In machine vision systems, calculating height profiles from image data can impose a significant burden on the CPU. This process involves extracting point clouds from laser lines within images and converting them into height profiles for use in triangulation algorithms. When high resolutions are involved, this extraction step often becomes a bottleneck due to its heavy reliance on central processing unit (CPU) resources.

To alleviate this issue, Euresys introduced the Coaxlink-Quad-3D-LL, a high-speed frame grabber that handles CPU-intensive tasks directly within its hardware. This device generates topographic height profiles by processing camera images internally, leveraging advanced algorithms to extract point clouds and compute profiles efficiently.

Real-Time Algorithms in FPGA

The Coaxlink-Quad-3D-LL employs three real-time algorithms on its field-programmable gate array (FPGA) for calculating height profiles: peak detection, maximum value extraction, and focus-based methods. These techniques produce 16-bit topographic profiles comparable to those generated by integrated 3D sensors.

Integration with Machine Vision Libraries

Once the profiles are computed, they can be seamlessly transferred into standard machine vision libraries such as Point Cloud Library (PCL). This allows real-time processing—meaning calculations occur simultaneously while images are being captured. The device supports data rates of up to 625MB/sec per channel, and a single PCI Express card can handle up to four simultaneous triangulation units, each comprising one CoaXPress camera and lighting unit.

High-Resolution Cameras Expand Capabilities

To complement the new frame grabber, SVS-Vistek unveiled two high-resolution cameras:

  • The hr25MCX, a 4-line CoaXPress-6 camera with up to 25 Gbit/s data rates (max. line length of 5,120 pixels).
  • The upcoming shr47051MCX will feature an even higher resolution—up to 8,864 pixels per line—and is scheduled for Q3/2017 production releases.

Efficiency Gains with Optimized Hardware

By utilizing highly optimized hardware and CoaXPress interfaces, Euresys delivers swift laser triangulation that reduces software requirements. This approach not only saves time and costs but also frees up the host system’s CPU to focus on other tasks. As part of its expansion plans for 2017, Euresys intends to release a dedicated 3D vision library alongside these updates.

© Euresys

Last Updated: 2025-09-05 03:40:27