Tag Archives for: Vision Components

Vision Components marks 25th anniversary

May 19, 2021

 

 

 

Vision Components marks 25th anniversary

 

 

 

The German embedded vision pioneer Vision Components celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021. The year was duly kicked off with a major product launch: VC picoSmart, currently the world’s smallest embedded vision system. The anniversary will also be marked by a webinar series and a hackaton under the motto, ‘There must be a better way to do this’ – a mindset that has always driven product development in the company.

 

Caption: Vision Components has been manufacturing embedded vision technology for 25 years, well ahead of current trends; pictured: founder and CEO Michael Engel

 

In 1995, CEO Michael Engel developed and presented the world’s first industrial-grade smart camera. Founding the company in the year after and taking up series production, he profoundly changed the machine vision market. The freely programmable cameras provided great flexibility for OEMs to design customized solutions for all conceivable vision applications. Many tasks could now be solved by highly compact systems that needed neither an image processing computer nor a control cabinet. After the first generation of smart cameras, Vision Components soon launched the next trailblazing innovations, including the first intelligent vision sensors and the first embedded 3D laser profilers. Most recently, the manufacturer presented the VC picoSmart miniature embedded vision system, fully functional, with all components for frame grabbing and image processing, including FPGA and FPU, and as small as a conventional image sensor module. In addition, Vision Components is also a leader in the development and manufacture of MIPI camera modules for flexible embedded vision designs based on single-board computers; the company offers the widest range of sensors in this segment, along with drivers and powerful accessories for a speedy successful commissioning. Vision Components ensures long-term availability of all its products for commercial projects.

More: https://www.vision-components.com/en/our-company/

 

Vision Components: New high-end sensors with MIPI interface

November 18, 2020

 

 

 

 

Vision Components: New high-end sensors with MIPI interface

 

 

Vision Components presents various new camera modules that combine high image quality and frame rates with the advantages of the MIPI CSI-2 interface and consist of the sensor board and a fully integrated MIPI adapter board. Thereby high-end image sensors from the Sony Pregius and Sony Starvis series, which have no native MIPI interface, can be used for flexible embedded vision designs based on popular processor boards. The low-cost and easy-to-integrate VC MIPI camera modules come with monochrome or color sensors and are suitable for commercial solutions and long-term available like all VC cameras.

 

Caption: Vision Components integrates additional Sony Pregius and Starvis sensors with high image quality, light sensitivity, and frame rates in its VC MIPI camera modules

 

Featuring a 20-megapixel resolution, 4K video, and a global reset shutter, VC MIPI IMX183 is perfect for applications with maximum image quality and speed requirements – including medical and laboratory technology, smart agriculture, and drones. The Sony Starvis sensor’s backside illuminated (BSI) technology ensures high light sensitivity and a wide contrast range. VC MIPI IMX226 and VC MIPI IMX178 with 12 MP and 6.4 MP resolution respectively exhibit the same technologies. Vision Components has integrated a full four Sony Pregius sensors for applications such as smart traffic monitoring, presence detection, and access control to cover different requirements and price segments. These sensors feature resolution of 5 MP (IMX250, IMX264) and 3.2 MP (IMX252, IMX265). The 250 series offers fast frame rates, such as the IMX252, which reaches 151.4 fps at full resolution. The 260 series, on the other hand, targets price-sensitive applications with lower speed requirements. On request, the sensors are also available as IMX250mZR and IMX264mZR versions with an on-chip polarizer. Two new global shutter camera modules are geared at industrial applications: VC MIPI IMX273 (1.58 MP) and VC MIPI IMX392 (2.3 MP) with 201 fps at 8 bits. Even more VC MIPI camera modules are already on the road map. In addition, the manufacturer also encourages requests for specific developments.

More information: www.mipi-modules.com

 

 

About Vision Components

Vision Components is a leading international manufacturer of embedded vision systems. The freely programmable cameras with powerful onboard CPUs perform image processing tasks on their own without the need for an additional computer. Vision Components offers OEMs versatile Linux-based embedded systems for 2D and 3D image processing, supplied as board cameras or in protective casings. These are complemented by a growing range of ultracompact MIPI camera boards, which connect to a variety of different CPU boards. In addition, Vision Components offers software libraries and develops customized solutions on request. The team of experts can draw on extensive knowledge and over 20 years of experience with imaging applications. The company based in Ettlingen in southwestern Germany was founded in 1996 by Michael Engel, the inventor of the first industrial-grade intelligent camera. More world premieres followed, including the world’s first intelligent vision sensors and the first-ever embedded 3D laser profiler. Today, Vision Components has sales offices in the United States and Japan and works with local partners in over 25 countries to provide consistent customer focus and readily available expertise throughout the world.

 

Vision Components: Embedded vision systems and components

March 04, 2020

 

 

Embedded vision systems and components

 

At ISC West, Vision Components presents its extended range of high-end camera modules with a MIPI CSI-2 port. The German embedded vision expert has integrated a bigger variety of image sensors in industrial MIPI boards than any other manufacturer.

 

The lineup of MIPI camera modules for repeatable automatic processing even includes machine vision sensors that do not have a native MIPI interface, such as Sony Pregius IMX250 and IMX252, which are ideal for security applications due to their high light sensitivity and very low dark noise.

 

The VC MIPI portfolio for embedded vision designs based on CPU boards such as the NVIDIA models Jetson and DragonBoard is geared at applications with multiple cameras such as smart city and surveillance. Available accessories include high-performance shielded FPC cables and repeater boards for the full MIPI bandwidth over distances of more than one meter.

 

Another ISC West showcase, the VC DragonCam, is the latest addition to the range of embedded cameras. Featuring a quad-core Snapdragon 410 processor, it provides a substantial performance boost over previous generations: 1.2 GHz clock rate, 1 GB RAM, 16 GB flash memory. In addition to various built-in interfaces like GigE and 12 GPIOs, this board camera is available with optional extension boards that enable easy, flexible addition of an SD card slot and more interfaces: serial interface, I²C, RS232, DSI, RJ45 Ethernet adapter, and power interface.

 

The brand-new VC DragonCam quad-core embedded camera allows for modular addition of boards with SD card slots and various interfaces

 

Vision Components shares the ISC West booth with its subsidiary Carrida Technologies, specialized in hardware and software solutionsfor automatic license plate recognition (ALPR). The compact, low-maintenance autonomous embedded vision systems are the perfect solution for remote applications.

 

The Carrida software can process all common image and video file formats as well as video streams. It is hardware and vendor independent and can be used to enhance existing parking and traffic control applications and the like. The team is looking forward to advising ISC West visitors on the best solutions for all their security-related vision applications.

Vision Components at ISC West

Las Vegas, 17 – 20 March 2020

Booth #3060

 

 

About Vision Components

Vision Components is a leading international manufacturer of embedded vision systems. The freely programmable cameras with powerful onboard CPUs perform image processing tasks on their own without the need for an additional computer. Vision Components offers OEMs versatile Linux-based embedded systems for 2D and 3D image processing, supplied as board cameras or in protective casings. These are complemented by a growing range of ultracompact MIPI camera boards, which connect to a variety of different CPU boards. In addition, Vision Components offers software libraries and develops customized solutions on request. The team of experts can draw on extensive knowledge and over 20 years of experience with imaging applications. The company based in Ettlingen in southwestern Germany was founded in 1996 by Michael Engel, the inventor of the first industrial-grade intelligent camera. More world premieres followed, including the world’s first intelligent vision sensors and the first-ever embedded 3D laser profiler. Today, Vision Components has sales offices in the United States and Japan and works with local partners in over 25 countries to provide consistent customer focus and readily available expertise throughout the world.

 

 

Contact:

Vision Components GmbH

Miriam Schreiber

 

Email: miriam.schreiber@vision-components.com

Internet: www.vision-components.com

  

 

 

Wilco Imaging becomes Vision Components distributor

February 19, 2020

 

 

 

Wilco Imaging becomes Vision Components distributor

 

 

Vision Components welcomes Wilco Imaging as its new distribution partner in the U.S. Based in El Dorado Hills near Sacramento (CA), Wilco is an expert in machine vision and embedded vision systems of long standing, serving customers across North America. In addition to supplying quality imaging products, Wilco builds custom solutions for industrial, robotics, medtech, and other applications. The team boasts a deep understanding of sensors, optics, lighting, and computational power and is excellently situated to serve the growing demand for vision technology.

 

Caption: William Corns, CEO of Wilco Imaging (left), is welcomed into the Vision Components fold by Jan-Erik Schmitt, vice president of sales (right)

 

The German-based manufacturer Vision Components is the home of embedded vision, having started business in 1996 with the launch of the very first industrial embedded camera. The VC portfolio includes freely programmable embedded vision systems: board cameras, cameras with a protective housing, and laser profilers for 3D imaging along with versatile software libraries. Vision Components is also the leading manufacturer of MIPI camera boards with an ever-growing sensor range and supplying large volumes at consumer prices. The high-end, high-tech MIPI boards enable vision applications powered by various current CPU boards, such as Raspberry Pi, 96Boards, NVIDIA, and others, enabling highly economic designs, ideal for rapid prototyping.

 

www.wilcoimaging.com

 

Vision Components: Foundation of Carrida Technologies

August 19, 2019

 

 

 

Vision Components: Foundation of Carrida Technologies

 

 

The German embedded vision expert Vision Components and its Austrian partner SL Solutions have founded Carrida Technologies GmbH to further develop vehicle and number plate recognition. The joint venture is headed by two experienced managers, Jan-Erik Schmitt, vice president of sales at Vision Components GmbH, and Oliver Sidla, founder and managing director of SL Solutions GmbH. Jan-Erik Schmitt is responsible for European sales at Carrida Technologies and oversees international sales together with Endre Tóth. The core products of Carrida Technologies are hardware-independent software for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR/ALPR), embedded LPR cameras, and software modules for vehicle make and model recognition. These and other components based on the latest deep learning and AI technologies fulfill key roles in intelligent transportation systems (ITS). They are used for traffic monitoring, toll collection, ticketing, traffic flow detection, speed control, access control, and similar tasks. Vision Components has been marketing the CARRIDA software engine since 2014. The success was such that the formation of a specialized subsidiary is the logical next step to advance this business segment.

More information is available at www.carrida-technologies.com.

 

 

About Vision Components

Vision Components is a leading international manufacturer of embedded vision systems. The freely programmable cameras with powerful onboard CPUs perform image processing tasks on their own without the need for an additional computer. Vision Components offers OEMs versatile Linux-based embedded systems for 2D and 3D image processing, supplied as board cameras or in protective casings. These are complemented by a growing range of ultracompact MIPI camera boards, which connect to a variety of different CPU boards. In addition, Vision Components offers software libraries and develops customized solutions on request. The team of experts can draw on extensive knowledge and over 20 years of experience with imaging applications. The company based in Ettlingen in southwestern Germany was founded in 1996 by Michael Engel, the inventor of the first industrial-grade intelligent camera. More world premieres followed, including the world’s first intelligent vision sensors and the first-ever embedded 3D laser profiler. Today, Vision Components has sales offices in the United States and Japan and works with local partners in over 25 countries to provide consistent customer focus and readily available expertise throughout the world.

 

 

Contact:

Vision Components GmbH

Miriam Schreiber

Ottostr. 2

76275 Ettlingen

Germany

Phone: +49 . 7243 . 216 716

Email:     miriam.schreiber@vision-components.com

Internet:  www.vision-components.com
www.carrida-technologies.com

 gii die Presse-Agentur GmbH

Immanuelkirchstr. 12

10405 Berlin

Germany

Phone: +49 . 30 . 538 9650

Email:     info@gii.de

Internet:  www.gii.de

Vision Components – embedded world exhibition: Hardware and software for vision OEMs

February 06, 2019

 

 

 

 

Vision Components – embedded world exhibition:

Hardware and software for vision OEMs

 

 

 

Vision Components presents new software and hardware products for vision OEMs at two booths at the 2019 embedded world exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany. At the main booth (#2-444), everything revolves around VC Z series embedded vision systems. These are now available with an even wider variety of CMOS sensors, including several Sony Pregius sensors. Vision Components achieves outstanding clock rates, for example 88 fps at resolutions up to 3.2 MP or 170 fps at 1.6 MP. In addition, all VCnanoZ camera models are optionally available with application-specific LED lighting integrated in the standard housing.

 

Illustration: Vision Components presents embedded vision systems with new image sensors and a new 3D laser profiler with additional 2D image processing capability

 

The latest embedded laser profiler is also on exhibit. Vision Components’ proprietary ambient light suppression technology enables measurements under up to 100,000 lux with this product. The 3D laser scanner contains a Xilinx Zynq module, a system on chip (SoC) with an FPGA and a high-performance ARM processor. The FPGA handles all calculation of 3D data. The ARM processor clocked at 2 x 866 MHz can be freely programmed for other application-specific tasks such as gray value analysis. This enables additional 2D inspection tasks to be performed with just the one system. The company also demonstrates vehicle make and model recognition based on deep learning algorithms. It is suitable as a standalone solution or can be used in combination with the Carrida license plate recognition (ALPR) software in order to increase accuracy. This tool has a wide range of possible applications in access control, traffic monitoring, and smart city matters.

Vision Components has a second booth (#3-764) dedicated exclusively to its new MIPI camera modules for use with various common CPU boards.

Vision Components at embedded world

Nuremberg, Germany, 26 – 28 February 2019

Embedded systems: Hall 2, Stand 444

MIPI cameras: Hall 3, Stand 764

 

 

About Vision Components

Founded in 1996 by Michael Engel, inventor of the first intelligent camera for industrial applications, Vision Components GmbH is a leading supplier in the field of machine vision. Branches and distributors represent the Ettlingen-based company throughout the world in more than 25 countries. Vision Components develops and distributes intelligent, network-compatible real-time Smart Cameras that are able to operate without a PC. These embedded vision solutions can be easily integrated into almost any machine or plant. Customers can choose between models with ARM processors and VC Linux firmware, or DSP-based models with the proprietary VCRT operating system. The product portfolio includes Smart Cameras with or without a protective housing, single board cameras, and vision sensors. Vision Components also develops custom-tailored machine vision solutions for a wide range of applications – including, amongst others, tasks in quality inspection and automation. Furthermore, VC provides software libraries for many applications such as motion capture, decoding, measurement, and positioning.

www.vision-components.com

miriam.schreiber@vision-components.com

 

 

Vision Components: Deep-learning-driven ALPR/ANPR software suite

November 26, 2018

 

 

 

Vision Components: Deep-learning-driven ALPR/ANPR software suite

 

 

 

The Carrida software engine for automatic license plate recognition (ALPR/ANPR) has been augmented by a make and model identification function featuring deep learning algorithms. Carrida Make & Model currently recognizes hundreds of European and US brands and models. It can be used as a standalone tool or in combination with license plate recognition to increase accuracy. Since it was first introduced in 2014, many OEMs have found Vision Components’ powerful, field-proven solution to be instrumental for access control, traffic monitoring, and smart city applications. A recently established dedicated subsidiary, Carrida Technologies GmbH, has now taken the lead in marketing and further developing the suite.

 

Illustration: Carrida provides a hardware-independent ALPR software with global functionality and a cost-optimized, weather-proof standalone camera

 

The core element is the Carrida software, which now reads license plates from over 50 countries around the world with a typical accuracy of 96 %. The software can process all widely used image and video file formats. It recognizes all license plates visible in an image, requiring a minimum character size of merely 8 pixels. Video stream processing can be tied to a motion detection trigger to save computing capacity. The hardware-independent software runs on Windows, Linux, and Android systems with a variety of different processors from Ambarella, Atom, and Broadcom, to HiSilicon, i5, i7, RasPi, and Zynq. This greatly facilitates Carrida integration, especially into heterogeneous hardware architectures. An intuitive web interface enables flexible, convenient operation. A REST API interface has now also been implemented. It has already been used for cloud applications. The release for Android devices gives users completely new opportunities in apps. Developer interfaces are available for C, C++, C# wrapper, Java wrapper, and Python. In addition to the software suite, Vision Components and Carrida Technologies also offer an ALPR hardware companion kit. The portfolio includes network-enabled cameras, which can optionally be operated as standalone systems to control access barriers, infrared lighting, and upgrade computing modules to turn conventional IP cameras into ALPR systems.

 

 

About Vision Components

Founded in 1996 by Michael Engel, inventor of the first intelligent camera for industrial applications, Vision Components GmbH is a leading supplier in the field of machine vision. Branches and distributors represent the Ettlingen-based company throughout the world in more than 25 countries. Vision Components develops and distributes intelligent, network-compatible real-time Smart Cameras that are able to operate without a PC. These embedded vision solutions can be easily integrated into almost any machine or plant. Customers can choose between models with ARM processors and VC Linux firmware, or DSP-based models with the proprietary VCRT operating system. The product portfolio includes Smart Cameras with or without a protective housing, single board cameras, and vision sensors. Vision Components also develops custom-tailored machine vision solutions for a wide range of applications – including, amongst others, tasks in quality inspection and automation. Furthermore, VC provides software libraries for many applications such as motion capture, decoding, measurement, and positioning.

Carrida Technologies GmbH is headquartered in Ettlingen, Germany, and also has a US office.

www.vision-components.com
www.carrida-technologies.com

Vision Components: Standalone, network-compatible ALPR systems for parking applications

October 09, 2017

 

 

Vision Components: Standalone, network-compatible ALPR systems for parking applications

 

 

 

At the National Parking Association’s big annual meet, Vision Components will present embedded imaging solutions for automatic license plate recognition (ALPR). The modular Carrida software and hardware components enable blacklist/whitelist access control, parking management, identification of vehicle types and colors, and data logging. They can be networked with gates, barriers, ticket printers, under-vehicle scanners (UVSS), and other relevant equipment. Vision Components’ core ALPR product for OEMs is the high-performance, hardware-independent Carrida software engine with a typical processing time of 30 ms and a reading accuracy >96%. It can process all common still image and video formats, detects all plates displayed in one image, and recognizes characters with a minimum height of 12 px. A dedicated parking management software tool files all collected data and makes it available at any time for review and statistical analysis via web GUI. OEMs can implement the ready-made ALPR software tools on systems already equipped with vision sensors. Or they can integrate the Carrida Cam for decentralized intelligence in their applications – a small, fully functional standalone ALPR system. Multiple Carrida cameras with a master-slave configuration enable control of several entrances and exits.

 

Vision Components at the NPA Convention & Exposition

Palm Springs, CA, 2 – 5 October 2017

Booth 509

 

About Vision Components

Founded in 1996 by Michael Engel, inventor of the first intelligent camera for industrial applications, Vision Components GmbH is a leading supplier in the field of machine vision. Branches and distributors represent the Ettlingen-based company worldwide in more than 25 countries. Vision Components develops and distributes intelligent, network-compatible real-time Smart Cameras which are able to operate without a PC. These embedded vision solutions can be easily integrated into almost any machine or plant. Customers can choose between models with ARM processors and VC Linux firmware or DSP-based models with the proprietary VCRT operating system. The product portfolio includes Smart Cameras with or without a protective housing, single board cameras, and vision sensors. Vision Components also develops custom-tailored machine vision solutions for a wide range of applications. Amongst others, typical applications include quality inspection and automation. Furthermore, VC provides free software libraries for many applications including license plate recognition, motion capture, decoding, measurement, and positioning.

www.vision-components.com