NEWS RELEASE – May 4, 2004 – Engineers now can execute more sophisticated image processing applications that require fast frame rates and complex algorithms with the latest version in the National Instruments rugged Compact Vision System series. The new NI CVS-1456 delivers 83 percent more processing power and eight times more memory than the original version of the Compact Vision System released in June 2003.

With the increased processing power of the NI CVS-1456, scientists and engineers now can speed inspections in the lab or on the factory floor by more rapidly executing advanced image processing algorithms such as pattern-matching and character recognition. Taking advantage of its 256 MB of nonvolatile onboard Flash memory, engineers and scientists can store larger images on the CVS-1456 system for future offline analysis.

Also, by combining the CVS-1456 system or previously released CVS-1455 system with the new NI LabVIEW 7.1 FPGA Module, engineers can completely reconfigure the 29 digital I/O lines of their Compact Vision Systems. With this capability, engineers can use the Compact Vision System for a wider variety of highly customized applications including packaging inspection, assembly verification and robot control.

“With the original Compact Vision System, engineers could run time-bounded algorithms using NI LabVIEW Real-Time on their vision inspection applications,” said John Hanks, NI director of measurements marketing. “Now, with the recent release of the LabVIEW 7.1 FPGA Module, engineers can customize the digital I/O on their Compact Vision Systems to perform tasks such as stepper motion control, custom system communication and intelligent part sorting. In the past, this level of flexibility would have required programming an FPGA with a hardware design language such as VHDL.”

Engineers also can use LabVIEW 7.1 to store large amounts of data and images on IEEE 1394 (FireWire) hard drives connected directly to their Compact Vision Systems for security and monitoring applications. They can store hundreds of gigabytes of images for offline quality control analysis or for logging all acquired images for days at a time.

Engineers can use the NI Compact Vision System to build applications with multiple cameras without the need for separate processing units, saving time and money. NI Compact Vision Systems feature three FireWire ports for connectivity to a variety of imaging sensors, and engineers have the flexibility to choose from more than 80 IEEE 1394 cameras. The systems easily integrate into rugged, industrial environments and are ideal for inspection, alignment, gauging and identification applications. NI Compact Vision Systems can withstand temperatures ranging from 0 to 55 degrees Celsius and shock and vibration up to 50 g. The product does not include fans, external vents or moving parts of any kind.