Vision Sensor processes 300 images/sec.

Press Release Summary:



With dimensions of 30 x 35 x 36 mm, miniature Model BS30 unites camera, optics, illumination, and analysis module in one housing with IP67 protection. Four operating modes include checking for presence of objects, surface supervision, pixel comparison, and shape analysis. Since sensor is capable of recognizing objects down to 0.6 mm, small deviations can be detected at high conveyor speeds. Unit offers working distance of 100-200 mm with resolution of 126 x 98.



Original Press Release:



Small, but Watch Out! The BS30 Vision Sensor



The world's smallest image processing sensor has now been introduced to the market in the form of wenglor's vision sensor. This compact masterpiece allows for image processing in sensor format. Up to 300 images per second are processed by the miniature sensor - the ideal solution for your fastest application!

Good packaging is half the battle!
Its compact, miniature design makes the wenglor vision sensor the smallest device far and wide in the field of image processing. With dimensions of just 30 x 35 x 36 mm, it requires only minimal space and can be ideally adapted to any image processing system.
Inside its compact housing, the wenglor vision sensor unites camera, optics, illumination and analysis module. And this means fast, easy installation for the user. Additional external lamps are of course also available for optimized illumination of your application, and can be flexibly connected.

At the same time, IP 67 protection assures outstanding insensitivity to dust and water, predestining the vision sensor for use in harsh industrial environments as well. This is a great advantage where the cleaning of production equipment is concerned, because the sensor does not require any additional protection.

Four in one - wenglor's customer surprise!
With its four operating modes including checking for the presence of objects, surface supervision, pixel comparison and shape analysis, wenglor's vision sensor solves a great multitude of image processing tasks.

The wenglor BS30 vision sensor is monochrome, and offers a unique, extremely high image repeating frequency of 300 images per second. This allows for use in very fast applications. Due to the fact that the vision sensor is capable of recognizing objects with sizes of down to just 0.6 mm, even the smallest deviations are detected at high conveyor speeds. And image recording can be synchronized to the production sequence by means of a trigger input.

With a fixed working distance, objects are recognized independent of orientation, i.e. the object's position and skew are irrelevant. Sorting, size detection and go/no-go identification are thus rendered simple and reliable.

The BS30 vision sensor in action: checking washers

The Functions:
Checking for the presence of objects is well suited for many applications. For example, it can be used to determine whether or not a certain object is present within the monitored image area. The function adds up the number of pixels encompassed by a reference object, on the basis of which it establishes a threshold value. If the sum of the pixels of a subsequently inspected object exceeds the threshold value, the object is registered as present, and vice versa

Example: The washer (left) is taught in to the vision sensor. Washers which are damaged, not present at all, or too small, are detected by the sensor and sorted out. Use is also possible in the woodworking industry. A wood sample can be taught in to the vision sensor (e.g. maximum permissible number of knotholes). If there are more knotholes within the sensor's field of vision during testing than were previously registered during teach-in, the vision sensor generates a corresponding signal. The vision sensor can also be used to detect imperfections in goods sold by the yard (e.g. lengths of fabric).

With the Surface supervision the sensor switches as soon as one pixel is silhouetted against the background.

Shape analysis is independent of position and skew. Two object attributes, namely surface area and circumference, are analyzed and linked to each other.

Example: A given shape is taught in to the vision sensor, e.g. a special key profile. The sensor calculates the surface area and the circumference of the shape, and places these values in relationship to one another. If, for example, certain notches are missing from the key profile during subsequent inspection, the surface-area-to-circumference ratio of the object is changed and the object is recognized as false.

The pixel comparison function adds up the pixels of a reference object and establishes upper and lower limits for the resulting total number. If the sum of the pixels of a subsequently inspected object does not lie within these limits, the output is switched.

Example: The vision sensor stores the number of pixels encompassed by an object during teach-in. The sensor determines whether or not the subsequent test object is damaged, deformed, contaminated, too large or too small. The tolerance threshold for the total number of pixels can be individually adjusted. This function is also capable of determining whether or not several or too many objects are present. Inkjet printing quality can be monitored in this way. Pixel comparison can be used to determine when the ink cartridge is empty.

Quick, step by step setup!
Sensor setup is really very simple. With the help of an adjusting tool, the user is able to pinpoint the sensor's field of vision during setup.

And the technicians from wenglor have integrated their time-tested teach-in function into the vision sensor as well. The user is thus able to quickly and easily adjust the sensor to match his application - directly at the device without any additional control unit.

The three different operating modes can be selected with a rotary switch located on the sensor.

The application is taught in to the vision senor with just a few key strokes at the device or, for example, via hyper-terminal. A number of adjustment aides can be accessed from an integrated menu, which can be opened by means of the standard hyper-terminal program via the RS-232 interface. This assures convenient sensor configuration, even if it has been installed to a difficult to access location.

wenglor facts for the BS30 vision sensor:
o Image repeating frequency: 300 images per second
o Resolution: 126 x 98
o Supply voltage: 18 to 30 V
o Working distance: 100 to 200 mm
o Response time: 3.33 ms
o Number of switching outputs: 1
o Protection: IP 67
o Temperature range: 0 to 50° C
o Adjustable with teach-in or via RS-232 interface

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