New features this month:

AWARD

Lumenera Honored as One of the National Capital Region's Top Employers

Lumenera is very proud to have been named one of the top 25 organizations to work for in Canada’s Capital City. This title was awarded through an annual competition organized by the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers. This special designation recognizes the Ottawa-area employers that lead their industries in offering exceptional places to work.

Employers completed an extensive application process that included a detailed review of their operations and HR practices. Employers were rated on eight key evaluation criteria: Physical Workplace; Work Atmosphere & Social; Health, Financial & Family Benefits; Vacation & Time Off; Employee Communications; Performance Management; Training & Skills Development; and Community Involvement.

Lumenera is proud to offer a positive and rewarding workplace for our valued employees. Best-practices in place today include: financial benefits through share purchase plan options and year-end bonuses; matching RSP plan; three weeks paid vacation increasing to four weeks after five years tenure; training for personal and professional development; hosted social employee appreciation nights every Friday with complementary snacks, beverages and activities; and special events throughout the year to recognize and reward employee efforts.

For more information on Lumenera's award as a one of the National Capital Region's Top Employers please click here.

ANNOUNCEMENT

Lumenera is Now Offering Two GigE-Based Megapixel Cameras

The new Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) industrial camera line is designed for applications requiring increased bandwidth, faster sensors with higher data throughput, and longer cable lengths.

This initial GigE family of cameras (Lg) consists of 2 and 11 megapixel cameras, both based on high quality CCD sensors with electronic global shutters. The Lg235 and Lg11059 are specifically manufactured for industrial applications with low-light conditions where high dynamic range is essential, and provide excellent sensitivity with high fidelity color reproduction.

The Lg235 and Lg11059 are GigE Vision Interface Compliant, providing a compact form factor that is ideal for tight space constraints. Both cameras are available in color or monochrome and feature a Hirose connector for control of peripherals and synchronization of lighting. Advanced camera control is available through the standardized GigE Vision camera interface. All Lumenera GigE Cameras are compatible with our existing LuCam USB 2.0 SDK allowing for full integration with existing applications built on the LuCam API, with sample code available to quickly integrate camera functions into OEM applications.

For more info on the Lg camera line contact [email protected].

Lumenera Introduces New 16 Megapixel Industrial USB 2.0 Camera

Lumenera introduces the Lw16059, a 16 megapixel camera with an electronic global shutter. With 4872 x 3248 lines of resolution (16 megepixel) this high performance camera provides large dynamic range with up to 65dB, and a selectable 8 or 12-bit output. The new Lw16059 is ideal for challenging applications in which large fields of view, short exposure times, and high contrast capabilities are required.

Excellent tap matching, high gain, fast frame rates, and pixel correction complete the list of requirements for applications such as electronics manufacturing inspection, flat panel inspection, 3D-scanning, automated X-rays , traffic surveillance, and aerial reconnaissance. The Lw16059 is also suitable for hostile industrial environments where the camera is continuously under mechanical stress.

This 16 megapixel camera series is available in both monochrome and color versions, and comes standard with a Canon-mount with integrated Canon EF lens control.

For more information on the Lw16059 contact [email protected].

DID YOU KNOW

USB 2.0 vs FireWire

Two potential interfaces for industrial digital cameras are USB 2.0 and FireWire. While the two provide similar performance, USB 2.0 has the advantage of market prevalence ensuring simple plug-and-play installation with minimal technical challenges.

Performance
The video performance of an industrial digital camera is defined as the maximum frame rate at a given resolution and is measured in frames per second (fps). USB has a published speed of 480 Mbits/s compared to FireWire’s 400 Mbits/s.  Published reports showing USB being significantly slower than FireWire can be misleading as these reports are usually based on tests using external hard drives and are completely irrelevant as far as digital industrial cameras are concerned. At least one FireWire camera company claims to now have “Fast 1394” which can achieve 400 Mbits/s. Lumenera’s USB camera interface has always been capable of achieving greater than that. Having a high bandwidth interface allows for higher frame rates, however, often the bottleneck on a camera’s video performance is the sensor, not the interface. As an example, a 1.4 megapixel CCD or CMOS imager may be inherently limited to frame rates of only 15 to 30 fps (and often less in order to increase their quality) leaving bandwidth to spare in both the USB 2.0 and FireWire interface.

Digital Industrial Camera Transfer and Frame Rates

Connection Transfer Rate Frame Rate
USB 2.0, 1.3 megapixel 480 Mbits/s 30 fps
FireWire, 1 megapixel 400 Mbits/s 30 fps

Market Prevalence
A key difference between USB 2.0 and FireWire is market prevalence. The vast majority of computer manufacturers have included USB ports with computers since 2001, ensuring that industrial cameras based on a USB interface are and continue to be supported. In addition, because USB is so prevalent very few technical challenges occur during installation and operation. FireWire is much less common on computers, being found only on systems built specifically for professional audio/video applications or premium retail motherboards. For computers with limited space, it is impossible to upgrade the computer to FireWire.

USB 2.0 is an ideal interface for industrial cameras, offering plug-and-play installation with all computers, while providing more than enough throughput for its selected image sensors. Though FireWire is a viable option with comparable performance to USB 2.0 it presents usability challenges with technical equipment used today.

CASE STUDY

Lu075 Used as Imaging Component for Agriculture Sorting Equipment

ORAKA Technologies are specialists in machine vision and manufacturers of agricultural sorting equipment. Based in Cambridge, New Zealand, ORAKA has been offering advanced grading systems for the past 25 years. ORAKA’s main product line is electronic graders and sorters for the asparagus industry. This unique system required an imaging component with a CCD sensor capable of high frame rates per second and sensitive enough to pick out fine details on asparagus spears.

ORAKA chose Lumenera’s Lu075 USB 2.0 color and monochrome cameras for use on their Asparagus Grader systems. Lumenera’s imaging solutions were chosen for the outstanding image quality offered in a USB 2.0 camera at a fair price. With a global shutter the Lu075 used on the Asparagus Grader is capable of the fast frame rates ORAKA needed.

To read the full case study please click here.

DOWNLOAD

New Astro Camera Download- SKYnyx Software v5.0.0

Lumenera has released a new version of our SKYnyx Software for its popular Astro camera line.

SKYnyx Software v5.0.0 features several significant upgrades including 64-bit drivers for Windows XP, Vista and Window 7. In this latest version both 32 and 64-bit camera drivers support Windows 7 and the software now features signed drivers for Windows Vista and Window 7, eliminating driver signing messages when the cameras are connected to the computer.

To download SKYnyx Software v5.0.0 please click here. For more information on Lumenera's SKYnyx camera line please click here.

EVENT

Lumenera Launched New Technology at Vision 2009

Lumenera was proud to introduce a new Gigabit Ethernet Industrial Camera Line and

Lumenera's Steve McSherry and Darren Bessette at Vision 2009

16 Megapixel Industrial USB 2.0 Camera at Vision 2009.

Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) Industrial Camera Line - designed for applications requiring increased bandwidth, faster sensors with higher data throughput, and longer cable lengths. GigE camera models include the Lg235 and Lg11059, both available in color and monochrome.

Lw16059 16 megapixel USB 2.0 Camera - 4872 x 3248 resolution (16 million pixels), large dynamic range with up to 65dB, and a selectable 8 or 12-bit output. This camera series is ideal for challenging applications in which large fields of view, short exposure times, and high contrast capabilities are required.


Click here to view Lumenera's Steve McSherry discussing the latest in technology with Vision Systems Design at Vision 2009.

For more information on the Gigabit Ethernet Industrial Camera Line or 16 Megapixel Industrial USB 2.0 Camera showcased at Vision 2009 please contact [email protected].

CORPORATE NEWS

Lumenera Runs for Charity

Lumenera staffers recently participated in the annual Santa Shuffle Fun Run & Elf Walk held in Ottawa, Ontario. This merry event helps The Salvation Army assist families and individuals in need during the Holiday season and throughout the year.

To learn more on this worthwhile organization please click here.

Lumenera also distributes Scientific and Surveillance e-newsletters. Send us an e-mail if you would like to automatically receive information on our other divisions.

 

WINDOWS 7 SUPPORT

Lumenera's current drivers are fully compatible with Windows 7.

To download our latest drivers click here.


Industrial Camera Catalogue

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITES
Click here to see our latest listings


Click Here to view Lumenera's Steve McSherry discussing the latest in technology with Vision Systems Design at Vision 2009.