Vision systems for quality control

Machine vision systems allow noncontact measurement and evaluation of product and processes. When operating as fast as or faster than the production process, manufacturers using machine vision systems achieve 100% product compliance. This paper describes approaches to the hardware of vision systems that provides speed increases in concert with cost reductions. There are two classes of camera architecture that produce images at production rates; time delay and integrate (TDI) cameras, and fast framing cameras. This paper discusses the technologies and the hardware used in QC applications. The 486-based PC is a low-cost high-performance computing platform. The interface between the high speed cameras and the 486 PC remains the final step in removing the barriers for wide spread application of machine vision systems in QC. This paper discusses the hardware and software of high speed camera interfaces to the 486 PC