Matrox's Iris GT1200 and GT1900 are upgraded versions of the identical-looking Iris GT, which was released last November and is now dubbed the Iris GT300. All of the devices feature monochrome CCD sensors, but the GT300 has a Kodak sensor with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels, whereas the GT1200 and GT1900 have Sony sensors with resolutions of 1280 x 960 and 1600 x 1200 respectively, according to Matrox.

All three Iris GT variants run Windows CE 6.0 on a 1.6GHz Atom processor, the Z530 most commonly found in MIDs (mobile internet devices). The device has 256MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage.

Matrox's Iris GT
(Click to enlarge)

Connectivity for the camera includes gigabit Ethernet, an RS232 interface, four digital inputs, four digital outputs, one opto-coupled trigger input, and one strobe output. The device can connect to Modbus via TCP/IP, Matrox adds. Optically, the camera has a C-mount connector that allows lenses to be interchanged.

Described as "sturdy, dust-proof, and washable," the Iris GTs operate over temperatures from 0 to 50 deg. C (32 to 122 deg. F). They require 24VDC input power and use approximately 10 Watts, says Matrox.

Machine vision

According to Matrox, the Iris GT is designed to run "machine vision" applications created using the company's Matrox Design Assistant (IDE) integrated development environment. The IDE aims to let manufacturing engineers and technicians configure and deploy applications without the need for conventional programming, the company claims.

Matrox Design Assistant runs on a Windows desktop PC, and is said to let users design machine vision applications using a flowchart. Adding elements to an application is done by taking steps from a toolbox. Available steps include image analysis and processing, communication, flow-control, and I/O, the company says.

A finished application will be able to accept input from the camera, then perform operations such as the following, according to the company:

• Locating and reading barcodes
• Finding and recognizing character strings
• Recognizing patterns
• Measuring the geometry of 2D objects
• Compensating for lens distortion, and calibrating itself via a grid or a list of known points

Matrox's Design Assistant IDE (left) creates applications (right) that run on the Iris GT smart camera
(Click to enlarge)

Once an application has been created via the IDE (above left), it is then deployed to the Iris GT smart camera, where it runs independently. The device includes an integral HTTP server, allowing an operator to check up on its operations remotely (above right) from any web browser, Matrox says.

Features and specifications listed by the company for the Iris GT cameras include the following:

• Processor -- 1.6GHz Intel Atom
• Memory -- 256MB of RAM and 1GB of flash storage
• Camera:
  • GT300 -- 640 x 480 pixels
  • GT1200 -- 1280 x 960 pixels
  • GT1900 -- 1600 x 1200 pixels
• Networking -- Gigabit Ethernet, with 8-pin M12 connector
• Other I/O:
  • RS232
  • Digital I/O -- four inputs and four outputs
  • Trigger input
  • Strobe output
• Operating temperature -- 0 to 50 deg. C (32 to 122 deg. F)
• Power requirements -- 24VDC, 10 Watt typical
• Weight -- n/s
• Dimensions -- n/s

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