New camera sensor provides a compact and low cost alternative to complex vision systems

Citation

(2003), "New camera sensor provides a compact and low cost alternative to complex vision systems", Sensor Review, Vol. 23 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2003.08723aad.007

New camera sensor provides a compact and low cost alternative to complex vision systems

New camera sensor provides a compact and low cost alternative to complex vision systems

Keywords: Machine, Vision, Cameras

Erwin Sick has introduced the ICS100 Intelligent Camera Sensor, which bridges the gap between standard sensors and complex vision systems (Plate 7). This innovative new product has many applications in automated factory processes including labelling and packaging. It offers an economical alternative to PC based image processing solutions and is ideal for applications that require the monitoring of small parts or sections of larger objects.

Plate 7 The ICS100 intelligent camera sensor

Simple to set up and fast to operate, the ICS100 integrates the camera, optics, illumination and evaluation into a single housing measuring only 50 × 50 × 130 mm. At the heart of the sensor is the 2D image recorder with 512 × 512 active CMOS pixels, integrated line and high-speed signal processors, as well as a user-friendly programmer with rapid adaptability to many applications.

Fifteen individual green LEDs provide the light source and give great contrast ability, even with the most difficult of tasks. The lighting is completely integrated, so there are no additional costs or mounting requirements for external lighting.

Four switching outputs and a choice of parameter settings, including pixel sum, minimum pixel, shape check and area evaluation, make the ICS100 the most versatile intelligent camera sensor on the market today.

The ICS100 is also one of the first intelligent camera sensors to allow users to visualise the product required for detection or inspection, before integrating the sensor into the complete machine. This is achieved by using the hand held VSC programmer. After selecting the mode of operation and visualising the image for inspection, a simple teach procedure is performed and all the settings remain stored in the ICS100. The VSC programmer can then be removed so that the ICS100 becomes a stand-alone unit.

Changing the image for inspection is simple either by using the VSC programmer or by hard wiring an external “teach” push button to the ICS.

The ICS100 can be used for both process control and quality assurance, giving it the versatility to check that a date code has been printed on a label, to whether a sweet is correctly wrapped, for example.

It is compact and easy to mount and can integrate into a machine as a simple sensor capable of doing a large variety of tasks. These include print check, label position and orientation, completeness of parts check, bottle orientation, presence of tax strips on cigarette boxes and the attachment of packaging components.

For more information, please contact: Ann White or Andrea Hornby, Erwin Sick Ltd, Waldkirch House, 39 Hedley Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire ALl 5BN, UK. Tel: 01727 831121; Fax: 01727 856767; E-mail: info@siek.co.uk; Web site: www.sick.co.uk