Objectives

Spreadsheets and Image At the end of this Section Participants will be able to:
Acquisition • Manage multiple networked In-Sight systems from a single PC
Section 2 • Save job files
• Open job files
• Explain the basic principles and terminology of image acquisition
• Navigate through a spreadsheet
• Record and play back images

Section 2 | Slide 2

This section covers the basics of In-Sight Explorer and the spreadsheet, including how to set up At the end of this Section Participants will be able to:
equations with cell references. It also explains the settings for the vision tool that obtains an image,
called AcquireImage. - Manage multiple networked In-Sight systems from a single PC
- Save job files
- Load job files
- Explain the basic principles and terminology of image acquisition
- Navigate through a spreadsheet
- Record and playback images

Section 2 | Slide 1 Section 2 | Slide 2

 What is In-Sight Explorer?
Section 2 | Slide 3
In-Sight Explorer provides a powerful and completely integrated vision system configuration,
management and operator interface, all within a single software package. In-Sight Explorer includes two
development environments to program and manage In-Sight vision systems: EasyBuilder and
Spreadsheet.
- Application that manages multiple networked In-Sights
- Log onto any In-Sight system on network
- Create and modify jobs on any In-Sight
- View and manage multiple jobs simultaneously
In-Sight Explorer automatically detects any In-Sight vision systems on your subnet and displays them.
Vision systems with a camera icon represent actual In-Sight vision systems (for example, the In-Sight
5100) while the computer icon represent In-Sight emulators running on networked PCs. The name of the
emulator is the computer’s name under Microsoft Windows. To make sure the list is current, select
View

Refresh or press <F5>.
You can view more than one camera in In-Sight Explorer by going to the Windows menu and selecting
one of the Tile options. This will display all the cameras to which you are connected.
Section 2 | Slide 3
In-Sight Network Pane
Section 2 | Slide 4
The In-Sight Network Pane is a ‘tree’ containing all of the In-Sight vision systems, and emulators
automatically detected on the subnet (including any enabled and configured RAM Disk folders), as well as
any hosts that have been entered manually into the Explorer Host Table. The In-Sight Network pane
offers a great deal of flexibility when managing multiple In-Sight devices at once.
Right-clicking an In-sight device from the In-Sight Network panel displays a menu that allows the following
file operations to be performed:
- Show EasyBuilder View – Shows the current image from the In-Sight vision system and the
current job in the EasyBuilder graphical user interface.
- Show Spreadsheet View – Shows the current image from the In-Sight vision system as well as
the semi-transparent spreadsheet overlay or Custom view (optional).
- Show Sensor Status View – Displays information contained within the memory buffers that
make up the Machine Status Stack.
- Paste – Pastes job files that have been copied to the clipboard.
- Create Report – Generates an .HTML or .XML report that contains job and network
configuration details for one or more In-Sight device.
- Backup – Stores an archive of job and configuration data for this device to the Backup
directory.
- Restore – Retrieves an archive of job and configuration data for this device.
- Properties – Displays details of the vision system’s hardware information and network
identification, as well as the vision system’s flash and RAM memory configuration.
Section 2 | Slide 4
 In-Sight Spreadsheet Pane In-Sight Files Pane

The In-Sight Spreadsheet pane is the

area used to organize and build your
vision application.

This is also where the image will be

displayed (behind the spreadsheet).
Section 2 | Slide 5 Section 2 | Slide 6

The main component of In-Sight Explorer’s graphical user interface (GUI) is a spreadsheet, an adjustable, The In-Sight Files pane allows you to see the files currently stored in your In-Sight system.
semi-transparent overlay that is superimposed onto a video image acquired from an In-Sight vision
system.

In addition to the semi-transparent spreadsheet overlay containing the active job, the Spreadsheet view
consists of:
- The active image from the In-Sight camera.
- The status bar, which indicates the current available job size, as the number of available,
allocated cells, the Online/Offline status and job execution time of the active In-Sight camera.
- The title bar indicating the camera name and file name of the active job.

Section 2 | Slide 5 Section 2 | Slide 6

 In-Sight Palette Pane In-Sight Shortcut Buttons & Scroll Mode

Toggles scrolling between the

spreadsheet & image

Section 2 | Slide 7 Section 2 | Slide 8

The In-Sight Palette pane allows you to select functions to use in your inspection; You can drag and drop In-Sight shortcut buttons allow you to quickly access common functionality. They feature most of the
them into the spreadsheet pane for use in your application. same functionality as the menus, yet they are more easily accessible.

It is personal preference as to which method you use. Both the menus and the shortcut buttons will bring
you to the same place.

Section 2 | Slide 7 Section 2 | Slide 8

 Field of View (FOV)

Working with Images

Section 2 | Slide 9 Section 2 | Slide 10

In this section we will cover how to work with images. Field of View is the image area of an object under inspection. This is the portion of the object that fills
the camera’s sensor. Field of View is critical for choosing the correct optical components to use in an
imaging application. Since resolution is dependent of field view, determining field of view affects what one
is trying to analyze or measure.

Section 2 | Slide 9 Section 2 | Slide 10

 Image Acquisition Pixels – Monochrome Cameras

0 255

Section 2 | Slide 12
Section 2 | Slide 11

The Charge Coupled Device (CCD) is an integrated circuit etched onto a silicon surface forming light The Light intensity in a Monochrome Camera is represented as a greyscale value from 0 to 255, with 0
sensitive elements called pixels. This is also called the image sensor. The CCD converts light into an representing black and 255 representing white.
analog voltage, the camera then converts the analog voltage into a digital value.

The image is divided into grid of square picture elements called pixels. Each pixel consists of a location
within the image (X/Y coordinates) and a light intensity value or values.

Section 2 | Slide 11 Section 2 | Slide 12

 Pixels – Color Camera Physical Setup – Lens

• Standard lens has two rings

for adjusting:
- Aperture
- Focus

0 • Autofocus lens focuses

255 automatically
- Instead of aperture, adjust
brightness using Exposure in
software

Section 2 | Slide 13 Section 2 | Slide 14

In a Color Camera each color is composed of three separate color components. Each component of a The camera’s aperture setting controls the are over which light can pass through your camera lens. It is
pixel is converted to a value from 0 to 255. specified in terms of an f-stop value. The area of the opening increases as the f-stop decrease, and vice
versa. The camera’s aperture setting is what determines the depth of field. So, a wide opening will give a
These components may be represented as combinations of: shallow depth of field, and a narrow opening will give a wide depth of field.
- Red, Green, and Blue (RGB)
- Red = 255, 0, 0 A Fixed Aperture will function independently of the lens focal length. The barrel of the lens does not
- Green = 0, 255, 0 extend or retract when the focal length changes. The fixed aperture prevents accidental changes in the
- Blue = 0, 0, 255 size of the aperture or slowly shifting aperture values through vibrations effectively.
- Hue, Saturation, and Intensity (HSI).
- Red = 0, 255, 85 An Adjustable Aperture can be adjusted to vary the amount of light appearing at the focal plane of the
- Green = 85, 255, 85 imager.
- Blue = 170, 255, 85
The Focus is an important aspect in many applications involving machine vision. The degree of focus in
NOTE: In-Sight Color vision systems report the color components of the pixel. an image is a factor in determining image quality. For example, a focused image may contain some
details not present in an unfocused image of the same part.

Section 2 | Slide 13 Section 2 | Slide 14

 Physical Setup – Lighting Spreadsheet: Image Coordinate System

Y axis
(0,200)
(0,0) (0,639)

=
a pixel, with
greyscale
value 0-255
(300, 0)
(X,Y) = (300,200)

X axis
(479,0) (479,639)

Section 2 | Slide 15 Section 2 | Slide 16

In a later section on Lighting and Optics, we will take an in-depth look at lighting and optics and how
they affect the quality of the image.
The default setting is (0,0,0), the top leftmost corner of the image.
- Row (X) – The row offset, in image coordinates.
- Column (Y) – The column offset, in image coordinates.
- Theta – The angle of orientation, in the image coordinate system.

Section 2 | Slide 15 Section 2 | Slide 16

 Online vs. Offline How To Capture Images

Manual Trigger Live Mode

(single image) (live image)

You can also use

the Image menu
Online means that all In-Sight Input Offline means that most In-Sight Input
and Output signals are enabled. and Output signals are disabled.

Section 2 | Slide 17 Section 2 | Slide 18

Online means that all In-Sight Input and Output signals (discrete, serial, network, and non-manual To capture an image:
triggers) are enabled.
1. Log on to your camera
When Online: 2. Click on the Manual Trigger or Live Mode button
You can do this: 3. The image will be displayed in the Spreadsheet pane
- Acquisition triggers
- Serial I/O
- Discrete I/O
- Network I/O
But not this:
- Edit spreadsheet
- Open Property Sheets
Offline means that most In-Sight Input and Output signals are disabled.
When Offline:
You can do this:
- Edit spreadsheet
- Open Property Sheets

But not this:

- Acquisition triggers
- Serial I/O
- Discrete I/O
- Network I/O

Section 2 | Slide 17 Section 2 | Slide 18

 Image Saturation Tool How To Change Image Settings

Show Brightness Feedback toolbar button assists with

built-in help
obtaining a good image

Not bright enough Too bright Good

• Goal is not to have blue or red span a feature and background

• Thresholds for blue/red are set in System
Options (more later)

Section 2 | Slide 19 Section 2 | Slide 20

Red or blue shown on the image is not necessarily a problem if it is limited to the background or limited to To change the image settings:
a feature. It can indicate a problem when it overlaps a feature and the background.
1. Log on to your camera
The leftmost image needs to have more brightness. This can be accomplished with more lighting, a 2. Double click on cell A0
larger lens aperture, and/or a longer exposure. The middle image needs to have less brightness. This 3. The AcquireImage Property Sheet will display
can be accomplished with less lighting, a smaller lens aperture, and/or a shorter exposure. The rightmost 4. Make the required changes and click the OK button
image is good. Even though there is some red, it is limited to features and does not overlap into the
background.

The greyscale threshold is set in System
Options, with defaults of 5 (blue below 5) and 240 (red above
240).

Section 2 | Slide 19 Section 2 | Slide 20

 Trigger for AcquireImage Parameters for AcquireImage

Section 2 | Slide 21 Section 2 | Slide 22

Unlike other spreadsheet functions, AcquireImage exists permanently in cell A0 and cannot be cut, The default AcquireImage parameter settings vary based on the vision system model. If a job is
copied or cleared from the spreadsheet; this enforcement guarantees that an image is always available in developed on one model and then loaded onto a different model, verify that the parameter settings are
a predefined location. Most vision tool functions, as well as many other functions, take advantage of this appropriately configured.
fact by specifying an absolute reference to cell A0 as their default image source.

Trigger – Specifies the source of the image acquisition trigger when the In-Sight vision system is online. Orientation – Specifies the orientation of the image.
- Camera – Enables image acquisition on a rising edge sensed at the vision system’s dedicated - 0 = Normal (default)
acquisition trigger input. This is a hardwire trigger, i.e. there is a dedicated wire in a black cable - 1 = Mirrored horizontally
that supplies 24 volts to the camera. - 2 = Flipped vertically
- Continuous – Enables ‘free running’ (as fast as possible) image acquisitions. - 3 = Rotated 180 degrees
- External – Enables image acquisition on either a serial command, on the rising edge applied to
a discrete input line configured as an Acquisition Tripper, or from a PLC using a real time Buffer Mode – Specifies the number of buffers used for image acquisition. The Buffer Mode parameter
Ethernet protocol. cannot be modified when the camera is Online.
- Timestamp – Enables image acquisition when a timestamp trigger is sent to the vision system - 0 = Overlapped (default) – The number of image buffers specified in the Image Buffers dialog
from a PLC over EtherNet/IP. will be used for image acquisition.
- Manual – Enables image acquisition when pressing F5. On order for F5 to manually acquire an - 1 = Single – Only a single buffer will be used for image acquisition. This option is only
image, the spreadsheet must have focus. Use this for labs. supported when the Trigger parameter is set to Camera.
- Network – Enables image acquisition when specified In-Sight ‘Master’ system on the network is
triggered. The Master checkbox must be Off, and a valid Master Name must be specified.
- Industrial EtherNet – Enables image acquisition on triggers originating from a real-time
EtherNet protocol, such as EtherNet/IP POWERLINK, PROFINET or SLMP Scanner.

Camera trigger gives precise triggering (extremely low latency between trigger arrival and image
acquisition start). An External trigger has <1ms latency, but a Camera trigger provides higher precision.
In a few applications, an External trigger provides additional functionality because it involves the
software; a Camera trigger is handled just by the hardware.
Section 2 | Slide 21 Section 2 | Slide 22
 In-Sight 7802 Integrated Light Opening Jobs

• Exposure: can set here or in AcquireImage

• Intensity: determines how long the light is on during
exposure (50-100%)

Section 2 | Slide 23 Section 2 | Slide 24

This dialog allows you to configure 0-4 banks of lights. If using the integrated light, make sure Integrated The Open dialog will allow you to load a job file into the memory of an In-Sight vision system as the active
is checked. job.

- Exposure is the exposure time, and can be set here or in AcquireImage To open a job:
- Intensity controls how long the light is on during the exposure time. (The actual brightness of 1. Click Open Job on the file menu
the light does not change.) 2. Choose the location that contains the desired job file to open
3. Highlight the desired job and click Open – alternatively, you can double-click the job file or type
Check on one of the four checkboxes at the left to activate that bank. Then determine the proper in the file name
Exposure and Intensity values by observing the image as you vary one or both parameters.

Uncheck the first checkbox, and repeat the process for each of the other three banks of lights. All must
have the same Exposure value and same Intensity value, so for SurfaceFX, you may need to come to a
compromise on these settings so that all four banks yield good images.

Whatever lights you leave checked will come on when in Live Video and when triggering the camera. The
exception is if you have an IntegratedLightControl function in the spreadsheet, in which cases its bank
settings will override the Light Settings bank settings. This will be the case in the SurfaceFX demo later
in this section.

Section 2 | Slide 23 Section 2 | Slide 24

 Saving Jobs Selecting Job for Automatic Startup

The number of jobs that may be saved on In-Sight is

limited only by memory

Section 2 | Slide 25 Section 2 | Slide 26

When you create or edit a job on a camera, the job is initially located in a type of memory called RAM In the Sensor

Startup dialog, you can designate any job stored on the camera or its SD card to
(Random Access Memory). Only one job is in RAM at a time. The contents of RAM are lost if power is automatically be opened when the camera is powered on. In addition, you can indicate that the camera
cycled. should go online automatically at power on.

Save Job and Save Job As copy the job from RAM to a location where information remains through a
power cycle. On a camera, that location is called flash memory. On a PC, it’s the hard drive. That
location can hold as many jobs as will fit. The number of jobs will depend on the size of the jobs and the
size of the storage medium.

Save Job and Save Job As save the contents of the spreadsheet, including parameters in Property
Sheets and trained patterns. They do NOT save I/O settings.
You can Save a job to any In-Sight host (In-Sight 5XXX, Emulator, etc.). You can Open from any host.
Save Job overwrites the previous version of the job. Save Job As lets you save the job to a different
location and under a different name.

Section 2 | Slide 25 Section 2 | Slide 26

 Saving Images Recording Images

You can save images to a PC only

Recording Options

Starts and Stops

Recording

Section 2 | Slide 27 Section 2 | Slide 28

Saving an image as a Bitmap (BMP) saves the entire image – all the pixels – exactly as it was captured In-Sight allows you to record and playback your acquired images.
by the camera. If you intend to Open the image in a job later on, you likely want BMP format.
To record images:
Saving as a JPG compresses the image so that the file is smaller. Because information is lost, it is not 1. Open Record/Playback Options
2. Using the Record tab, set the desired parameters for recording, then click the OK button
the same as the original image, and will not behave as the original image if you OPEN it in a job. A JPG 3. Click the Record button
might be useful if you want to view the image and storage space is very limited. 4. Acquire images; the images will be recorded according to the selected options

Section 2 | Slide 27 Section 2 | Slide 28

 Image Playback Sensor Filmstrip

Playback Options

Starts and Pauses

Playback Queue:

Section 2 | Slide 29 Section 2 | Slide 30

In-Sight allows you to playback recorded or previously saved images. When the vision system is Online and acquiring images, the Sensor filmstrip can be used to monitor a
job’s performance. As images are acquired, the job results, including the acquired image and
To play back images: accompanying job data are stored to the vision system’s RAM.
1. Open Record/Playback Options
As results are stored to the vision system, a pass or fail graphic is added to the filmstrip. When a result is
2. Using the Playback tab, set the desired parameters for playback, then click the OK button highlighted in the filmstrip, the filmstrip display changes from graphics to thumbnail images and the
3. Click the Play button corresponding image is loaded to the display is loaded to the display area.
4. Images will be played back according to the selected options (all images within the specified
Windows folder) Use the control in the Sensor Settings group box of the Filmstrip Application Step to configure the vision
system’s behavior. Up to 20 results can be saved, depending on the vision system’s resolution and
available RAM.

The images stored in the Sensor Filmstrip can be selected from the following choices in the Queue pull-
down menu:
• Pass Results only
• Fail Results Only
• Pass and Fail Results
• Separate Pass and Fail Results: all images are stored, and you can select select one or both to
display by clicking on green/red boxes at right

NOTE: The vision system must be Online for results to be added to the filmstrip.
Enabling the Sensor filmstrip may increase the job execution time; ensure that the increased time is
acceptable for your application.

NOTE: All results are deleted from the vision system if the Queue, Queue Size or Queue Type settings are
modified , a new job is loaded or if the vision system is power cycled.

Section 2 | Slide 29 Section 2 | Slide 30

 Spreadsheets Formulas and References

Row Numbers Column Letters

Two types of reference:

Absolute: unchanged when copied

A5: $A$3 + $A$4 B5: $A$3 + $A$4

Relative: changes when copied

A5: A3 + A4 B5: B3 + B4

Active Cell A2
(selected cell) Cell C4 Cells

Section 2 | Slide 31 Section 2 | Slide 32

A Spreadsheet is a document automatically formatted into rows and columns. A cell reference is a link to different call. When data in the source cell changes, the value in the
- The Columns are lettered destination cell (the one that contains the reference) updates automatically. The link is unidirectional,
- The Rows are numbered however, as the source cell does not know that it is being referenced by another cell.

There are two kinds of references:

Each location is called a cell and is denoted by its column and row.
- Relative – is a reference whose row and column addresses can vary when copied to a new
location. The amount of change is equal to the distance (both row- and column- wise) between the
copied and pasted cells. For example, assume that cell A2 contains the relative reference A1. If
cell A2 is copied to cell S43, then cell S43 will contain S42. In this case, the cell reference is
essentially saying ‘always point one cell above me’.

- Absolute – is a cell reference that does not change when copied to a new location. In formulas, a
dollar sign ($) indicates and absolute reference; this symbol can be used in conjunction with any
row or column (or both) to construct an absolute cell reference.

Section 2 | Slide 31 Section 2 | Slide 32

 Formulas and References Completing References

Creates Creates
Absolute Relative Accept Cancel
Use the formula
Reference Reference bar to enter
formulas

Section 2 | Slide 33 Section 2 | Slide 34

You can enter references directly into the formula bar. When making references, you must ACCEPT each reference and the final formula.

In-Sight will highlight the referenced cells using different matching colors to make them more easily TIP: You can usually utilize the <Enter> key to Accept or the <Esc> key to Cancel.
identifiable (as in A2 and B2).

Section 2 | Slide 33 Section 2 | Slide 34

 How To Enter Formulas & References How To Enter Formulas & References
1.

2.
Formula bar shows formula

3.
Cell shows result of formula

4.

Section 2 | Slide 35 Section 2 | Slide 36

To enter formulas and references: To enter formulas and references:

1. Select an empty cell 1. Select an empty cell

2. Click inside the formula bar 2. Click inside the formula bar
3. Use the Absolute or Relative reference buttons to make references to cells needed to complete 3. Use the Absolute or Relative reference buttons to make references to cells needed to complete
the formula the formula
4. Click the green check button to save the changes made 4. Click the green check button to save the changes made

Section 2 | Slide 35 Section 2 | Slide 36

 Help Summary

• One In-Sight Explorer can manage multiple networked

In-Sight systems from a single PC.

• A spreadsheet is composed of cells. The highlighted cell

is called the active cell. The spreadsheet and its current
contents are called a job.

• Searchable help is available through the Help Menu in

In-Sight Explorer, as well as within a tool’s Property
Sheet.

Section 2 | Slide 37 Section 2 | Slide 38

To help you find the tool you are looking for check the help file which is organized in the same hierarchy
as the toolbox found in software.
Context-sensitive help can be obtained by clicking the <F1> key.
In this section we covered the following topics:
- One In-Sight Explorer can manage multiple networked In-Sight systems from a single PC.
- A spreadsheet is composed of cells. The highlighted cell is the active cell. The spreadsheet and
its current contents are called a job.
- Searchable help is available through the Help Menu in In-Sight Explorer, as well as within a
Tool’s Property Sheet.

Section 2 | Slide 37 Section 2 | Slide 38

 Lab Exercise

Section 2 | Slide 39

Complete:

- Lab Exercise 2.1 – Software & Image Acquisition

- Lab Exercise 2.2 – References

Section 2 | Slide 39