Unique Mapping Tool from Pleora Simplifies GigE Vision™ Compliance

Transforms Camera Link™ cameras and iPORT™-based GigE (Gigabit Ethernet) cameras/systems into GigE Vision-compliant devices
Lowers costs, speeds time-to-market, reduces complexity for camera vendors and integrators adopting GigE Vision standard

OTTAWA, CANADA, May 4, 2006: Pleora Technologies, the vision industry’s leading supplier of GigE connectivity solutions, today announced an ingenious software mapping technology that cost-reduces, simplifies, and speeds the task of complying with the AIA’s (Automated Imaging Association) GigE Vision standard.

Pleora’s new iPORT AutoGEV™ tool makes it fast and easy for camera makers and vision system designers to gain compliance for any GigE camera or OEM system that uses iPORT GigE connectivity products. Moreover, AutoGEV will allow most existing Camera Link camera models to interoperate seamlessly in GigE Vision-compliant applications.

“This mapping tool is a key element of Pleora’s multi-faceted strategy to make high-performance, GigE Vision-compliant products easy to develop, access, and use,” said George Chamberlain, President of Pleora Technologies. “Together with our recently announced eBUS™ driver and innovations in our iPORT IP engines and SDK, AutoGEV gives our camera partners, OEM, and end-user customers a clean and simple way to adopt the new GigE standard.”

From a user-friendly graphical user interface, camera vendors use iPORT AutoGEV to build a database that maps GigE Vision register read/write requests to existing serial camera control commands. AutoGEV uses this database to auto-generate the XML (extended mark-up language) device description file that must be provided with compliant cameras. This XML file defines the relationship between camera features and the GigE Vision registers used to access and control compliant cameras.

Vendors then simply load the AutoGEV database and the XML file – if they choose to provide the XML file that way; they can also provide it as a web download or on disk – into the camera’s internal iPORT IP Engine or a standalone iPORT engine connected to the camera. After that, the iPORT engine performs all tasks required to ensure the camera complies with the standard. It provides the XML file, if available in the camera, to the GenICam module in the PC host, handles all commands to and from the camera, and delivers real-time communications over the GigE link in accordance with the GigE Vision Streaming Protocol and GigE Vision Control Protocol.

Broad-based camera and OEM support

Pleora’s iPORT AutoGEV supports the entire range of GigE cameras that use Pleora’s in-camera products, including those based on iPORT intellectual property, those equipped with the iPORT PT1000-VB InCamera IP Engine, and those with custom iPORT boards. For a partial list of these cameras, visit the Camera Partners section of Pleora’s website at http://www.pleora.com/camera_partners/index.php.

AutoGEV will also be supported by many of Pleora’s popular standalone IP engines, which means almost any existing Camera Link camera model or iPORT-based OEM system will be able to obtain full GigE Vision compliance. Customers will be able to use AutoGEV with the iPORT PT1000-CL for connecting Camera Link cameras to copper GigE; the iPORT FB1000-CL for connecting Camera Link cameras to fiber-based GigE; the iPORT PT1000-ST for in-system connectivity to copper GigE; and the iPORT FB1000-ST for in-system connectivity to fiber-based GigE. Pleora’s iPORT AutoGEV will be available next month.

About GigE Vision

GigE Vision is a standard for interconnecting industrial cameras and computers over standard GigE links and LANs. It has been under development since 2003, first by an industry group led by Pleora President George Chamberlain and Toshi Hori, then president of Pulnix, and later under the stewardship of the AIA.

GigE Vision is based on many concepts pioneered by Pleora in its iPORT protocol, and used by the AIA with Pleora’s permission. The AIA will officially launch the first version of the standard next week at The Vision Show East in Boston, Massachusetts. GigE Vision has three main components: GVCP (GigE Vision Control Protocol), which defines how to control cameras and send image data to the host; GVSP (GigE Vision Streaming Protocol), which defines data types and describes how images are transmitted; and the Device Discovery mechanism, which defines how cameras obtain IP addresses, are identified on the network, and interoperate with third-party software. As part of the Device Discovery mechanism, camera vendors must provide customers with an XML file that describes camera-specific parameters in the format defined by the EMVA’s (European Machine Vision Association) GenICam standard.

About Pleora

Pleora Technologies is the world’s leading supplier of Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) imaging solutions. Pleora’s iPORT™ and eBUS™ products stream imaging data in real time at full wire speed over low-cost GigE connections, while giving imaging applications long-distance reach, scaleable processing, flexible networking, and unmatched ease of use. Pleora is headquartered in Ottawa, Canada.