The third company on our list is Cognex Corporation. Cognex has been a provider of machine vision technology for over 30 years and offers a wide range of products including cameras, frame grabbers, software, and imaging boards. They are well-known for their innovative product designs and high-quality standards. Cognex’s cameras are used in a variety of industries such as automotive, electronics, and semiconductor manufacturing.
One of the unique features that sets Cognex apart from other providers is its patented In-Sight imaging technology. This technology allows for fast and accurate identification of objects using machine learning algorithms.
This section provides an overview for industrial cameras as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 74 industrial camera manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked industrial camera companies as of April, 2024: 1.Vernier Software & Technology, 2.Industrial Video & Control Co., 3.Cognex Corporation.
An industrial camera is used in factories or for security purposes. There are two main types: monitoring cameras and machine vision cameras. Monitoring cameras, often used for surveillance, are connected to a monitor for visual observation. This category includes cameras used for digital microscopes. Machine vision cameras, integrated into manufacturing processes, process image data for automatic inspections.
Monitoring industrial cameras are used in security cameras, surveillance cameras, in-vehicle recorders, and digital microscopes. These cameras are also commonly installed in ATMs and cash registers. On the other hand, machine vision industrial cameras are primarily used in manufacturing processes for inspection systems, where they automate the analysis of captured images.
These applications include defect and foreign matter inspection, criteria determination for liquid container filling, barcode reading, character recognition, and other uses in the automotive, medical, electrical, electronic, logistics, and printing fields.
Industrial cameras consist of a lens and a body, similar to digital cameras. Light entering through the lens is converted into digital data by an image sensor in the body. These sensors can detect visible light, infrared, ultraviolet, and X-rays. Their performance varies based on size, pixel count, and scanning method.
When selecting an industrial camera, consider its specific applications and minimum performance requirements. Key considerations include:
There are two types of industrial cameras: area cameras and line sensor cameras. Line sensor cameras, with a single row of elements, can capture an entire product by moving it, ideal for cylindrical or flat objects. For line monitoring and inspection, line sensor cameras can be sufficient.
The choice of camera depends on the needed color information, resolution, and acquisition speed. Monochrome cameras suffice for shape detection. Higher resolution increases cost and data volume, which should match the inspection throughput.
Consider how images and videos will be captured. Common interfaces include USB, CameraLink, and Gigabit Ethernet, each with different transfer rates and cable length limitations.
There are two scanning methods: interlaced and progressive. Interlaced, which alternates between even and odd lines, suits monitoring purposes like surveillance cameras for smooth motion depiction. Progressive scanning, displaying all lines simultaneously, is better for capturing moments and is used in machine vision in manufacturing.