Matrox® Imaging today announced the launch of the Matrox Indio input/output (I/O) and communication card for vision applications. The PCIe® x1 add-in card offers discrete I/Os with real-time synchronization and industrial networking using the EtherNet/IP™, Modbus®, and PROFINET protocols, turning any PC into a vision controller.
With eight inputs and eight outputs, the Matrox Indio provides jumper-selectable signalling in both 24V and TTL-level standards, making it ideal for both industrial and laboratory use. I/Os are optically-isolated and outputs feature resettable fuses to safeguard against damage from unintended use. Configurable for both sinking and sourcing, I/Os are accessed from a standard 37-pin D-sub connector.
Delivering real-time input/output management through a dedicated hardware-assisted mechanism, the Matrox Indio enables precise timing of output events, based on either elapsed time or specific input events. Input events can be received directly from a discrete input, including from a rotary encoder or from a count derived from a discrete input. Output events can be stored on a hardware based list, triggerable though a discrete input event or one of multiple cascadable timers.
Matrox Indio also makes a Gigabit Ethernet port (RJ45) available for industrial networking using the EtherNet/IP, Modbus, and PROFINET protocols. To ensure a timely response, PROFINET communication is hardware-assisted. Alternatively, the Gigabit Ethernet port can connect to and power a GigE Vision® camera by way of Power over Ethernet (PoE) support, reducing the cabling required.
“The demand for vision projects is growing on a daily basis, and there is a need for control to be accessible and affordable,” said Fabio Perelli, product manager, Matrox Imaging. “The Matrox Indio I/O and communication card offers system builders a robust platform for vision projects. With one card adding communications and synchronization to almost any Windows-based system; it is easy to design vision projects that are compatible with the full range of automation devices required to get the job done.”
Designed for use with both the Matrox Imaging Library (MIL) 10 SDK and the newly launched Matrox Design Assistant 5 flowchart-based integrated development environment (IDE), the Matrox Indio I/O card will provide system integrators and machine builders the ability to fully utilize Matrox vision software in their PC of choice.
