Common Vision Blox - Tools
CVB has an ever expanding set of tools for all machine vision and image analysis applications. In addition to this new tools can be written using any visual programming language such as Visual C or Delphi.
The tools are grouped into the following sections ...

  Search and Read Tools

CVB Manto
         
MANTO is a neural based pattern matching tool, which opens up digital image processing to a world which is made up not only of uniform, industrially manufactured objects, standardized and illuminated with a stable light source. Using Manto enables image recognition on organic forms and textures with a high degree of deformation and poor reproducibility in an ever changing environment.


Software to recognize universal objects
Finds and classifies objects, reads handwritings, recognizes faces etc.
Based on Support Vector Machines-Technology (SVM)
Includes Manto Teach for learning new objects

CVB Minos for Pattern Recognition

         
Minos is a unique and flexible search tool ideal for pattern recognition, OCR and OCV (Optical Character Recognition, Optical Character Verification). Minos uses very fast novel decicion tree technology to differentiate between very similar objects and identify patterns in poor conditions. Minos also supports the ability to apply image filtering such as convolution filters, to images
Sub pixel accuracy
Scale and rotation invariant
Multiple pattern recognition
Excellent 'poor condition' accuracy
CVB Barcode
         

CVB Barcode is optimised for speed. It can read and interpret most different types barcode in common use and it is capable of scale and rotational invariant reads. Because it opperates in greyscale, it is tollerant of light changes. CVB 8.0 now brings support for dot ping recognition. Supports 1D barcode and 2D barcode recognition
Supports direct part marked codes
Fast and robust greyscale processing
Supports 1D and 2D-Codes
CVB Contour
         
Binary shape search tool which is independant of size and rotation. Being binary, it is also extremely fast in opperation.
Scale and rotation invariant
Very high speed
Can be taught using synthetic image examples
CVB Ramses
         
Ramses is a tool that is specifically designed to detect and recognise large objects. It uses the normalised greyscale correlation technique, using 'image pyramid' to maintain speed when searching large objects. Ramses can be used for: part presence verification, print verification, positional checking, orientation checking, and LED display checking among others.
Sub pixel accuracy.
Fast even when searching for large objects
Control of accuracy vs. speed
Sub-Pixel Accuracy
CVB ShapeFinder
         
ShapeFinder is a search tool for recognizing the position of objects irrespective of orientation and size on the basis of the inner and outer contour properties of the objects. One particular feature of the software is its tolerance to interference when recognizing test objects and materials which are partially covered, noisy or susceptible to reflections.


Ideal for partly hidden or overlapping object recognition
Scale and rotational invariant
Uses contours in pattern

  Measurement Tools

CVB Blob
         
This is a blob analysis tool for measuring morphometric parameters in objects of any shape which are defined by means of a binary threshold. Blob does not analyze individual pixels (pixel count, pixel statistics) but operates with a representation of contiguous object ranges in an image row - the run length code.This approach speeds up operations compared with a pixel based vision algorithm. Blob analysis is one of the most used methods to obtain statistical information about existing defects.
Software for Object Segmentation
Recognizes image sections having the same area of grey values
Supports Run Length Encoding
Returns object parameters as centroid, area, diameter etc.
CVB Edge
         
The edge tool makes use of two different techniques:
1. - Threshhold Based (binary technique)
2. - Gradient Based (greyscale)
The Gradient technique returns the position of an edge to sub pixel (1/10 pixel) accuracy. You may select white to black, black to white or all transition to be returned. The tool is optimised for speed (up to 10000 measurements per second can be achieved) The Threshold technique allows the selection of a threshold to return an edge to the nearest pixel
Software for edge detection and pairs of edges
Supports detection by threshold and by contrast
Finds first edge or pairs of edges and determines number of edges
Supports projections of any AOI, even rotated
CVB Morpheus
         
Morpheus is a software tool that facilitates the processing and analysis of grayscale and binary images using modern methods of mathematical morphology. The applications of morphological image processing range from visual inspection and quality control to scientific image analysis.
Software for morphological image analysis
Includes basic functionality as extraction of morphological gradients, Opening and Closing
Includes operators for reconstruction as Hysteresis-Binarysation, Filtering of local and extended extrema
Includes functions for segmentation

  Surface Inspection Tools

CVB Fuzzy - Decision Desk
Surface
         
Fuzzy DecisionDesk - Surface is an analysis module for qualitative surface analysis that performs rapid and objective classification of inhomogeneous structures such as rubber compounds and enamel surfaces. In the process of fuzzy image analysis, the current image of the test object is compared with the reference image in much the same way as a human would do it. Training the system is achived by using reference images, and configuration by means of a user-specific scale.


Software for surface analysis which uses Fuzzy operations
Supports system teaching with reference images or system configuration with a given scale
Supports differnet examination characteristics
Examination protocols can be produced
CVB LightMeter
         
LightMeter provides an easy way of creating image histograms and analyzing a wide range of statistical parameters. The software consists of two components: LightMeter and DrawGraph. Both tools can be used as DLLs or OCXs.
Software for the statistical analysis of image contents
Supports system teaching with reference images or system configuration with a given scale
Supports differnet examination characteristics
Allows easy visualization of data by using the DrawGraph OCX
CVB PrintQual
         
PrintQual is a software tool that provides many useful functions across a wide range of print inspection applications, including golden template matching. Inspections, such as label inspections and print error checking, can be performed on a varied range of print substrates such as paper, cardboards and labels as well as overprints of every type. PrintQual can even inspect highly complex workpieces such as lead frames and printed circuit boards.

Software for print quality inspection
Allows detection of defects up to sub-pixel accuracy
Determins size of defects, classifies from heavy to small defects

  Colour Processing Tools

CVB Bayer to RGB
         
Bayer to RGB converts the encoded image data from the Bayer filter output to an RGB image. Using the Bayer format, raw data from the camera can be transferred much faster than RGB images because the volume of data is much lower. However this raw data must subsequently be decoded into an RGB color format in order to be processed and displayed. The powerful CVB tool ‘Bayer To RGB’ was developed for this purpose. It supports cameras with up to 16 bit output and the converted images are in 24-bit RGB format.
Software to obtain an RGB image from cameras using Bayer mosaic filter
Supports three different methods for conversion
Includes Optimizing of Processing Performance, White Balance, Gamma Correction etc.
CVB Colour
         
Color is a color recognition tool consisting of two program modules Teach and Search. To begin with, various user-defined colors are taught to the system with Teach. The information that has been learnt is stored in a color classifier. In the second stage, the Search program can be used to search for the color in question and areas of an image can be assigned to a specific color.

Software to differentiate, determin and process colors
Includes functionality to find a given color, to filter the image by specified colors and to find ranges of colors
Includes Color Teach for learning colors

  Image Pre-processing Tools

CVB Filter
         
Spatial filtering tool.
Software to execute Fast Fourier Transforms in image processing
Includes Fourier Transforms form »real« to »complex« and invers transforms
Includes capabilities spectrum, auto-corelation, cross-correlation spectrum and cross-correlation
Supports filtering in Space
CVB AEON Filter
         
The AEON FILTER software includes a number of State-of-the-Art filters for optimized preprocessing of images. This tool is available in two versions, standard and advanced, the AEON FILTER PLUS. Both offer the same range of operators, but the advanced version uses multimedia instruction sets, such as MMX. Hence, it provides increased perfomance up to ten times the speed of the standard filter tool.

Many different applications possible
Includes isotropic smothness filters, directionally optimized cut-off filters
Includes adaptive noise reduction filters, general color filters
Supports parametrized filters
CVB AEON Filter Plus
         
The AEON FILTER software includes a number of State-of-the-Art filters for optimized preprocessing of images. This tool is available in two versions, standard and advanced, the AEON FILTER PLUS. Both offer the same range of operators, but the advanced version uses multimedia instruction sets, such as MMX. Hence, it provides increased perfomance up to ten times the speed of the standard filter tool.
Many different applications possible
Faster processing speed through MMX optimization
Same functionality as AEON Filter
CVB Arithmetic
         
The Arithmetic tool enables an anomalous defects to be removed from an image. Common defects might be caused by vignetting, variance within the sensor or uneven lighting conditions. A calibration image is used to provide a reference, and then the output image is produced by dividing the raw image with the reference.


Software to combine CVB images arithmetically and logically
Supports the combination of an image on the basis of a user-defined LUT and the combination of two images with a self-defined LUT
Supports the reduction of 16 bit-images to 8-bit (cut off) for display and processing
Supports monochrome images and single layers with a depth of 8 to 16 bit
CVB Filter
         
CVB Filter is a basic tool providing a number of filter operations, for example, dilatation, erosion, edge, Laplace, pyramid and others. These filters can be used in a matrix from 2 x 2 through 5 x 5 in size. The user can also define special filters for his individual needs.
Software with basic methods for filtering
Includes Dilatation, Erosion, Edge, Laplace, Low, Pyramid, Sharpen
Supports user generated filter up to a matrix of 5 x 5 pixels

  Control Tools

CVB Controls
         
The differences in functionality of cameras available on the market necessitate a new kind of software concept. In addition to the different forms of signal and channel widths covered by the frame grabber, many cameras and lighting units now also offer interfaces for the remote control of internal functions. Normally, a wide variety of functions are monitored or controlled via a serial interface. CVB control allows the control over these functions via software.

OCX for controlling monochrome cameras of the JAI M10 series
Supports JAI M10-RS
Support for the RVSI-NER CDI Dome illuminator

  Further Tools

CVB Fuzzy - DecisionDesk - Image
         
FuzzyDecisionDesk-Surface is an analysis module for qualitative surface analysis that carries out rapid and objective classification of inhomogeneous structures such as rubber compounds, enamel surfaces, etc. In the process of fuzzy image analysis, the current image of the test object is compared with the reference image in much the same way as a human would.
Rule-based decision module
Includes rule-editor to define application specific analysing rules
Includes term-editor to define application specific image features (terms)
CVB Fuzzy - DecisionDesk - Relation
         
FuzzyDecisionDesk-Surface is an analysis module for qualitative surface analysis that carries out rapid and objective classification of inhomogeneous structures such as rubber compounds, enamel surfaces, etc. In the process of fuzzy image analysis, the current image of the test object is compared with the reference image in much the same way as a human would.

Module for analysing the similarity of two attribute vectors
Supports 29 different asymmetric, positive and negative similarities
CVB Quality
         

Quality contains a range of functions that can be used for realtime evaluation of measured information in image processing devices. They make use of the so-called SPC (statistical process control) methods.These quality control chart procedures serve to record/visualize, control and regulate the quality characteristics in the production process.
Software for realtime-evaluation of measured information using the SPC-method
Supports differnet types of quality control charts
Supports the synchronous monitoring and regulation of a number of quality characteristics
The automatic calculation of action and warning thresholds is possible
CVB Sequence
         
The software tool Sequence is used for recording image sequences. The DLL provides functions for recording, storing, loading and playing back 8-bit image sequences. The recorded sequences are cached in the main memory of the image processing computer. The maximum length of an image sequence depends on the amount of main memory installed in the computer.


Software to record and replay image sequences
Stores image sequences into the computer memory
Supports endless recording into a ring memory
Includes saving and opening of sequences and single images
CVB TextOut
         
The TEXTOUT tool allows to display freely edited text within an Common Vision Blox image. The text will replace the original image data. Therefore, it is suitable to include timestamps, marks or any other information for archiving or error tracking. Text is written using the TextOut editor and benefits from using Windows True Type fonts in their various styles and sizes.
Software to display text as destructive overlay
Allows persistant manipulation of image data resp. Inserting of text into the image
Supports any displaying of user-edited text, system time, application counter etc.

  CVB Development Tools

CVB Development Kit
         
The CVB development kit is intended for experienced programmers who want to create their own bespoke tools.
Common Vision Blox Development Environment
Extensive software package for the development division
Correlates to a high total value of licences as compared to individual tools
CVB Driver Development Kit
         
The CVB Driver Development kit is intended for those who have a good understanding of driver issues and who wish to add specific support for new, different or unsupported hardware
Software for building bespoke drivers for image processing
Only usable with Microsoft Visual C++ 5.0 and higher
Only for experienced C++-Programers and Common Vision Blox-Developers