Software brings vision systems together

Edited by the Electronicstalk editorial team May 8, 2006

An ingenious software mapping technology cost-reduces, simplifies and speeds the task of complying with the Automated Imaging Association's GigE Vision standard.

Pleora Technologies has developed an ingenious software mapping technology that cost-reduces, simplifies and speeds the task of complying with the AIA's (Automated Imaging Association) GigE Vision standard.

Pleora's new iPort AutoGEV tool makes it fast and easy for camera makers and vision system designers to gain compliance for any GigE camera or OEM system that uses iPort GigE connectivity products.

Moreover, AutoGEV will allow most existing CameraLink camera models to interoperate seamlessly in GigE Vision-compliant applications.

"This mapping tool is a key element of Pleora's multifaceted strategy to make high-performance, GigE Vision-compliant products easy to develop, access, and use", said George Chamberlain, President of Pleora Technologies.

"Together with our recently announced eBus driver and innovations in our iPort IP engines and SDK, AutoGEV gives our camera partners, OEM, and end-user customers a clean and simple way to adopt the new GigE standard".

From a user-friendly graphical user interface, camera vendors use iPort AutoGEV to build a database that maps GigE Vision register read/write requests to existing serial camera control commands.

AutoGEV uses this database to auto-generate the XML (extended mark-up language) device description file that must be provided with compliant cameras.

This XML file defines the relationship between camera features and the GigE Vision registers used to access and control compliant cameras.

Vendors then simply load the AutoGEV database and the XML file - if they choose to provide the XML file that way; they can also provide it as a web download or on disk - into the camera's internal iPort IP Engine or a stand-alone iPort engine connected to the camera.

After that, the iPort engine performs all tasks required to ensure the camera complies with the standard.

It provides the XML file, if available in the camera, to the GenICam module in the PC host, handles all commands to and from the camera, and delivers real-time communications over the GigE link in accordance with the GigE Vision Streaming Protocol and GigE Vision Control Protocol.

Broad-based camera and OEM support Pleora's iPort AutoGEV supports the entire range of GigE cameras that use Pleora's in-camera products, including those based on iPort intellectual property, those equipped with the iPort PT1000-VB In-Camera IP Engine, and those with custom iPort boards.

AutoGEV will also be supported by many of Pleora's popular stand-alone IP engines, which means almost any existing CameraLink camera model or iPort-based OEM system will be able to obtain full GigE Vision compliance.

Customers will be able to use AutoGEV with the iPort PT1000-CL for connecting CameraLink cameras to copper GigE; the iPort FB1000-CL for connecting CameraLink cameras to fibre-based GigE; the iPort PT1000-ST for in-system connectivity to copper GigE; and the iPort FB1000-ST for in-system connectivity to fibre-based GigE.

Pleora's iPort AutoGEV will be available next month.