Microscan unveils compact autofocus smart-camera platform at The Vision Show
Renton, WA. Microscan announced that it is unveiling an all new platform of the world’s smallest machine-vision smart cameras at The Vision Show 2016 in Boston this week. Members of the Microscan executive, product management, and marketing teams are showcasing this technology platform, demonstrating how a single, compact device will redefine industrial imaging to comprehensively address applications from barcode reading to complex inspection.
In 2011, Microscan introduced the term “Auto ID+” with the launch of its AutoVISION machine-vision product family—a convergence of the company’s separate 30-year legacies in barcode and machine-vision innovation on a single smart-camera platform. AutoVISION machine-vision software provided the foundation for this technology and began to redefine the smart camera as a single hardware solution to accomplish what have historically been discrete applications for barcode reading and simple inspection, each requiring its own specialized equipment. AutoVISION cameras (Vision MINI and Vision HAWK) were the first to offer auto ID (barcode) plus simple machine-vision tools like location, presence/absence, measurement, and optical character recognition (OCR). This architecture eliminates redundant equipment, reduces requirements for integration space, and cuts cycle times for barcode reading and machine-vision applications, which streamlines time and cost efficiency.
With AutoVISION widening the scope of industrial applications addressed by imaging technology, Microscan engineers have continued to extend the capabilities of imaging devices to integrate more comprehensive, user-friendly tools into increasingly powerful, miniaturized platforms. At The Vision Show, Microscan is introducing the latest technology platform, combining its smallest-ever imaging devices with a new release of AutoVISION machine vision software. The result will be a fully-capable barcode reading suite consisting of four unique smart cameras, which will adopt the complete machine-vision toolset of AutoVISION for “Auto ID+” applications—scaling up to Microscan’s Visionscape machine-vision software for complex inspection and machine vision programming. This new platform will not only offer the full library of Microscan’s software capability, but will do so on the smallest, most flexible hardware design ever offered in smart camera design.
The form factor of Microscan’s next-generation platform is rivaled by the simplicity of its user experience. Fully-adaptable to any barcode reading or machine vision application, users will be able to choose a single smart camera with a small footprint, industrial rating, and connectivity to build in any combination of fully integrated features, including sensor, optics, autofocus, and lighting—reducing the complication and cost of integrating a one-size-fits-all solution. Users will also be able to choose their software interface with capabilities to compliment the needs of their application, from basic barcode reading to advanced measurement, gauging, and inspection. One such interface will be a new release of Microscan’s AutoVISION machine vision software, which will feature all-new inspection tools including
- tools for color identification, spot checking against stored colors, and counting or checking presence of certain colored features (such as on packaging, or test tube caps);
- circle measure tool to measure the radius of circular part features or drill holes; and
- enhanced locate tool to find multiple features of a part at once and inspect the integrity of a part based on the relative locations of features to ensure production accuracy.
