1stVision, Author at 1stVision Inc. - Machine Vision Articles

August 26, 2023August 28, 2023

CEI Camera Enclosures and Mounts

First generation cars were open-topped – until motorists demanded creature comforts like protection from rain, a heater, and – later – air-conditioning. While some machine vision applications allow the camera to operate unprotected at ambient temperatures – other applications are more demanding. Components Express Inc. (CEI) provides a range of enclosures and mounts – both standard and custom – to protect your camera.

Standard enclosures may be enough for applications that don’t require wash-down, but for many applications the camera, lens, and ports need some protection. Light weight, low profile designs are available in various diameters, suitable for cameras from diverse manufacturers. Adjustable mounts with pre-tapped holes are provided. In addition to generic enclosures suitable for diverse camera models, enclosure designs are available for Teledyne Dalsa Genie Nano, Allied Vision Mako and Alvium cameras and other manufacturers.

**55mm-IP67 Series Round** – type 2 anodizing – Image courtesy of Components Express, Inc.

Food processing or high-particulates deployments often must be in wash-down configurations.

**Stainless Series IP67** – round stainless wash-down design – Image courtesy of Components Express, Inc.

Extruded housing, with IP67 rating, features CEI Integrated Connector Design that keeps cord grips inside the housing:

Video shows stepwise field-assembly of camera and lens into enclosure – courtesy of Components Express, Inc.

Or you may need a sturdy mount to position the camera on a stable base, with adjustable alignment options.

**Index Mount™ EN-M4 Adjustable Camera Mount** – Image courtesy of Components Express, Inc.

Custom enclosure and mounts are also available for the most demanding applications. Besides all the Components Express Inc. (CEI) mounts and enclosures, some may also be interested in air curtains, windows & filters by Midwest Optical. These also come in customer sizes, length and focusing solutions. Discuss your requirements with us!

1st Vision’s sales engineers have over 100 years of combined experience to assist in your camera and components selection. With a large portfolio of lenses, cables, NIC card and industrial computers, we can provide a full vision solution!

August 8, 2023

TAMRON Wide Band SWIR Lenses and Applications

Short wave infrared (SWIR) imaging is a specialized segment of machine vision, applying automated imaging outside the human-visible spectrum. Able to see through opaque plastic bottles to verify or control fill levels, inspect fruit for bruising, sort recyclables, inspect silicon wafers, etc., SWIR applications require SWIR-specific sensors, cameras, and lenses.

Visible vs SWIR image of same targets – image courtesy of TAMRON

TAMRON Wide Band SWIR lenses are designed for Sony IMX990 / Sony IMX991 sensors and other sensors with a 5µm pixel-pitch. These wide band lenses feature the capability to work in a wide range of wavelengths from the visible range to Short-Wave Infrared Range (SWIR 400 – 1700nm). In addition, TAMRON’s new proprietary eBAND anti-reflection lens coating technology provides 80% constant spectrum transmittance over the whole visible to SWIR spectrum.

Tamron wide-band SWIR lens series – Image courtesy of TAMRON

Vein imaging application overlays SWIR image of veins into visible image of patient forearm –
Image courtesy TAMRON

Monitor moisture levels in crops from airborne drone – Image courtesy TAMRON

Banknote under visible light (left) and SWIR (right) – Images courtesy of Allied Vision

Opaque and clear plastic bottles in visible light (left) and SWIR (right) –
Images courtesy of Allied Vision

Cool applications! Would 1stVision happen to carry any cameras that utilize the SONY sensors for which these TAMRON lenses are designed? Yes, of course:

Allied Vision Technologies’ Alvium USB and CSI cameras, models:

Alvium 1800 U/C-030

Alvium 1800 U/C-130

Allied Vision Technologies’ Goldeye cameras, models:

Goldeye CL-030 TEC1

Goldeye CL-130 TEC1

So far we’ve got SWIR lenses, sensors and cameras, the latter with several interface and performance options. How about SWIR lighting, to create the proper contrast? We’ve got that too. Call us at 978-474-0044.

July 20, 2023July 24, 2023

IR Applications for AT – Automation Technology IRSX Smart Cameras

“Smart Cameras” for regular machine vision are not new, but a “Smart Thermal camera” is completely new. Smart cameras attractively reduce or eliminate the need for a computer host, for some applications, putting the image processing onboard the camera. That can lower costs and/or speed processing by eliminating components and data transfer time.

AT – Automation Technology provides the IRSX series, bringing smart cameras to the IR space.

IRSX Series Smart Cameras – courtesy AT – Automation Technology

In this overview, we address in turn each of:

Camera attributes
Smart camera and communications/control features
Example applications

Camera attributes: (physical)

Detector type: Focal Plane Array (FPA), uncooled microbolometer

Range: Thermal measurement range -10°C to +550°C

Precision: Measurement accuracy of +/- 2°C or +/- 2%

ROIs: Supports temperature evaluation based on an unlimited number of ROIs

Rugged: Rugged housing with air purge for the lens

Size: small enough to fit in the tightest of spaces (55 x 55 x 77 mm)

Options: Different models with different resolutions, FoV and frame rates available

IRSX Standards Compliance –
courtesy AT – Automation Technology

Smart camera and communications/control features:

GigE Vision: Complies to the newest GenICam standard

SDK options: Bundled irsxSupportPackage, AT’s comprehensive SDK, includes interfaces to popular third party packages as well

Smart Processing App: Complete functionality to create applications solutions
for a stand-alone operation of camera

Web-based configuration of your measurement task and display of results

IoT communications: Modbus server and client for IoT communication with
external devices

Example Applications: Besides the general purpose ability to monitor industrial infrastructure for early detection of combustion, specific industries taking advantage of IR applications include plastics, iron and steel, food processing, automotive, chemical, oil and gas, and electrical utilities, to name a few.

Do you have warehouses with combustible goods?

Or installations where there is a risk of fire?

Detect and respond to critical conditions BEFORE there’s an outbreak of fire.

Counting, packing, and sorting

Prepared meals: check the sealing of cover foils for defects

Thermal process monitoring during production

Foamed parts: e.g. dashboards: Inline
inspection for voids in the foam layer

Hot stamping: Monitor temperature distribution before and after forming
to optimize product quality

Are you already using IR imaging, and want to know more about how a smart IR camera could enhance existing applications – or innovate new ways to add value to your product and service offering? Or will your first IR application be with a smart camera? Call us at 978-474-0044 and we’ll be happy to learn more about your unique applications requirements – and how we can help. That’s what we do.

July 20, 2023July 21, 2023

AT – Automation Technology 3D Profilers – What makes them different?

3D laser profiling is widely used in diverse industries and applications. There are a number of mature offerings and periodic next generation innovations. So what would it take to convince you to take a look at the value proposition for AT – Automation Technology’s C6 Series? In particular the C6-3070, the fastest laser triangulation laser profiler on the market.

AT says that “C6 Series is an Evolution. C6-3070 is a Revolution”. Let’s briefly review the principles of laser profile scanning, followed by what makes this particular product so compelling.

3D profile scanning components – courtesy Automation Technology

What are the distinguishing characteristics of each item labeled in the above diagram?

Target object: An item whose height variations we want to digitally map or profile
XYZ guide: The laser line paints the X dimension; each slice is in the Y dimension; height correlates to Z
Laser line projector: paints the X dimension across the target object
Objective lens: focuses reflected laser light
CMOS detector: array of pixel wells, or pixels, such that for each cycle, the electronic value of a pixel scales with the height value of the geometrically corresponding position on the target object
FPGA and I/O circuitry: provide the timing, the smarts, and the communications

The key to laser triangulation is that the triangulation angle varies in direct correlation with the height variances on the target object that reflects the projected laser light through the lens and onto the detector. It’s “just geometry” – though packaged of course efficiently into the embedded algorithms and precisely aligned optics.

The goal in 3D profile scanning is to build a 3D point cloud representing the height profile of the target object.

Laser line reflections captured to create 3D point cloud of target object – courtesy Automated Technology

Speed and Resolution: 200kHz @ 3k resolution. That’s the fastest on the market. This is due to AT’s proprietary sensor WARP – Widely Advanced Rapid Profiling. How does it work?

The C6-3070 imager has on-board pre-processing. In particular, it detects the laser line on the imager, so that only the part of the image around the laser line is transferred to the FPGA for further processing. This massively reduces the volume of data needing to be transferred, but focusing on just the relevant immediate neighborhood around the laser line. Which means more cycles per second. Which is how 200kHz at 3k resolution is attained.

C6-3070 imager’s pre-processing sends just the portion of the image needed, thereby achieving higher framerates – courtesy Automation Technology

Modularity: When Henry Ford introduced the Model T, he is famously attributed to have said “You can have it any color you like, as long as it’s black.” Ford achieved economies of scale with a standardized product, and almost all manufacturers follow principles of standardization for the same reason.

But AT – Automation Technology’s C6 Series is modular by design – each component of an overall system offers standard options. There are no minimum order quantities, no special engineering charges, and lead times are short because the modular components are pre-stocked.

For example:

Laser options (blue, red laser class: 2M, 3R, 3B)
X-FOV (Field Of View) from 7mm to 1290 mm
Single or dual head sensors
Sensor parameters offer customizable Working Distance, Triangulation Angle, and Speed

Software: The cameras may be controlled by many popular third party software products, as the are GigE-Vision / Genicam 3.0 compliant. Or you may download the comprehensive and free AT Solution Package, optimized for use with AT’s IR cameras. The SDK is C-based API with wrappers for C++, C# and Python.

Besides the SDK itself, users may want to take advantage of the Metrology Package. The Metrology Package provides a toolset for evaluating measurement results.

Pricing: You might think that a product asserted to be the fastest on the market would come at a premium price. In fact AT’s 3D profilers are priced so competitively that they are often price leaders as well. At the time of writing, they certainly lead on (price : performance) in their class. Call us at 978-474-0044.