November 2016
6
C
oVer
s
torY
Optimizing next-gen machine vision
platform to enhance automated inspection
By Sam Chiu,
Product Manager, ADLINK
This article shows how specialized
embedded computer hardware
products are able to simplify
dramatically the task of machine
vision in various industries.
n
As the Industry 4.0 initiative encourages
manufacturers to actively implement smart
automation, machine vision has become
indispensable to quality control of automated
production. Gradual increases in implemen-
tation of related applications have resulted,
leveraging continual advances in machine
vision accuracy to grow production efficiency.
With increasing requirements for simulta-
neous acquisition of multiple subject angles
through multi-channel cameras for the pur-
poses of inspection, alignment, identification,
gauging, pattern match, and others at diverse
workstations, density of camera deployment
in the production environment expands
accordingly, and burdens on machine vision
application platforms become heavier. In
addition to demands for increased process-
ing speeds of large amounts of image data,
motherboard architecture itself can further
determine whether the system configuration
can exact maximum benefit with minimum
investment.
Machine vision systems are depended upon to
help increase production efficiency by, among
other tasks, detecting extremely small and
intricate devices under test (DUTs), acquir-
ing high resolution images at high speeds, and
expanding FOV (field of view). The associ-
ated hardware must therefore significantly
enhance reliability, to guarantee smooth
operation of the production line. The newest
ADLINK IMB-M43 industrial ATX mother-
board, in addition to the latest Intel 6th gen-
eration Intel Core processor with Intel Q170
chipset and ninth generation graphics display
engine (Intel Gen9 graphics), further circum-
vents previous design bottlenecks, making it a
uniquely ideal computing platform for high-
speed machine vision applications.
With the 6th generation Intel Core processor,
IMB-M43 delivers not only better CPU com-
puting performance, its iGPU performance is
also increased significantly, by 30%. What’s
more, since the new generation processor
supports high-speed energy-saving DDR4
memory, ADLINK has equipped the IMB-
M43 motherboard with dual-channel DDR4
2133MHz modules, to buffer large amounts of
data and beef up overall performance. The 6th
generation Intel Core processor also provides
independent PCIe data channels, freeing PCIe
slots from sharing bandwidth and sacrificing
speed, enabling the IMB-M43 to increase data
transmission speeds.
ADLINK prioritizes expansion slot flexibil-
ity for high-end machine vision applications,
such that the IMB-M43 provides up to five
PCIe slots allowing multiple frame grabbers
to be configured on a single motherboard,
managing large amounts of data acquired
from multiple cameras, or, alternatively, sup-
porting installation of additional graphics
cards to enhance image processing capability.
With flexible PCIe configuration, from the
6th generation Intel Core platform CPU
PCIe bifurcation and lane reversal mapping
and flexible I/O features, PCIe slots can be
assigned to 4 PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes plus 1 PCIe
3.0 x8 lane, 2 PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes plus 2 PCIe 3.0
x8 lanes, or 2 PCIe 3.0 x4 lanes plus 1 PCIe
3.0 x16 lane, optimizing placement options to
fulfill a wide variety of tasking requirements.
To facilitate integration, ADLINK’s complete
portfolio of off-the-shelf motion, vision and
I/O cards are fully pre-verified to guarantee
maximum compatibility and convenience.
For enhanced durability and reliability, unlike
common applications in which gold flash pro-
cess is used to plate PCI/PCIe/DIMM /LAN/
SATA/USB* connectors on the motherboard,
the IMB-M43 undergoes gold plating with
higher corrosion resistance, plated to at least
15µin thickness, ensuring that the interfaces
can withstand a much wider range of environ-
mental conditions and wear. The IMB-M43
also complies with EN55022 Class B standard
and EN55024 Class A certifications to deliver
more robust electromagnetic interference and
tolerance compared to similar market offer-
ings in its class, ensuring security and stability.
