Cognex announced a new release of VisionPro, the company's hardware-independent vision software. VisionPro 6.0 expands image acquisition options with support for very large camera images and nontraditional sources such as 3D, thermal and X-ray imagers. VisionPro 6.0 also offers high-accuracy calibration and image correction for line scan cameras, and expanded ID reading capability of 2D codes.

"VisionPro 6.0 provides more freedom than ever before to combine robust Cognex vision software tools with the widest array of image acquisition sources," said Markku Jaaskelainen, Executive Vice President and Business Unit Manager for Vision Software. "And, because of our close technical collaboration with camera makers through the Cognex Acquisition Alliance, customers get the same reliable performance that they are accustomed to receiving from our integrated systems."

The image acquisition system in VisionPro 6.0 has been enhanced to support images up to 16 bits in depth, which enables use of nontraditional acquisition sources such as 3D profilers, thermal cameras and X-ray imagers. Built-in compatibility with selected thermal cameras and 3D profile scanners ensures rapid integration with VisionPro.

VisionPro 6.0 supports Microsoft 64-bit operating systems, to meet the demands of larger cameras and greater pixel depth. VisionPro's framework enables users to switch seamlessly between 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems.

VisionPro 6.0 also features a new, high accuracy calibration tool to enable application accuracy when using line scan cameras. One single calibration board image is sufficient to correct camera distortion and camera displacements such as rotation and tilt.

VisionPro's ID symbol reader tool has been expanded to read 2D codes up to 144 x 144, and supports the development of GS-1 conforming applications. VisionPro is the vision software for system integrators, machine builders, OEMs, and advanced manufacturing engineers. In addition to rapid application development, VisionPro provides PatMax, the premier software for object location, and other industry leading vision tools. VisionPro supports a wide range of acquisition hardware to offer an extensive range of price and performance options for virtually all types of image capture. VisionPro 6.0 is currently available.