Data Translation Announces Integration of Vision and Sensor Measurements

Data Translation, Inc. announced the release of Data Translation Information Exchange (DTiX). DTiX is a COM-based, peer-to-peer communication system that simplifies the complexity of integrating both vision and sensor-based measurements. DTiX allows users to share variable and image data between DT Vision Foundry, DT's machine vision software, and DT Measure Foundry, DT's test and measurement software. Users can now integrate data acquisition measurements with machine vision data and correlate the results under a single user interface.

DTiX also extends the capabilities of DT Vision Foundry and DT Measure Foundry with other COM-based applications. DTiX allows the sharing of variable and image data with Visual Basic, Delphi and Visual C++. DTiX comes with DT Vision Foundry.

Using DTiX with DT Measure Foundry and DT Vision Foundry, users can easily command and control their testing environment from a single graphical user interface. A system to verify the quality of fuel injectors is set up, simulating an assembly line moving at high speed. A DT3152 frame grabber captures the images and they are brought into DT Vision Foundry. DT Vision Foundry exports the images and variables through DTiX to DT Measure Foundry - variables include good parts, bad parts, total parts, and the diameter of the fuel injectors. A DAQ output on a DT302 data acquisition board controls the speed of the motor that drives the assembly line, and the control is set up in DT Measure Foundry. The pulse on the strobe light is counted by the counter/timer feature of the DT302 board, and displayed in the DT Measure Foundry application. An accelerometer attached to the system measures the vibrations and through the DT302, that measurement is also reported in DT Measure Foundry.

This integration of test and measurement and vision software and hardware in one system allows a user to correlate the data to monitor the complete system or make adjustments as needed. These adjustments can range from controlling the speed of the motor to synchronize with the speed of the camera, to determining if the vibration of the motor is impacting the reliability of the camera. Since vision and data acquisition measurements are automated, testing can take place remotely without additional resources monitoring the process.

According to Fred Molinari, president, founder and CEO of Data Translation, ``Combining vision and sensor data under one interface is an innovation that no other vendor can offer. Today's announcement also lets users leverage their investment in Data Translation's best-in-breed software with Visual Basic, Delphi, and C++, among others.''

DTiX supports both DT Measure Foundry and DT Vision Foundry and is built into DT Vision Foundry. DT Vision Foundry is available immediately for $3,495.00 and DT Measure Foundry is available at $495.00. DTiX is available at no additional cost. Data Translation provides complete technical support for all its products. Technical support is also available 24x7 via Data Translation's website at www.datatranslation.com.