Today's Automation News Headlines from Automation.com

June 9, 2011 — Cognex Corporation  announces an option to deliver its VisionView operator interface to third-party CE Panels. VisionView CE software can now be licensed and installed directly onto Rockwell and Siemens CE panels, allowing end users to use existing equipment and reduce monitor clutter. In addition to supporting VisionView CE software to run on Rockwell and Siemens CE panels, a software release, VisionView 1.4, adds functionality to support filtered images, the ability to view the failed image next to the current image, additional touch screen drivers for the VisionView VGA model and Microsoft Windows 7 64-bit support.

Four Hardware Platforms
VisionView users now have a choice of four different platforms:

• VisionView CE. The new VisionView CE software option offers all the standard VisionView features and enables operators to view their applications using their existing Rockwell or Siemens CE panels. VisionView CE offers higher performance and ability to support larger screens while reducing additional monitor clutter.
• VisionView PC. The VisionView PC software has all the standard VisionView features while providing the flexibility of using your own choice of PC and monitor.
•  VisionView VGA. VisionView VGA provides the flexibility by allowing “control room” viewing of images and results without being limited by the size of the display. The VisionView VGA adapter supports VGA displays of different resolutions, as well as touch screen displays.
• VisionView 700. The VisionView 700 is a powerful, low-cost operator interface panel that provides password-protected user control to adjust vision tool parameters and regions of interest without requiring a PC on your factory floor.

New features in VisionView 1.4 include:

• Software License for third-party CE Panels, such as Rockwell PanelViewPlus and Siemens MP-series CE Panels. End users can reduce monitor clutter by using existing panels instead of purchasing new monitors for their vision systems.
• Last Failed Image View. Shows the current image and the last failed image side-by-side. End users can compare the current run-time image and the last image that failed within the same view.
•  Filtered Image View. Allows display of filtered images from the camera on the VisionView panel. End users can see the tools being applied on the actual filtered image that has been applied from the camera.

New Serial Touch Screen Drivers. Preinstalled to support various touch screen panels with VisionView VGA. In addition to the Mitsubishi GOT panels, VVVGA now supports various models of Advantech, Proface, ELO and 3M Microtouch panels.