NO PLC REQUIRED FOR NEW COGNEX CHECKER SENSOR

Checker 101E simplifies part tracking and rejection on variable-speed production lines

Natick, MA, March 22, 2006—Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ - CGNX), the world’s leading supplier of machine vision sensors, today announced Checker™ 101E, a new model in the revolutionary Checker family of sensors. Checker sensors are the first and only sensors in the world that use patterns to detect and inspect parts, providing unmatched reliability. Checker 101E offers all the simplicity and power of the original Checker 101, plus it directly accepts encoder signals, eliminating the need for a PLC when tracking and rejecting parts on variable-speed production lines.

“The simple-to-use Checker 101 sensor radically changed the way sensor users detect parts or part features, eliminating the complex wiring, mounting, ladder logic programming, and precise part handling required when using multiple photoelectric sensors,” said Brian Phillips, Cognex Vice President, Expert Sensors. “By directly accepting encoder signals, the Checker 101E eliminates the cost and complexity of a PLC for part tracking and rejection on variable-speed lines. Unlike the shift register of a PLC, which requires programming, Checker’s shift register is automatic, enabling it to accurately track up to 4,000 parts between the inspection and rejection point.”

Acquiring and processing over 500 images per second, Checker is able to detect and inspect parts on the fastest production lines. If inspection is not required, Checker can be used to detect and track parts or webs for improved process control. Checker’s step-by-step setup makes it simple for anyone on the factory floor to deploy.

The Checker 101E is available now.

COGNEX INTRODUCES NEXT GENERATION INSPECTION SENSORS

Checker 200 simplifies part inspection

Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ - CGNX), the world’s leading supplier of machine vision sensors, today announced the next-generation of its award-winning Checker inspection sensors. The new Checker 200 series models are just as simple to set up as the Checker 101, but are much more capable and small enough to fit almost anywhere.

“Checker 101 set the standard for inspection sensors and eliminated the hassles associated with wiring and precisely mounting multiple photoelectric sensors,” said Justin Testa, Cognex Senior Vice President and Group Business Manager. “The Checker 200 series is small, smart, simple and powerful enough to solve even more challenging sensing applications, and delivers extremely reliable inspection results. They are ideal for food, beverage, and consumer product package inspection and automotive and electronics part inspection.”

The Checker 200 series inspection sensors offer built-in lighting, variable working distance, and high-speed inspection capability at rates faster than 6000 parts per minute. Even on the fastest production lines, Checker can inspect multiple part features and deliver reliable, precisely timed, pass/fail results.

Unlike conventional photoelectric sensors, Checker:

• Detects parts by finding an actual feature such as a product graphic
• Checks features that other sensors cannot such as a code printed on a label
• Inspects multiple part features simultaneously such as candies in a blister pack
• Overcomes varying part positions on the line without requiring precise part handling

All Checker 200 series inspection sensors have a rugged IP67 housing and quick disconnect cables, as well as encoder-based part tracking, I/O and high-speed USB connectivity. The Checker 200 series includes the Checker 201 which is ideal for part finding and inspection, and the Checker 202 which includes all the features of the 201, plus ladder logic for custom configurations.

Checker 200 series inspection sensors will be available May 15th.

COGNEX INTRODUCES WORLD’S FASTEST VISION SENSORS

In-Sight 5600 accelerates vision-sensor performance with unmatched speed and resolution

Natick, MA, April 10, 2007—Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ - CGNX), the world’s leading supplier of machine vision sensors and systems, today announced In-Sight® 5600, the world’s fastest vision sensor. In-Sight 5600 vision sensors offer the same rugged design and outstanding performance as the In-Sight 5400 series, but with twice the processing speed and memory to perform inspections at line rates no other vision sensors can match.

“Since their introduction, In-Sight 5000 series vision sensors have helped many manufacturers achieve significant improvements in productivity, quality and cost reduction,” said Kris Nelson, Cognex Senior Vice President, Factory Automation. “Now, with the In-Sight 5600, customers can achieve similar gains on their fastest production lines.”

The In-Sight 5600 product line includes standard (640×480) resolution and two-megapixel (1600×1200) models that deliver reliable performance in high-speed applications. All In-Sight vision sensors have an IP67 (NEMA 4) rating to withstand dust and wash down without an accessory enclosure, and include a powerful library of advanced vision software for inspection, identification, measurement, and alignment tasks.

Cognex is also pleased to announce the latest In-Sight Explorer software release 3.4 with enhanced optical character reading and verification tools, onboard image storage for reviewing inspection results without a PC, plus PROFINET support for easy communication to Siemens PLCs and other factory automation devices. PatMax®, the industry’s performance standard for feature and object location, is available as an option.

In-Sight 5600 vision sensors and In-Sight Explorer 3.4 are available now.

About Cognex

Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets machine vision sensors and systems, or devices that can “see.” Cognex vision sensors are used in factories around the world to automate the manufacture of a wide range of items and to assure their quality. Cognex is the world’s leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 300,000 machine vision systems, representing over $1.9 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company’s founding in 1981. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, Cognex also has regional offices and distributors located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.

Checker 252 NEW!! Cognex is pleased to announce the release of a new Vision Sensor: the Checker 252. In addition to all the inspection capabilities of Checker 232, Checker 252 adds new sensors to verify height, width and diameter, and provides pass/fail results. It brings inspection to a new level of simplicity.

Checker 252 is open for orders now, with deliveries scheduled on or after November 3rd.

Checker

Checker 200 Series
The simple, powerful vision sensors from Cognex

The Checker 200 series are all-in-one vision sensors with built-in lighting and a variable working distance, capable of inspecting over 6,000 parts per minute — all in a package small enough to fit into tight spaces. They pack a host of new advantages into a small size.

• Inspects features that other sensors cannot. Checker actually understands what your part looks like.
• Inspects unlimited multiple part features simultaneously with a single Checker.
• Overcomes varying part positions. Parts on a line typically vary in position, and Checker tracks all of them without requiring precise part handling.
• Detects a part by finding an actual part feature. This provides extremely reliable part detection unattainable with photoelectric sensors.

Most Checker models are available with the Cognex SensorView^TM 350, a compact, industrial, panel-mount display.

Models

Vision sensors are used to automate simple visual inspections where common photo-electrics cannot. Industrial application of vision sensors include: detection of missing parts, gauging incorrect size, orientation of parts and alignment and basic flaw detection.

Important specifications to consider when searching for vision sensors include number of images stored and maximum inspection rate.  The number of images stored represents captured images that can be stored into on-board memory or non-volatile storage.  The maximum inspection rate is the maximum number of parts or process steps that can be inspected or evaluated per unit time.  This is usually given in units of inspections per second.  Other important parameters include horizontal resolution, maximum frame rate, shutter speed, sensitivity, and signal to noise ratio.

About Checker:

The overriding principle of Checker is simplicity.  Because of Checker’s speed, processing at 500 frames per second, Checker is able to detect a part without a photoelectric sensor, and can precisely determine when the part was detected.  This allows Checker to have deterministic output timing, which makes Checker very simple to integrate on a production line.

Checker doesn’t have ‘‘vision tools’‘, Checker has sensors designed to detect the presence of parts and part features.  Checker’s Part Finding and Inspection sensors were designed to look and feel like photoelectric sensors so the user would be immediately comfortable using them.