awarded the Frost & Sullivan “Global Iris
Biometric Systems Technology Innovation of the Year Award” for 2009.
Smart Vision Sensors from Datasensor
Sunnyvale, CA – Smart vision sensors from Datasensor are the answer to all your machine vision applications. Providing a quick solution for packaging lines, food and beverage industries, automotive and electronics plants, the SVS series combines sophisticated technology with an extremely simple configuration.
Unlike other brands, SVS vision sensors don’t require hours of training to use. These sensors represent a straightforward solution for all vision control applications. With a fast frame rate of 60 fps (60 images per second), Ethernet communication, a teach button, 640 x 480 pixel resolution and 9 inspection tools, Datasensor SVS sensors are the best value for feature-packed smart vision sensors on the market. Inspection tools include:
• Pattern match
• Contour match
• Positioning verification
• Width comparison
• Edge count
• Brightness check
• Contrast comparison
• Character verification (OCV)
• Unique 360° pattern match
These sensors are a low-cost solution to machine vision providing accurate, reliable and unparalleled inspection. Ultra-compact, powerful and easy-to-use, SVS smart vision sensors work for a variety of applications and are available in two product lines:
• SVS1 models guarantee the quickest and easiest setup via hand-held configurator • SVS2 models can be connected to a PC and offer multiple controls
