Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for laser profiling that simplifies the task of setting up and using laser profiling systems and associated applications by providing a profiler assembly that includes a predetermined arrangement of lens and spaced-apart laser in which the geometry and calibration parameters are predetermined. The profiler assembly is adapted to mount directly into the camera mount (typically threaded) of a conventional vision system camera. All components needed to perform the profiling task can be integrated into the profiler assembly. The integration of components in a single interchangeable/exchangeable assembly makes it straightforward to optimize/adapt the assembly for a particular profiling application.

Abstract: Systems and methods reconfigure data transmitted on a network, the network using a communication protocol. The systems and methods include a processor that is operable to receive data from a second device on the network; a memory medium; and a data configurator operable to dynamically reconfigure the data from the second device, with the data from the second device being in the form of a network item defined by the second device. The data configurator is operable to pass the reconfigured data to the processor and/or the memory medium in the form of a device item that is native to the device. A data design tool generates a map configuration to define a unique relationship between the network item and the device item. The map configuration includes a network representation portion for data in the network item and a device representation portion for data in the data item.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for determining and controlling focal distance in a lens assembly of a vision system camera using an integral calibration assembly that provides the camera's image sensor with optical information that is relative to focal distance while enabling runtime images of a scene to be acquired along the image axis. The lens assembly includes a variable lens located along an optical axis that provides a variable focus setting. The calibration assembly generates a projected pattern of light that variably projects upon the camera sensor based upon the focus setting of the variable lens. That is, the appearance and/or position of the pattern varies based upon the focus setting of the variable lens. This enables a focus process to determine the current focal length of the lens assembly based upon predetermined calibration information stored in association with a vision system processor running the focus process.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for processing discrete image data within an overall set of acquired image data based upon a focus of attention within that image. The result of such processing is to operate upon a more limited subset of the overall image data to generate output values required by the vision system process. Such output value can be a decoded ID or other alphanumeric data. The system and method is performed in a vision system having two processor groups, along with a data memory that is smaller in capacity than the amount of image data to be read out from the sensor array. The first processor group is a plurality of SIMD processors and at least one general purpose processor, co-located on the same die with the data memory. A data reduction function operates within the same clock cycle as data-readout from the sensor to generate a reduced data set that is stored in the on-die data memory.

Abstract: A vision system is provided to determine a positional relationship between a semiconductor wafer on a platen and an element on a processing machine, such as a printing screen, on a remote side of the semiconductor wafer from the platen. A source directs infrared light through an aperture in the platen to illuminate the semiconductor wafer and cast a shadow onto the element adjacent an edge of the semiconductor wafer. A video camera produces an image using light received from the platen aperture, wherein some of that received light was reflected by the wafer. The edge of the semiconductor wafer in the image is well defined by a dark/light transition.

Abstract: Systems and methods for use with a mark reader that reduce the trigger-to-decode response time by prioritizing images to be decoded based on the likelihood of a successful decode are provided. A reader attempts to decode a priority image(s) first to avoid attempting to decode images that are less likely than other images to be successfully decoded. Images are rated based on feature attributes, and then prioritized for decoding. Image feature attributes are correlated with parameter groups, and the parameter groups are prioritized for use in subsequent image acquisitions.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method captures a moving image of a scene that can be more readily de-blurred as compared to images captured through the above-referenced and other known methods operating on an equivalent exposure-time interval. Rather than stopping and starting the integration of light measurement during the exposure-time interval, photo-generated current is switched between multiple charge storage sites in accordance with a temporal switching pattern that optimizes the conditioning of the solution to the inverse blur transform. By switching the image intensity signal between storage sites all of the light energy available during the exposure-time interval is transduced to electronic charge and captured to form a temporally decomposed representation of the moving image.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for determining model uniqueness with a quality metric of a model of an object in a machine vision application. Determining uniqueness involves receiving a training image, generating a model of an object based on the training image, generating a modified training image based on the training image, determining a set of poses that represent possible instances of the model in the modified training image, and computing a quality metric of the model based on an evaluation of the set of poses with respect to the modified training image.

Abstract: Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products, for determining model uniqueness with a quality metric of a model of an object in a machine vision application. Determining uniqueness involves receiving a training image and a first set of model parameters, generating a first model of an object, generating a second model of the object based on the training image and a second set of model parameters modified from the first set of model parameters, determining a set of poses that represent possible instances of the second model in the training image, and computing a quality metric of the first model based on an evaluation of the set of poses with respect to the training image.

Abstract: This invention provides a field of view expander (FOVE) removably attached to a vision system camera having an image sensor defining an image plane. In an embodiment the FOVE includes first and second mirrors that transmit light from a scene in respective first and second partial fields of view along first and second optical axes. Third and fourth mirrors respectively receive reflected light from the first and second mirrors. The third and fourth mirrors reflect the received light onto the image plane in a first strip and a second strip adjacent to the first strip. The first and second optical axes are approximately parallel and a first focused optical path length between the scene and the image plane and a second focused optical path between the image plane and the scene are approximately equal in length. The optical path can be rotated at a right angle in embodiments.

Abstract: This invention provides a system and method for expanding the field of view of a vision system camera assembly such that the field of view is generally free of loss of normal resolution across the entire expanded field. A field of view expander includes outer mirrors that receive light from different portions of a scene. The outer mirrors direct light to tilted inner mirrors of a beam splitter that directs the light aligned with a camera axis to avoid image distortion. The inner mirrors each direct the light from each outer mirror into a strip on the sensor, and the system searches features. The adjacent fields of view include overlap regions sized and arranged to ensure a centralized feature appears fully in at least one strip. Alternatively, a moving mirror changes position between acquired image frames so that a full width of the scene is imaged in successive frames.

Abstract: Systems and methods provide for illuminating a subject using a light pipe that transmits light from a source. A method includes providing a light pipe, the light pipe defining an inner lumen through which the image sensor views the subject; providing a light source in alignment with a proximal portion of the light pipe; and using the light source, projecting a light into the light pipe and through the light pipe, the light pipe including a distal portion for providing a high-angle bright field illumination pattern on the subject with a first portion of the light and for reflecting a second portion of the light for providing a low-angle dark field illumination pattern on the subject.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for recalibrating a liquid lens. In one embodiment, a lens holder is provided to adjust the focal length of the lens as a function of temperature. In another embodiment, a recalibration circuit including a second lens of similar characteristics to the imaging lens is used to determine an appropriate focus. In other embodiments, an open loop calibration process is used.

Abstract: A power/communication kit for use with a reader module where the code reader module includes a reader connector and a reader housing, the power/communication kit comprising a plurality of different power/communication modules wherein each module communicates via a different communication protocol and each includes a power source and a communication component suitable for communicating via an associated communication protocol, wherein, each of the modules is securable to the reader module in a similar fashion such that any one of the power/communication modules can be swapped for any other of the power/communication modules so that the reader can be used with different communication systems.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for extracting a one-dimensional digital signal from a two-dimensional digital image along a projection line. In some embodiments a repeating sequence of pixel weight templates, and a sequence of relative positions, are selected in response to the orientation of a projection line and used to compute a sequence of weighted sums. The sequence can be selected to achieve desirable properties, for example photometric accuracy, geometric accuracy, resolution, and/or noise reduction. In some embodiments registers and multiply-accumulators are arranged and controlled so as to compute the 1D signal.

Abstract: A hand held industrial identification symbol reader projects diffuse illumination onto a region of interest to produce high contrast images of symbols. The diffuse illumination is particularly well suited for producing images of symbols that are marked directly on objects. The diffuse illumination is created through the use of an optically translucent diffuser having a generally tapered shape that distributes diffuse illumination throughout the field of view of the reader. The diffuse illumination can be supplemented with dark field illumination using selectively actuated illumination sources.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and apparatus for automatic optoelectronic detection and inspection of objects, based on capturing digital images of a two-dimensional field of view in which an object to be detected or inspected may be located, analyzing the images, and making and reporting decisions on the status of the object. Decisions are based on evidence obtained from a plurality of images for which the object is located in the field of view, generally corresponding to a plurality of viewing perspectives. Evidence that an object is located in the field of view is used for detection, and evidence that the object satisfies appropriate inspection criteria is used for inspection. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for capturing and analyzing images at high speed so that multiple viewing perspectives can be obtained for objects in continuous motion.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed for extracting a one-dimensional digital signal from a two-dimensional digital image along a projection line. Disclosed embodiments provide an image memory in which is stored the digital image, a working memory, a direct memory access controller, a table memory that holds a plurality of transfer templates, and a processor. The processor selects a transfer template from the table memory responsive to an orientation of the projection line, computes a customized set of transfer parameters from the selected transfer template and parameters of the projection line, transmits the transfer parameters to the direct memory access controller, commands the direct memory access controller to transfer data from the image memory to the working memory as specified by the transfer parameters, and computes the one-dimensional digital signal using at least a portion of the data transferred by the direct memory access controller into the working memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for use with a handheld code reader that has a plurality of operating characteristics where each operating characteristic can have a plurality of different states wherein a recipe includes a specific set of states of at least first and second characteristics, the method for switching between recipes and comprising the steps of specifying a circumstance set including at least one of reader orientation and a threshold movement level for the reader, monitoring at least one of movement and orientation of the reader, determining when the circumstance set occurs and changing from a current recipe to a next recipe when the circumstance set occurs.

Abstract: Described are methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for finding correspondences of one or more parts in a camera image of two or more cameras. For a first part in a first camera image of a first camera, a first 3D ray that is a first back-projection of a first feature coordinate of the first part in the first camera image to a 3D physical space is calculated. For a second part in a second camera image of a second camera, a second 3D ray that is a second back-projection of a second feature coordinate of the second part in the second camera image to the 3D physical space is calculated, wherein the first feature coordinate and the second feature coordinate correspond to a first feature as identified in a model. A first distance between the first 3D ray and the second 3D ray is calculated.