Overview of custom solutions

In many areas of technology, medicine and biology, image-producing processes are involved which do not make use of optical sensors. Because of them objects can be made visible that are usually not accessible to the human eye or to normal cameras.

Typical applications such as:

• raster electron microscopes
• laser scanning microscopes
• x-ray sensors
• ultrasonic sensors
• stereo cameras
• duplex cameras

Just as the "cameras" are unusual, so too are the time characteristics of the signals and their information content. In order to extract impressive images from these exotic voltage fluctuations, complicated algorithms, partly implemented in software and partly in specially developed hardware need to be applied. MATRIX VISION can offer first-class references in this area.

MATRIX VISION can offer first-class references in this area. However, processing "common" video signals is often not possible or meaningful using standard products, because of marginal conditions. Additionally, with the aid of customized lightings it is possible to improve the quality of images significantly. Due to the deliberate concentration of development of components and solutions to the area of digital image processing, MATRIX VISION has built up its know-how over many years to a level which is unique, world-wide, so that we are not afraid of any challenge in our area.

In nearly all areas of image processing and for every application we offer the matching hardware and software or are able to develop it if needed. The standard products reflect this large knowledge in the unique diversity and constantly growing range of our frame grabbers, standard cameras and intelligent camera products.

German deposit system by Matrix Vision

History German deposit system
Since 1991 with the "Verordnung über die Vermeidung von Verwertung von Verpackungsabfällen" (order to avoid and recycle packaging waste) of then environment minister Klaus Töpfer the foundation stone of the today's deposite system was laid. As a result of this order, since 1.1.2003 there is a deposit on beverage packagings. After some disputes by court and interim isolated applications the Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH (German deposit system, in short DPG) was founded in June 2005 which was consigned to create a consistent Germany-wide deposit system until 1.5.2006.

Since 2004 only a barcode helped to indentify disposable beverages packagings. So that the traders can differ between packagings of the German deposit system and foreign packagings as a further indentifier a new deposit logo was introduced by the DPG. With this logo the traders are secure from deposit fraud trials. With reverse vending machines and industrial image processing and these security marks it is possible to classify beverages packagings without manpower.

mvSMR - retrofitting logo reading system
In November 2005, after the short-dated change of the security procedure, the developing time was right short. So the manucatures of reverse vending machines needed support from experienced image processing companies like MATRIX VISION GmbH. In a little while, MATRIX VISION developed a modular and retrofitting system which is based on the proven mvBlueLYNX technology. The Security Mark Reader mvSMR as the camera unit features two essential advantages: the intelligent camera can process the acquired images in the camera directly and it can control the different exposures of the lamps to recognize the deposit logo. A retrofitting with the mvSMR and a firmware update suffice to update the reverse vending machines. The mvSMR can be found in majority of reverse vending machines as well as in some counting centers Germany-wide.

mvSMCC - logo verification pen
As a further result of this project MATRIX VISION's Security Mark Color Checker was developed, short mvSMCC. Since the implementation of the consistent deposit system in Germany, tricksters had tried to come into deposit money with counterfeit deposit logos illegally. For this purpose major trade chains have reverse vending machines, which verify the deposit logo additionally. Meanwhile for owners of smaller kiosk or petrol station the expense is too high.

Here a cost-efficient, small and easy to use solution was needed. MATRIX VISION developed a compact optical verification system in the form of a ball pen. With its size of 135mm length and 13mm diameter, this pen verifies authenticity of the deposit logo based on the changeover of the color.
 

 DALSA is uniquely positioned to offer innovative custom solutions to exceed your next generation requirements. With design and manufacturing expertise and engineering services spanning sensors, cameras, vision modules, specialized illumination, optics, data acquisition, and image processing, DALSA Custom Solutions delivers vision solutions tuned to your most challenging applications.

Time to market is critical, and DALSA has the tools in place to fast track challenging product developments. Customers will benefit from dedicated project teams focused on leading edge design, build, and manufacturing processes as well as a highly trained technical support team to assist with product test and integration.

Custom Digital Cameras

    * 40MHz, 12k-pixel line scan, stackable mechanical design
    * 256-output TDI cameras with 4 Gigapixel/sec throughput
    * 12-bit dynamic range at 1.2 Gpix/sec
    * Ultra-high speed with on-chip multi-frame storage, 100,000,000fps burst rate
    * Remote head, stackable and single board camera designs
    * High speed serialized data interfaces up to 10Gb/sec
    * Cooling options for low noise and long exposures

Custom Imaging Modules

    * Custom illumination and optics
    * Image processing and classification
    * Scalable architecture for growth in capacity
    * Data reduction (2.56 Gbytes/sec in single framegrabber) for massively parallel systems

Customized Manufacturing Capabilities

    * Color CCD manufacturing
    * Custom window attachment and sensor packaging for challenging environments
    * Backside thinning
    * Radiation tolerance and radiation hardened designs
    * Fiber optic attachments
    * Extended environmental testing, including basic MIL-STD