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Matrox offers vision system developers outstanding price/performance in a multichannel RGB/mono PCI frame grabber that supports progressive scan cameras

June 29, 1998, Montreal, Canada - Matrox Imaging today announced availability of the Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel PCI frame grabber, giving developers of vision systems the most cost-effective tool for digitizing video from a variety of cameras, including progressive scan devices.

The Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel provides developers with the flexibility to capture video from a number of today's color and monochrome analog frame scan cameras, making it the ideal imaging solution for a variety of applications that include surveillance, inspection and process control, biomedical analysis, robotics, identification systems, color verification, traffic control, medical visualization, and microscopy.

This variable scan capture device simultaneously digitizes up to 3 channels of standard or non-standard video from 6 available inputs. It transfers image data to system or VGA memory in real time from a variety of devices, like component RGB and monochrome interlaced or progressive scan cameras. With an impressive feature list that includes a PCI bus master interface, extensive on-board memory, trigger input, RS-232 serial communication and power output, as well as a custom ASIC for pixel formatting, the Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel provides all the functionality expected of a frame grabber in this class and more, but without the high price.

The Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel's PCI bus master interface and on-board memory provide unprecedented performance. Transfers to host memory for processing or VGA memory for visualization occur without continuous host intervention at sustained rates of up to 130 MB/second - an industry best. On-board memory of up to 4 MB ensures reliable transfers, even under high PCI bus latency conditions.

Other features important to machine vision and other applications include trigger input, power output and RS-232 serial interface. The Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel can accept an external trigger signal for synchronizing acquisition to external events in a manner that is synchronous or asynchronous to the video input. In addition to this support for asynchronous reset cameras, the board provides power output, eliminating the need for an external camera power supply. An RS-232 serial interface is present to enable remote control of camera settings. Video input, synchronization and control signals, as well as power output and RS-232 serial interface are all conveniently accessible through a single 44-pin external connector, simplifying cabling issues.

With a Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel, image data can be reformatted in real time thanks to a custom video interface ASIC called Matrox VIA. This ASIC was specifically designed to reconstruct images from multitap cameras that may output pixel data in a non-consecutive order. Matrox VIA made its debut on the award-winning Matrox Genesis scalable vision processor and is now a standard item on all Matrox frame grabbers.

Progressive scan and double-speed cameras

Most camera manufacturers today use non-interlaced, progressive scan technology to provide better quality images and eliminate unwanted artifacts like the motion blur that results when using traditional interlaced cameras for imaging fast moving objects. A Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel interfaces to progressive scan devices, whether they output on a single channel at high sampling rates, or on multiple channels (i.e. dual channel monochrome or component RGB cameras). When digitizing video from multiple output cameras, a single board can be used as opposed to the multiple board solutions offered by other manufacturers.

The Matrox Meteor-II/Multi-Channel also captures video from double speed or VGA cameras that provide the faster acquisition of images (i.e. 60 fps) needed for select demanding machine vision applications. Again, whether outputting data on single or multiple channels, a single board digitizes the video.

Matrox Meteor-II series: buy what you need

With three models to choose from in the Matrox Meteor-II series, a developer can get the right board with the required feature set at the right price for a given project. There is no need to pay for unwanted features or unused functionality. Matrox's complete product line, from frame grabbers with integrated display to a scalable vision processor, extends the buy-what-you-need concept even farther, with a range of products with the best price/performance.

Software support/rapid application development

An integral part to any Matrox Imaging solution is the extensive software available. Matrox offers a field-proven 'C' library called Matrox Imaging Library (MIL) that is optimized for Intel MMX technology and ActiveX controls (OCXs) called ActiveMIL-Lite for rapid development of machine vision and imaging applications. Matrox Intellicam, a Windows-based camera configuration utility is bundled with Matrox application development software for quick and easy camera interfacing.

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