Do everything with one smart camera

>Compact, clever, and highly talented, the new weQube product platform from Wenglor offers all features of an advanced image processing sensor while being - according to the company - superior to its peers in all regards. With a strong claim to being the founder of vision sensors - combining image processing and sensor in one unit - the Tettnang based system provider says it has set another milestone in the industrial image processing segment.

>The pioneering image processing concept of the weQube smart camera opens up new possibilities and opportunities for the automation industry. Whereas many cameras provide illumination and communication interfaces as external individual components, weQube combines all components and features required for smooth image processing in a single compact housing. Equipped with comprehensive communication interfaces it perfectly adjusts to its environment. "With weQube Wenglor laid the basis for a completely new product generation," explains Wenglor product manager Stefan Winkler. "This gives us the possibility to react to customer requirements very quickly."

>Initially there are two software packages for the new platform, the 'weQubeVision' image processing package for pure image processing and the 'weQubeDecode' scan package for reading of 1D and 2D codes. "The software transforms weQube into a vision sensor, a 1D/2D code scanner or a smart camera - depending on what our customers need," says Winkler. "Additional packages will follow over the next months." Software packages, three different light types, and communication interfaces currently provide for more than 20 different product versions, offering a suitable solution for just about any industry.

>The weQube product platform is based on the innovative Wenglor MultiCore technology. This involves five high-performance processors coupled with a revolutionary software concept which provide for rapid image processing, for example via PROFINET - and this without any loss of time. Two different image chip versions (colour and monochrome) can solve both colour applications and monochrome standard and high-speed applications.

>The already established Teach+ function allows for easy remote maintenance and checking of the system. The autofocus and 3D tracking features allow for reliable detection of objects independent of their position. The combination of optics and powerful LED illumination in the housing prevents loss of brightness and provides balanced and optimal illumination for poorly illuminated marginal areas. Besides red light or white light, weQube also offers optimal illumination in the infrared range, if required. In addition to the internal illumination, connection of external illumination sources is also possible.

>Via multiple communication interfaces the new all-rounder allows for comfortable and versatile networking with the wider automation environment. Ethernet, PROFINET, RS-32, and a dedicated FTP server offer numerous options in terms of installation, maintenance, and monitoring. And weQube also offers suitable equipment for special applications in rough environments. For example, a replaceable screening grid and an integrated polarisation filter prevent undesired side effects which could have a negative impact on the image processing tool. The removable micro SD card, six free inputs and outputs, an encoder input, the intuitive graphic display, and the compact IP67 housing are additional features of the image processing platform.

>When all of this is combined in one housing, Wenglor says weQube becomes a real all-rounder which will make long-lasting changes to the image processing industry. "weQube is one of the most intelligent and flexible systems on the market," says Winkler. "There are some devices which incorporate individual advantages of our platform, but we are the only ones to offer the complete package of all features in a compact system."