[comp.sys.transputer] Linkeye

sommerfelt%si.uninett@NSFNET-RELAY.AC.UK (12/05/89)

The Transputer Systems Group at SI, Oslo, Norway has recently developed a new 
building block for industrial vision systems.

"LINKEYE" an INTERFACE FOR LINE-SCAN CAMERAS

This piece of hardware digitises the signal from a line-scan camera and 
multiplexes it line by line onto a number of transputer-links. This means that 
any network of transputers can be utilized at the link end of the interface. 
The multiplexer will work on any number from 1 to 16 links. At maximum the 
interface will handle 800Kpixels/s on each link (1.6Mpixels/s if Inmos ever 
will supply linkadapters with overlapped ack.). With 16 links this adds up to 
12.8Mpixels/s performance if your algorithms and transputers are able to 
swallow the data.

Linkeye has many features to support debugging, fault tolerance and general 
ease of use. Some of these are:

- control of reset and various modes of the interface by the first transputer
- event signalling of data overrun or new-line.
- lots of LEDs on front panel indicating state of the interface
- electronic aid for adjustment of aperture and focus
- adjustable gain and offset on video signal

Linkeye should be well suited for applications with hard real-time demands like 
industrial inspection and quality control systems. We have developed the board 
in cooperation with SIUs Vision Systems Group and they will use it in their 
ongoing developent of industrial inspection systems. We are interested in 
cooperating with- and making Linkeye available for interested companies and 
research institutes.

Arne Sommerfelt
Senter for Industriforskning ( Center for Industrial Research )
Box. 124 Blindern
N-0314 OSLO

tel   +47 2 45 20 10
tel   +47 2 45 27 97 (Direct dialling)
fax   +47 2 45 20 40
email sommerfelt@si.uninett.no