National Instruments’ new IMAQ Vision Builder 6.0 accelerates application development because it automatically creates LabVIEW diagrams (VIs).
With this configurable environment, the user can test vision algorithms easily and quickly without programming. The software also helps the inexperienced vision developer find a starting point for building vision applications.
The National Instruments solution for vision is unique because users can use a combination of nonprogramming or configurable tools and programming tools to solve applications. IMAQ Vision Builder may be used as a standalone machine vision environment when there is a need for image acquisition triggering and image processing. For experienced vision developers who need flexibility, performance, and the ability to integrate measurements, instrument control, and data acquisition, the user can quickly transition from a configurable environment to a programming environment, such as LabVIEW. With the ability to scale between development environments, the user can solve simple applications quickly by automatically creating LabVIEW VIs, while also having the flexibility to solve advanced applications that may require diverse I/O together with high performance.
Automatically create Vis
With the step-by-step Vision Solution Wizard, IMAQ Vision Builder 6.0 automatically creates LabVIEW VIs that shorten the machine vision and scientific imaging application development time. The VIs are the complete LabVIEW VI diagrams, which include IMAQ Vision analysis, display, and region of interest (ROI) functions. Users can easily integrate, edit, or modify the VIs into their automation or production test applications, which may include motion control, instrument control, and data acquisition. If using LabWindows/CVI, a component of Measurement Studio, or Visual Basic, IMAQ Vision Builder can also create a builder file or code recipe. This builder file gives the user a detailed description of the functions and constants of the diagram in a form that can easily be translated into C or Visual Basic.
Low-cost online inspection
When applications only require a digital I/O line and vision algorithms for inspection, the user can now use IMAQ Vision Builder and IMAQ hardware as a low-cost, configurable, PC-based vision system for production quality.
Vision Builder may also be used as standalone software for inline production monitoring and offline inspection applications. For an inline production application, use could be made of National Instruments IMAQ hardware (in conjunction with IMAQ Vision Builder) to wait and acquire an image - initiated by a digital trigger. The digital trigger can originate from devices such as photocells or proximity sensors. The image may be saved for offline processing; or, when the user acquires an image, running a Vision Builder script for inspection will produce that image.
A Vision Builder script consists of a sequence of machine vision and image processing functions that the user configures interactively without programming. Data and results, such as pass/fail, particle counts, locations, areas, and so on, automatically transfer to a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. The spreadsheet may be reviewed to monitor production quality and trends. For offline applications that include counting, inspection, and dimensional measurements, the user can easily configure IMAQ Vision Builder to automatically process images from files. Once again, users can record and save their results in Microsoft Excel for review.
The system cost can start of quite small, with just IMAQ Vision Builder, a PC, a lens, a camera, and IMAQ hardware. This system has built-in features, such as the benchmarking tool, to test whether or not the users' strategies meet their inspection time requirements. Other unique features included in the latest version of IMAQ Vision Builder and IMAQ Vision library, are functions for colour pattern matching, lens and camera angle calibration, and easy-to-use, high-level machine vision tools.
Quickly locate objects
The user can use colour pattern matching to locate quickly known reference patterns, or fiducials, in a colour image. With colour pattern matching, the user creates a model or template of an object. The search tool first scans the image to match the colour distribution, and then scores the match for shape. The score relates how closely the model matches the pattern found. Colour pattern matching to is used to locate reference patterns fully described by the colour and spatial information in the pattern. Colour can often simplify a monochrome problem by improving contrast or separation of the object from the background.
Colour pattern matching can also prove faster than monochrome pattern matching in many applications when the object for which the user is searching has a distinct colour. Colour pattern matching is particularly useful in automotive parts inspection and in colour display inspection of cell phones, PDAs, and medical devices.
Correct distortions caused by the optics being used
The calibration functions compensate for lens distortions when the camera is directly above the object, or when the camera is at an angle from the object under inspection. The new functions can correct for distortions due to the optics - and improve the accuracy, consistency, and reliability of the inspection system. The new calibration functions map pixel coordinates to real-world units.
Improve productivity with high-level machine vision tools
High-level functions dramatically improve development productivity in LabVIEW. These more recently introduced functions include edge tools for quickly finding multiple edges in rectangles, along circles, and within concentric circles. Other functions include clamp tools for quickly measuring distances between edges and nondestructive overlays for displaying and manipulating graphics on acquired images without changing the underlying image data.
Finding easy solutions to speed creation
The Vision Solution Wizard simplifies the creation process for users' vision applications, providing the flexibility to create LabVIEW VIs with ease.
National Instruments, 011 805 8197
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