Smart camera sports Atom

Matrox Imaging announced a Windows CE "smart camera" that uses a 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor. The Iris GT features 256MB of RAM, 1GB of flash storage, a gigabit Ethernet port, USB 2.0 and RS232 serial ports, plus an opto-coupled trigger input and strobe output, says Matrox.

(Click here for a larger view of Matrox's Iris GT)

According to Matrox, the Iris GT is designed to run "machine vision" applications created using the company's Matrox Design Assistant (IDE) integrated development environment. The IDE aims to let manufacturing engineers and technicians configure and deploy applications without the need for conventional programming, the company claims.

Matrox Design Assistant runs on a Windows desktop PC, and is said to let users design machine vision applications using a flowchart. Adding elements to an application is done by taking steps from a toolbox. Available steps include image analysis and processing, communication, flow-control, and I/O, the company says.

A finished application will be able to accept input from the camera, then perform operations such as the following, according to the company:

• Locating and reading barcodes
  
• Finding and recognizing character strings
  
• Recognizing patterns
  
• Measuring the geometry of 2D objects
  
• Compensating for lens distortion, and calibrating itself via a grid or a list of known points

Matrox's Design Assistant IDE (left) creates applications (right) that run on the Iris GT smart camera
(Click to enlarge)
Once an application has been created via the IDE (above left), it is then deployed to the Iris GT smart camera, where it runs independently. The device includes an integral HTTP server, allowing an operator to check up on its operations remotely (above right) from any web browser, Matrox says.

Camera hardware

As mentioned above, the Iris GT runs Windows CE 6.0 on a 1.6GHz Atom processor, though Matrox did not say whether the CPU is the N270 part usually associated with netbooks, the 230 aimed at nettops, or -- most likely, we think -- the Z530 commonly found in MIDs (mobile internet devices). The device has 256MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage.

Connectivity for the camera includes gigabit Ethernet, an RS232 interface, four digital inputs, four digital outputs, one opto-coupled trigger input, and one strobe output. The device can connect to Modbus via TCP/IP, Matrox adds.

Optically, the camera has a C-mount connector that allows lenses to be interchanged. According to Matrox, the Iris GT is available with a choice of two different monochrome sensors: A Kodak-supplied CCD has 640 x 480 resolution and captures 110 frames per second, while a Sony-supplied CCD has 1280 x 960 resolution and captures 22.5fps.

Described as "sturdy, dust-proof, and washable," the Iris GT operates over temperatures from 0 to 50 deg. C (32 to 122 deg. F). It requires 24VDC input power and uses approximately 10 Watts, says Matrox.

Features and specifications listed by the company for the Iris GT include the following:

• Processor -- 1.6GHz Intel Atom
  
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage
  
• Camera -- Monochrome sensor, with 640 x 480 or 1280 x 960 resolution
  
• Networking -- Gigabit Ethernet, with 8-pin M12 connector
  
• Other I/O:
  • RS232
    
  • Digital I/O -- four inputs and four outputs
    
  • Trigger input
    
  • Strobe output
• Operating temperature -- 0 to 50 deg. C (32 to 122 deg. F)
  
• Power requirements -- 24VDC, 10 Watt typical
  
• Weight -- n/s
  
• Dimensions -- n/s

According to Matrox, the Iris GT will be available in the first quarter of 2009, though pricing was not released. More information may be found on the company's website, here.
Resource - WindowsForDevices