May 9, 1995, Montreal, Canada - Robots and Vision, Detroit, Michigan – Today Matrox announced MIL-32, a new 32-bit library for developing imaging applications for 32-bit Microsoft® environments. Depending on the function, MIL-32 can have comparable or better performance than expensive dedicated vision hardware. For example, MIL-32, running on a Pentium™ PC under Windows NT™, performs a pattern match in 39.51 ms versus competing solutions based on dedicated vision hardware which can take 60 ms2. By using this 32-bit library, developers can fully exploit the power of current PC technology, and for certain applications, reduce the need for dedicated vision hardware, and therefore significantly reduce the cost of vision.

MIL-32 is a 32-bit version of the Matrox Imaging Library (MIL), a high-level 'C' library with an extensive set of optimized commands for image processing, pattern matching, blob analysis, gauging and OCR (optional module). With MIL's highly-integrated commands, complete applications may be built using only a few lines of code. This latest version of the library supports Windows NT, 32-bit DOS™ extenders, and Win32s™. Win32s is Microsoft's transitional environment, offered as an interim solution until Windows 95™ is released.

Continual advances in PC technology, such as faster processors and wider data paths enable imaging application developers to use the raw power of the PC for image processing. The technological improvements have recently culminated with the arrival of both the Pentium and the PCI bus. MIL-32 is the first software of its kind: a device-independent 32-bit library for developing scientific and industrial imaging applications. It has been designed to provide the "missing link": now developers not only have the fast processors and wide data paths, but also the 32-bit software required to unleash the power of the new PC technology.

Since images involve huge banks of data, imaging application developers will be especially attracted to 32-bit software, since 16-bit software has memory access limitations which restrict performance. 32-bit MIL executes functions up to 70% faster than the previous 16-bit version. The chart below compares the speed of some common imaging operations under Windows 3.1 and under Windows NT:

Note: benchmarks were performed on a 120 MHz Pentium (Dell Dimension XPS P120C)

With MIL-32, developers can build a complete line of imaging systems, with a wide range of price/performance levels. MIL-32 runs on any VGA and Matrox's imaging boards, from low-cost grabbers to real-time image processors, supporting standard as well as non-standard acquisition. An application written with MIL can be ported to multiple boards with no rewriting. Since the software is compatible with current and future Matrox imaging hardware, developers have a guaranteed upgrade path as new Matrox hardware is introduced.

Since 1976, Matrox has been a leading designer and manufacturer of board-level solutions for the graphics, video, and imaging industries.

MIL-32 beta is available now in limited quantities; with the official release scheduled for July, 1995.

1. MIL-32 finds a 128 x 128 pattern in a 512 x 512 image in 39.5 ms with medium positional accuracy

2. Benchmark extracted from competitive literature that indicates that a 128 x 128 target is located within a

Microsoft, Windows NT, DOS, Win32s, Windows 95 and Windows 3.1 are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Pentium is a trademark of Intel.

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