Smart camera / vision builder data logging

Hi
I have Vision Builder 3.5 with a NI-1722 Smart Camera. I have the inspection working as I need it to but I need to log the failed data. I just can not seem to get this to work. I have attached a couple of photos of the program and hope I can get some suggestion on what I need to do. What I am trying to do is inspect if the light is on and if one of the light do not come on. The data I need is which light did not come on and at what time this occurred. When setting up the data logging Icon I direct it to the folder I want and give it a name but nothing is ever logged. I have been trying to figure this out for about 12 hours now I need some help please.
Thanks
Gerald
Attachments:
controller.JPG ‏110 KB
controller2.JPG ‏113 KB

Sorry about that. Sent one from home and the other from work that why two different names. I will watch that next time and will rearrange the wording on the topic. I will try to do better next time. But the fact is I would still like some help or suggestions with this if you have any Idea on how you could help I would appreciate it! Thanks Gerald

Similar Messages

使用 Vision Builder AI 讀取 NI-1722 影像

Hello
我有一個視覺檢查的專案，早先是使用 IEEE 1394 camera
配合 Vision Builder AI 3.6 所寫成，最近更換為 NI-1722
Smart camera , 但更換後發現我只能使用 remote target 的模式
去存取 NI-1722 ，於是就將設定移轉至 NI-1722 ，但執行工作時
發現檢查速度非常的慢。
請問有什麼方可以由NI-1722讀取影像，就像原有的 IEEE-1394 或
GigE 的模式，而非 Smart camera remote target 的模式，
並將工作設定於本地的 PC 內執行。
另外我發現了Smart Camera 及 Vision Builder AI
的功能規格上有這一段的描逑，我應該如何設定才可達成
With Vision Builder AI, you can perform the following tasks:
Acquire and process images with any NI frame grabber
NI Compact Vision System, NI Embedded Vision System
NI Smart Cameras as well as GigE Vision, IEEE 1394 cameras
and USB DirectShow cameras
謝謝......

http://forums.ni.com/t5/Machine-Vision/Logging-an-image-on-the-local-drive-using-Vision-Builder-2010...
http://forums.ni.com/t5/Machine-Vision/Save-images-on-NI-Smart-Camera-1742/m-p/1574514
Saving images to disk is discouraged on the smart cameras because of the number of writes to disk that can occur before the disk fails.
所以看起來在PC端把Smart Camera當成GigE相機，這樣的應用是不被建議的。
給您參考一下。

NI-1744 Smart Cameras go offline using Vision Builder AI and LV2010?

I've run into a perplexing and frustrating problem.
I have a set of 6 NI-1744 smart cameras used to monitor sample motion in an automated system
A central robot moves samples between 6 satellite chambers; there is a camera mounted above the entrance to each of the satellites; the sample carriers are drilled with up to 10 holes encoding their numbers in binary (0-1023). There is also an L-shaped registration mark drilled near the region for the number encoding. Matters are complicated somewhat in that the second generation of carriers has a slightly more complicated registration mark (which includes the simple L of the first generation).
What I would like to accomplish is this:
Most of the time, I just want to be able to see what's under each camera, illuminating from above using a ring light attached to the camera. Call that Inspection A.
I may need to capture an image without the ring light. Call that Inspection B
When a sample transfer is occurring, I need to run a more complicated inspection (Inspection C):
A light is turned on underneath the end of the sample transfer arm (the "fork"), backlighting the region where the hole pattern would be if a carrier is in fact present.
Acquire an image of the fork with the backlight on.
Check to see if the image shows the fork to be empty. If so, return that information and the inspection is complete.
If not, look for the (backlit) registration mark and establish a coordinate system for the holes. Look to see which holes are present, calculate the sample number, return the data and the inspection is complete
If not, look for the 2nd gen registration mark. If it is found, establish the coordinates as in step 4, calculate the number, return the data and complete.
If none of the registration patterns are found, turn on the ring light, capture an image and return it so the operator can intervene and enter the appropriate data.
I have successfully built the inspection, and it appears to work in the Vision Builder configuration interface, or if run from the Vision Builder inspection interface. If I attempt to *use* the inspection, accessing it via the VBAI interface in Labview, one or more of the cameras will hang after one or more inspections and stops responding to LabVIEW. It will take multiple reboots to get it back on line and visible to either VB or Labview.
Originally, I had thought to configure the camera to run inspections continously and select inspection A, B, or C based on a variable I could access using the Labview Shared Variable Engine. Every time I tried that the camera in question would hang. My current sort-of-successful software uses the VBAI functions in LabVIEW to open Inspection A, B, or C on the camera, run that inspection a single time and return the results and inspection image. That still ends up with one or more cameras hanging, especially if I've added the case to handle the more complicated registration mark.
I think I may be running out of memory in the camera. I have occasionally received an out of memory error message when running the inspection in debug (step) mode in the VB configuration interface, at which point the camera will disconnect from the VB interface. When I look at the system monitor tab for a camera in MAX, I can see that it is showing me 11.5M free/124M total memory, and 72.3Mfree/118M total disk space. If I understand those numbers, that means that less than 10% of the memory is free when the inspection starts!
I'm only communicating with the cameras via the ethernet interface. Are there any software components I don't need to have installed on the 1744 (MAX lists about 12 different things installed!) in that case?
Alternatively, it appears there are VBAI functions available that might let me acquire an image and then process it via a local copy of Vision Builder running on the host PC, rather than in the camera. Is that so, and if so, would it be faster than running the inspection in the camera?
I've attached a zipfile with the inspection that appears to stall the camera, and samples of typical images captured of the empty fork and a sample holder.
Kevin Roche
Advisory Engineer/Scientist
Spintronics and Magnetoelectronics group
IBM Research Almaden
Attachments:
Carrier Read Problem.zip ‏657 KB

The good news: thanks to some offline assistance from Brad, my cameras are no longer crashing.
The bad news: my labview VI using VBAI functions still fails for one or more cameras after a while (typically >12 hours of monitoring).
It's very odd: the cameras are still visible online.
I can ping them.
I can connect to them via VBAI, run inspections that way (either in configuration mode or inspection mode), and disconnect successfully.
My calling VI, however insists that it can't connect (usually with a -354700 error from VBAI Connect.vi, occasionally with a -354705).
I am using shift registers in the monitor loop of the main VI so that I can pass the VBAI session reference for each camera back to the subvis that actually load and run the desired inspection once a connection has been made. After an indeterminate time, one or more of those appears to go bad, but if I attempt to reset and connect to the camera again (I did include a control to let me close and reconnect if necessary from the monitor loop), I still get the above errors.
The only way to get them back online within LabVIEW this morning proved to be to stop the main VI and reset all the controls to default, reboot the cameras, and then restart the VI. At that point it was able to connect to all 6 again and has been running happily for over 8 hours.
I set up the persistent sessions using the shift registers because I have observed in the past continually opening and closing resources like that can lead to memory problems. It also dramatically reduced my cycle time when all I want to do is get the latest images from the cameras to under 2 seconds.
Any ideas? Is there some subtlety to disconnecting/reconnecting to the VB in the cameras via Labview that I'm missing?
I am working on a slightly smarter version of the inspection that can be allowed to run continously in a camera and simply return the appropriate result when asked, rather than having to start and stop different inspections as I do now, but that is not ready for deployment yet. It's the symptom of running just fine for X hours and then losing one or more cameras that is baffling me right now.
Kevin Roche
Advisory Engineer/Scientist
Spintronics and Magnetoelectronics group
IBM Research Almaden

Vision Builder AI Vision Assistant issue with smart camera contrast

I am using a NI 1776C smart camera with Vision Builder AI 2011. The contrast is pictures in different from automated mode and running on the PC. After using vision assisant to process an image (erode, color threshold, lookup), when I run this script from the pc I get a totally different contrast then when I save the script to the smart camera and run in auto mode. Not sure why this is happnening.

Did you change any of the camera settings in MAX when testing on the PC? Any change in lighting between the two? Would you post sample images please?
Troubleshooting the Smart Camera in Measurements & Automation Explorer
http://www.ni.com/tutorial/6881/en/

My camera won't work with IMAQ vision builder

I have a Hitachi camera , and a PCI 1407 frame grabber
the camera works well in MAX under devices , but when I open the IMAQ vision builder , it not visible in the devices , and I can't open MAX from the vision builder. It's gets me that error "1074397163" at the end it has bad interface
it's not the power supply of the camera since it works well at MAX , so its like the camera's name is img0 in MAX , and another thing in IMAQ vision builder, I tried updating my softwares but nothing happened, can anyone help please ??
thanks

Dalia,
I think I may need some clarification on what exact program and function you are using. Are you getting this error with the Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (VBAI)? Or are you using LabVIEW and are receiving this error from the IMAQ Init.vi?
If it is in VBAI, and you are trying to acquire an image, the Devices should auto-populate in the Main tab of the Acquire Image setup. Simply select the camera and press Grab or Snap.
If it is in LabVIEW, right-click on the interface input of the IMAQ Init.vi to create either a constant or a control. If it does not auto-populate with the correct camera name as it is in MAX, "img0". Or you can change the interface name in MAX by simply right-clicking on the camera and selecting "Rename"
Can you elaborate on what you are referring to when you say "the MAX explorer won't work in IMAQ"?
Huntington W
National Instruments
Applications Engineer
***Don't forget to give Kudos and Accepted as Solution where it is deserved***

Vision Builder AI and multiple cameras/image files

Hi,
We are trying to develop an inspection using Vision Builder for AI with 3 1394 cameras.
We have setup the image output to save all images from the inspection, however it only saves the last image acquired during the inspection.
Is it possible to have Vision Builder save the images from the other 2 cameras?

VBAI only has the ability to save the last image. If you would like to save the other images you will need to port the inspection to LabVIEW, and use Vision to save the other images. The other option is to create inspection scripts for each of the cameras.

Streaming Data between Smart Camera and FPGA?

Is there a way I can stream data between a smart camera (NI 1774) and a FlexRIO FPGA module (PXIe-7961R)? I understand that data from the smart camera can only come from a USB or an Ethernet connection, I intend to plug the camera to the PXI controller (PXIe-8135), the chassis I'm using is PXIe-1082 so the p2p data transfer at 8GB/s should be possible between the controller and the FPGA module.
As a note: The processing I'm trying to do is too computationally intensive so its not possible to do it on the smart camera itself.

Hi faisalm88,
This is Emi from NI.
Unfortunately there is no direct streaming between smart camera and FlexRIO FPGA.
(It has to be smart camera -> controller --> FlexRIO FPGA board)
And thus I have a few suggestion for you.
If you can tell me what's your application (does it have to be smart camera? Is the "data" you are talking about image?) ,
I might can come up with even better solution.
1. Do not use smart camera.
The iamge quality of 1774 can be easily replaced with USB web cam.
You can connect the web cam to your PXI controller and transfer data to your FPGA board.
If you are using LabVIEW 2014 and newer, there is function to transfer image data to FPGA.
2. Do not use 8135
Assuming if you are using FlexRIO just to enhance image processing performance,
then if might be better to use CVS
http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/ja/nid/212667
It has both FPGA and quadcore processor.
3. Stream image data&colon; 1774 --> 8135 --> 7961R
Let me know what method you want to take
and I can describe them more in detail.
Emi
Emi Nakayama
Applications Engineer, Japan
National Instruments

Losing smart camera connection when using web server on NI1762 smart camera

Hi
I am using 2 smart cameras ( old NI1762 and the new NI1772) with Vision builder 2011 .
I am trying to find a way to retrieve data and image to a Visual Basic 6 application. i could not find an elegant way to do it , so instead , i am sending TCP command to the smart camera as an input and the smart camera send me back a TCP command a as an output. by this way i could communicate with the smart camera . For transferring images I could not use the TCP step , so I turned on the smart camera web server to get the image by a browser Object . But the problem is that everything is going well with the TCP, but when I turned on the web server and try to communicate with it, sometimes I loose the connection with the smart camera. That is happened with the 1762 smart camera. But when I use the NI1772 it rarely happed.
Please help me. is there any other elegant way to communicate with the smart camera , and if a TCP and web server is a solution , Why the NI1762 web server is not stable ? Why i am losing the connection when browsing to the inspection page???
Thanx

Previous versions of Vision Builder had a COM library that you could use from Visual Basic 6 or other environments and talk over the network to a Smart Camera running Vision Builder AI and control its execution just how you are requesting. In more recent versions, this has been replaced by a native .NET and LabVIEW-native API that is much more fully featured. Unfortunately, I do not think the older COM mechanism is still available/supported (but I certainly could be wrong...).
However, one avenue you may wish to persue would be to call into the .NET interface from Visual Basic 6. Microsoft designed .NET to allow COM interoperibility in both directions (.NET can call into COM libraries and COM libraries can call into .NET). Take a look at the following document from Microsoft:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/zsfww439(v=vs.85).aspx
You could then look at any of the .NET (C#) examples to get an idea of the API:
C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\Vision Builder AI 2011\API Examples\dotNET Examples
Eric

Vision builder AI running Ethernet IP server on my computer

Hi,
I am running Vision bulider AI on my computer and I need to exchange data thru the Ethernet/IP protocol.
In vision bulider I have startet the Ethernet/IP server.
I am using a Devicenet to Ethernet IP gateway from Hilscher, When I go online on this device I see that it can not see any slaves.
Using wireshark I can also see that the gateway is actually trying to establish communication.
How can I see which NIC VBAI is trying to establish communication thru?
Is this type of communication only possible on a smart camera?
Johan
Attachments:
hilscher.jpg ‏18 KB
VBAI.jpg ‏51 KB

Hi Johan,
Could you please provide some more information on your setup, model number on the Hilscher device etc. Are you for instance running Vision Builder AI on a computer with multiple network cards?
Have you tried connecting to your device using MAX?
Have you gone through a setup process similar to this one?
Setting up Implicit Ethernet/IP messaging between an Omron PLC and Vision Builder AI
http://www.ni.com/white-paper/13579/en/
Best regards,
Robert P-F
Applications Engineer
National Instruments Sweden

Ajout d'une smart caméra dans un projet Labview

Bonjour
Je possède Labview 2009 ainsi que Ni Vision Acquisition 8.5.1 et Ni Vision Builder 3.5. Lors de l'installation de Vision Builder je ne peux installer la boite à outils Developement Toolkit car il me dis que Labview 8.5 n'est pas installé (alors que j'ai la version supérieur de 2009). Du coup je ne peux pas ajouter de smart camera dans un projet Labview puisqu'elle n'apparait pas dans les cibles et périphériques vià Labview. Comment pouvoir installer cette boite à outils ? Existe-t-il une mise à jour d'un des logiciels ?
Résolu !
Accéder à la solution.

Bonjour,
En premier lieu disposez vous bien de TOUT ces logiciels :
LabVIEW
LabVIEW Real-Time Module
NI Vision Development Module
NI Vision Acquisition Software
ou :
Vision Builder for Automated Inspection
Ensuite :
Est-ce que vous pouvez voir votre caméra sous Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX)?
Dans la suite je pars de l'hypothèse que vous ne pouvez pas la voir sous MAX.
Comment l'avez vous configuré, notamment au niveau des paramètres réseau ?
Si vous pensez que la configuration réseau n'est pas bonne, remettez les paramètres à zéro :
Aussi il faut faire attention à ce que les ports suivants ne soient pas filtrés par un firewall ou autre :
Si vous ne voyez toujours rien, démarrer votre Smart Camera en safe mode :
Regardez sous Measurement and Automation Explorer (MAX) si vous la détectez, et n'hésitez pas à la formater et réinstaller l'ensemble des composants.
Enfin, n'hésitez pas à utiliser la sortie série qui peut vous informer de l'état de la caméra (en utilisant Hyperterminal ou autre) :
Avec les paramètres suivants :
Révélation (Surlignez pour lire)
• 9,600 bits per second
• 8 data bits
• No parity
• One stop bit
• No flow control
• 9,600 bits per second• 8 data bits• No parity• One stop bit• No flow control
N'hésitez pas également à nous fournir l'état des LEDs (notamment status, power, pass et fail) de votre caméra.
Il se peut que votre firmware soit corrompu et nécessite une installation / réinstallation de la cible.
Cordialement,
Da Helmut

Smart Camera Input reads low

I have a 1722 Smart Camera. I can't get the inputs to read a "high" value. Other than this, my application works well.
I'm using the NI cable and screw-terminal block. If I jumper any of input 0 or 1 (pin 2 or 8) to +24V (pin5), still the inputs always read low, so I can never get past the step that waits for a "high" input before proceeding. I used the data monitor as well while applying the voltages, but they always read "0".
Note: the outputs also don't work; they always are at 24V even when set low (they have pullups to +24).
The LEDs though work fine when I turn them on and off.
What am I missing conceptually to have inputs read?
Solved!
Go to Solution.

1) Yes, it's the NI Vision I/O Terminal Block. The power supply is a high quality 24V, 5A MeanWell regulated supply going into the terminal block.
2) The system itself works well (inspections are passed/failed correctly), so I don't think it's the power supply connection. However, the power supply is connected to the +24V and ground terminals on the block (pin 5 and 15, I believe from memory)
3) I tried reading a few different ways. (a) the Test Panel, which comes up when I double click the I/O logic block in Vision Builder AI (2011). I both shows the state, and also can chart the real-time values in a plot if the values are double-clicked. (b) the VBAI application itself, where an exit condition from the very first state is waiting for a pin to go high. This state never leaves, unless I set the exit condition to Low (which is what the system always reads). I connect the two isolated input pins 0 and 1 (terminal 8 and 11 on the screw terminal block, again from memory) to +24V (terminal 5), so both inputs should be able to read High.
4) The LED indicators cycle through their startup sequence, then the Power is lit as it should, and the status LED is on as well. The Fail and Pass LEDs work as they should, as mentioned (they were programmed to show a pass/fail condition, and then reset at the start of the next inspection loop).
The outputs also don't seem to work despite pullups to +24. They always seem to be low even when commanded high. I think, though, that at one point they might have briefly worked, so I suspect I'm doing something fundamentally wrong...

Modify variables in a smart camera by a remote computer

Hi
I have a smart camera NI1722 and I want to modify some variables inside the camera by a computer which is connected to the camera.
Is it possible to modify variables inside the camera from a computer outside? On the computer we program with CVI. We have a RS232 and a TCPIP connection.
Does anybody can help us?
thanks
Oliver
Solved!
Go to Solution.

Hi Oliver,
Are you using LabVIEW or Vision Builder AI to program the Smart Camera?
There are multiple ways of exchanging data between a smart camera and CVI on the host computer.
The easiest way is probably to use shared variables.
If you're using LabVIEW to program the smart camera, the following article explains how to create and deploy shared variables on the target.
http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4679
If you're using Vision Builder AI, first connect to the smart camera, then select Tools>>Variable Manager...
Select the System Variables tag, then click Add to create variable for the data you want to share. Make sure you select the Publish on Network checkbox.
You can set the value of these variables in Vision Builder, using the Set Variable step, located in the Additional Tools palette.
And many steps allow to use them directly in their configuration page, by clicking on the down arrow of some numeric controls.
Now, on the CVI side, this example shows how to connect to, read and write the variables that you created on the smart camera.
https://decibel.ni.com/content/docs/DOC-3806
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
-Christophe

Registration of several reference images in a test image using vision builder

I have downloaded the trial version of vision builder, and I am attempting a test to determine if it's worth buying:
I would like to determine the position and orientation of two reference parts within a set of test images. I am able to load the reference images, obtain the grayscale, perform appropriate filters, determine their global orientation based on some straight lines, and select the desired ROI's that I would like to match up. I am also able to load in a test image, take the grayscale, and filter it. My state diagram has three heads with the three loading steps that converge. This all seems to be great, but how do I find the position and orientation of the reference ROI's within the test image?
I would like to use something like the geometric matching tool, but it only seems to work on using a part of a first image on subsequent images in the same folder. I suppose I could use my reference as the first image in the folder, then loop through the remaining ones, but...
Once I find the position and orientation of the first reference in the test image, I would then like to find the position and orientation of the second reference in the same test image, then report values like relative distances and angles between these found references.
Does this mean I need two folders, with their own reference image and the same set of test images? Would I combine the geometric matching results using some variables or math functions?
What is the best way to perform this image registration in vision builder?

RSFree101,
Thank you for your interest in Vision Builder AI. If I understand what you are trying to do, you are looking to compare the position locations of two separate parts in an image. We have a tool that does this very well. If you use the pattern matching to find both instances of the part, you should be able to determine the distance and angle between them relatively easily. To do this, you will need to find an edge in between the two so that you can justify the angle between them, and then simply use a few Geometry functions to actually find the angle. To record this information, you can simply use a Data Logging step to write your findings to file.
If you are looking for a more complete analysis on how you might be able to do this, you will need the Vision Assistant on your computer (if you do not have it already, you can get it by downloading a free trial of our Vision Development Module). In the Vision Assistant splash screen, click on the Solution Wizard. This pulls up a menu. From there, go to Tutorial » Bracket Inspection. Click Load Solution. If you step through that example, this displays how to do what you are looking to do with the Vision Assistant, but it should be no different at all in Vision Builder AI. Hopefully this helps.
Regards,
Keith M.
Applications Engineer

Smart camera 1742 selecting inspection by tcp/ip and labview

Hello everybody!
I´m working with two smart cameras NI1742 where i have some inspection for different products, i´m trying via tcp/ip and lab view 2010 select the inspection for each product. i have configured the tcp/ip connection and test it with the vision builder ethernet terminal, this part works very good, but i can´t do this with Labview where i show images from the smart cameras via shared variables.
If someone know how can i do it? please, i will be thankful.
this is my code but there is something that is wrong.
thanks and regards
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
USER1.vi ‏85 KB

You are already using the VBAI API in LabVIEW to start the inspection. Why don't use the Open Inspection VI to select which inspection to run and then you don't need a product select state and TCP commands? You can use the Get Target Inspections VI to list the paths to the inspections on your target since they are saved in numbered folders and it won't be obvious what the path is, but once you get the path, it is very simple to just keep one session open to the target and use the API to open inspections, run them, even get images instead of using the variables (you can use Get Inspection Image for the Image or just keep using your shared variable since it sounds like that works fine.).
There are two possibilities I can think of without more info on why your current setup doesn't work:
1. When you start the inspection using the API, I don't think product select works, since it is expected that you just use the API to switch inspections. You can test this out by commenting out your VBAI API calls in LV. Start the inspection from the VBAI executable when connected to the target and the Product Select is in use. Run your VI that sends a TCP command to switch to the other inspection and see if it works (you can reconnect from VBAI and see if it's running the new inspection).
2. There is an error with the TCP command...check the error out of your TCP VIs.
Again, instead of trying to get your current model working, I would switch to using the API for running inspections and selecting the inspections. If you do use the API, you don't need to stop the current inspection, when changing inspections. The Open Inspection VI will stop any current inspection before loading the new inspection. It will wait until the current iteration is done before stopping the current inspection, and the clean up state of that inspection will be called as well.
Hope this helps,
Brad

Vision builder

Hi there !
I'm new in the field of machine vision and I need your help in my project,I want to build an application that inspects the sealed terminals of automative wires like in the image attaches below, calibration and edge detection and comparing the images in the real time to a standard image ,
I want to know if that is possible ,and if it is how can I do so ?
THANK YOU !
Solved!
Go to Solution.
Attachments:
aaaa.JPG ‏19 KB

Hi layal,
You are certainly on the right track with using the Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (VBAI). For an extensive outline of all the functions available to you, take a look at the VBAI manual here. First, you would typically want to define a reference coordinate system unless you can guarantee that the part will be located in the same position and orientation in the images. This is discussed on page 2-7 of the manual. Then, you could certainly compare the image, or certain portions in a specified region of interest (ROI) of the image to a template and detect the differences, check for gaps and part widths, locate edges relative to the coordinate system, etc. All the features are outlined in the manual in the context of some examples. I highly suggest that you take a look through the manual and also consider evaluating the VBAI software for 30 days if you do not have it already. You can access the download for the evaluation from the 1st link I posted. If you have more specific questions on the inspection, or how to carry it out, please provide more details concerning the pass/fail conditions for your part.
Also, please bear in mind that if you run VBAI on a regular PC running an OS such as windows, the performance will not truly be real-time. To achieve deterministic performance, you would have to deploy this inspection to a real-time target such as the NI EVS, Smart Camera or a PC running LabVIEW Real-Time as the OS. Hope this helps!

Smart camera / vision builder data logging

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