San Francisco, CA, and Natick, MA, July 14, 2003—Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ - CGNX), the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems, announced today at Semicon West that it has expanded the capabilities of its VisionPro® PC-based machine vision systems with the addition of new high-performance vision software tools. The new tools reduce setup time, improve process yield, and provide new options for pattern training in a broad range of semiconductor and other manufacturing applications that require general-purpose machine vision for inspection, measurement, identification, and guidance.
In addition to a full array of machine vision software, the popular VisionPro suite now includes the following:· Synthetic PatMax — With the addition of Synthetic PatMax, Cognex provides new options for training PatMax®, the premier object location software. When an acquired image is unavailable or unsuitable for training, Synthetic PatMax can be used to generate reference models without relying on image data. With Synthetic PatMax users can import CAD (DXF) data, extract edges, or sketch free-hand to create reference models. Replacing acquired image data with a synthetic definition retains essential pattern features necessary for the inspection, while excluding component details that are likely to vary.
In stepper alignment applications, for example, Synthetic PatMax provides accurate origin definition using synthetic fiducial creation for ideal reference marks.· PatInspect™ — PatInspect is a robust, fast, and highly accurate defect detection tool. Using PatMax to locate objects with high precision under a wide range of conditions, PatInspect then detects differences in the object compared to a trained image. By ignoring acceptable variations in appearance, PatInspect avoids false rejects due to part rotation, scale changes, lighting variations, and other factors.
In wafer defect inspection applications, for example, PatInspect identifies micro defects such as node-level and particle defects on SEM images, as well as macro defects on visible light images such as incomplete CMP and other process imperfections.VisionPro eliminates the trade-off between ease of use and flexibility by combining graphical development for fast prototyping with advanced lower-level programming. The result has been wide acceptance by a broad range of users to solve complex vision tasks more efficiently. These new software additions expand upon VisionPro’s geometric pattern matching, OCV, ID, geometric measurement, and data analysis capabilities.
Synthetic PatMax, PatInspect, and other new image processing tools will begin shipping in September 2003 with VisionPro release 3.3.Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets machine vision systems, or computers that can "see." Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 175,000 vision systems, representing over $1.3 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981.
Cognex's Modular Vision Systems Division, headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, specializes in machine vision systems which are used for automating the manufacture of a wide range of discrete items and for assuring their quality. Cognex's Surface Inspection Systems Division, headquartered in Alameda, California, specializes in machine vision systems which are used for inspecting the surfaces of products manufactured in a continuous fashion, such as metals, paper, plastics, and nonwovens. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, Cognex also has regional offices located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Visit Cognex on-line at http://www.cognex.com .
