Press Releases

14 Sep 2004  

The iQ 421 Controller fully utilizes the special features of the SCHOTT iQLED product line. The easy-to-use system features a 2 line/16 character display which allows simple set-up in four languages. Alternatively, users can set the operational parameters through the built-in RS-232-Interface, which also allows continuous monitoring of temperature, light output and status. Once set-up, the controller runs as a stand-alone unit.

The iQ421 provides features unmatched in the industry at an affordable price. A state-of-the-art controller, the iQ 421 automatically recognizes the maximum current requirements of the LED head and adjusts to the appropriate current. The LED temperature is continuously monitored. In case of over temperature the operational current will be automatically reduced, while displaying a warning signal to the user before permanent damage occurs to the LEDs. The normal mode allows continuous dimming of light intensity between 0 and 100%.

One unique feature is the Maintain mode - a light feedback loop to maintain intensity +/- 2% over operation of the LED head. It regulates the head current to compensate for degradation of LED output over time, self-heating, and changes in ambient temperature - all of which can affect light output.

In addition, the iQ421 features a trigger mode, with programmable delay to synchronize the unit with an external signal to extend LED lifetime and provide light only when needed. Moreover, it also has an internal strobe generator with frequencies between 15 Hz and 50 KHz to freeze motion of periodically moving objects. Programmable period and on-time can be combined with overdrive of trigger/strobe intensities up to 250%, while pre-defined overdrive rules of the LEDs are met.

For optimal implementation into automated systems, the iQ 421 can be remotely switched on/off in normal, maintain and strobe modes. Error control codes are displayed on the front LCD and transmitted to the host computer via RS-232.

The iQ121 LED Controller automatically recognizes the maximum current requirements of the LED head and adjusts the appropriate current. The LED temperature is continuously monitored. A temperature indicator LED warns of high-temperature conditions and alerts the user to check intensity setting or ambient temperature. The temperature indicator light also signals the user that the power supply is connected and functioning. The single-knob light intensity control adjusts from 0 to 100 percent. A remote on/off function can extend LED lifetime and provide light only when needed during part inspection.

Designed for use in industrial environments the heavy-duty metal housing has T-slot grooves for mounting and integrated cooling channels, which make a fan redundant. Connectors for light heads and power supplies are lockable to ensure safe operation. The 2 amp light source output of the controller can be powered with DC-power supplies between 12 and 24 volt, depending on colour and number of LEDs in the lighthead.    For further information about this release, please contact Clive Phillips or Mark Bambrick on 01582 764334 or email

14 Sep 2004  

A new addition to the Lambda portfolio, Prosilica, offer the Firewire range of digital machine vision cameras, all designed for easy system integration.

CV640 is a "plug-and-play" digital camera with standardised interfaces and an advanced performance. High frame rates and superior sensitivity make this the camera of choice for many industrial imaging applications.

CV1280 can be combined with National Instruments Compact Vision System and LabVIEW or VisionBuilder software to provide a complete smart camera system. Prosilica's "NI Toolkit" with VIs, Express VIs and extended camera controls provide users with high performance and flexibility.

CV1280F offers a 1394b fibre optic interface capable of operation with 500 metres cable length in addition to a standard 1394a port. The camera is also very useful in applications where cables are repeatedly flexed such as in robotic arms.

Amongst the features common to the three cameras are extended dynamic range for imaging in difficult lighting conditions, region of interest function for increased speed, snapshot shutter for stop action imaging and DCAM compliance for "plug-and-play" compatibility.

For further information about this release, please contact Clive Phillips or Mark Bambrick on 01582 764334 or email

23 Nov 2004  

SICK IVP has released a new series of the Ranger vision camera's capable of acquiring 20,000 3D profiles per second. Each profile contains up to 1536 high quality 3D co-ordinates; that is more than 30 million points per second!

Using the latest CameraLink interface, the Ranger C measures 3D features at unmatched speeds and accuracy. The result is detailed height and shape measurement data, critical in applications for profiling, classifying and inspecting products or features in 3D.

The Ranger C MultiScan acquires multiple feature images in grey scale, gloss and laser scatter as well as 3D data simultaneously. All feature images are captured when the object passes the camera in line scan mode and are sent to the PC via CameraLink.

In both versions all triangulation calculations are completely executed by the Ranger Cameras eliminating the need for expensive post processors. They are easy to integrate and users can choose to measure individual profiles or build up a 3D plot for processing by your own or standard 3rd party imaging software packages.

The Ranger is already a key component in the measurement and profiling of products in numerous applications in a variety of industries. Electronic component inspection, connector measurement, tree profiling for cutting, strip steel profiling and Pallet inspection are just a few. The addition of the CameraLink interface will mean a greater number of 3D problems can be solved by the Sick IVP Ranger C series.

For further information about this release, please contact Clive Phillips or Mark Bambrick on 01582 764334 or email

25 Jan 2005  

Prosilica have announced the introduction of its new EC1280 and EC640 digital firewire cameras for applications in machine vision and industrial imaging.

Based around its successful CV1280 and CV640 cameras, the EC range is targeted toward OEM and analogue replacement markets. The cameras are distinguished by their small size, high performance, and economical pricing.

Prosilica's megapixel EC1280 firewire camera packs a lot of performance into a small package at an economical price. The camera contains a range of high-performance features including snapshot shutter, region-of-interest readout, decimation, etc. and is capable of 29 full-resolution (1280x1024) frames per second. The backplane of the EC1280 provides an IEEE-1394 port and a 4-pin Hirose connector for external triggering. The EC-1280 is truly plug-and-play. It does not require a frame grabber but communicates with the host computer through an IEEE-1394 (Firewire) interface. The EC1280 is available with either a monochrome or colour sensor.

The EC640 is a 100 frame-per-second, VGA (659x493) resolution firewire camera for industrial applications. Designed for OEM markets it is a cost-reduced version of Prosilica's high performance CV640. Its very small size makes it perfect for tight fit situations. It is available in colour or monochrome versions, and comes with all the features of the EC1280.

Software for the camera includes Prosilica's ProViewer application, the camera driver, and Prosilica's ProSDK software development kit, which are available to customers free of charge. The cameras are DCAM-compliant (IIDC 1.31) and can be used with a wide range of popular machine vision software.

"The EC1280 is an exciting product because of its small size, excellent specifications, and economic pricing. The EC1280 provides excellent value and performance for our customers" said Marty Furse, CEO of Prosilica.

For further information about this release, please contact Clive Phillips or Mark Bambrick on 01582 764334 or email

15 Mar 2005  

The MultiScan Ranger C camera from SICK-IVP, can acquire 3D shape, and intensity data such as grey scale, gloss, surface defect and laser scatter measurements simultaneously from one single camera. Using SICK-IVP's unique and patented sensor technology the speed and performance are extremely high.

Good image structure based on cleverly arranged illumination is often the key to a successful machine vision solution. With a line of laser light projected across an object at an angle other than that of the camera, accurate height measurements can be made. High resolution grey scale detection using a halved pixel pitch line of sensors produces sharp images permitting very small defects to be detected. Laser scatter measurements permit the inspection of a wide variety of products ranging from knot detection in wood to fruit and vegetable quality control. Gloss measurements can be used for the detection of surface defects in shiny materials such as tiles and polished parts.

The patented Smart Vision Sensor is at the core of the system, flexible windowing and integration control together with on-chip processing are key principals of the MultiScan technology. Each feature image is acquired on individual areas of the sensor, after A to D conversion data is passed to the PC memory via CameraLink.

The examples described here are just a few of the possible applications, imagination is all that is needed to provide solutions to many more inspection and measurement tasks.

For more information contact Clive Phillips or Mark Bambrick at Lambda on 01582 764334 alternatively email

14 Mar 2005  

SCHOTT reveals the new DCR® III Plus Light Source with built-in RS232 interface for intense, cool illumination via remote control. The next generation in DC-regulated light sources, the DCR III Plus can control the intensity of up to three additional DCR® III light sources.

Another powerful advancement from SCHOTT, the DCR® III Plus from the ColdVision Series of Light Sources provides enhanced communication via embedded error checking codes in the unit's programmed settings. The DCR® III Plus automatically restores the user's settings at power up, and is able to manage multiple light sources as one unit. New features also include a lamp on/off feature that is independent of intensity control.

The DCR III® Plus boasts an IR interference filter for cool illumination, soft start "lamp saver" circuitry, and solid-state dimmer control for continuous dimming. The LED lamp change indicator light located on the front panel signals the user to replace the lamp. Light Source limits light fluctuation to ± 0.5% due to line voltage variation. Additional features include current limiting and transient protection for remote location of the bulb. The DCR III Plus Light Source features a heavy-duty, stackable metal industrial housing with retractable handle. Options include an infinite setting, thirteen-blade diaphragm to reduce intensity while maintaining colour temperature. Choice of three, 150 Watt Halogen lamps - EJA, EKE and DDL for intense, uniform illumination. The interchangeable Modulamp® Unit offers two lamp positions to maximize individual lamp efficiencies. For more details please contact Lambda Photometrics on 01582 764334.

SCHOTT is a multinational, technology-based group whose core task lies in improving how people live and work through developing, manufacturing and supplying specialty materials, components and systems.

24 Oct 2005  

We are pleased to annouce the introduction of an injection-seeded version of Quantel's Brilliant B Nd:YAG laser, which provides Single Longitudinal Mode (SLM) output, with long coherence length, reduced linewidth and smooth temporal profile.

The injection-seeder is extremely compact and is acheived via a fibre launch into the Brilliant B cavity, with 1U high 19" rack power supply. This design fits perfectly with the philosphy of the Brilliant, being compact, robust and reliable.  

As with the standard Brilliant lasers, the SLM version is easy to use and install and requires no specialised knowledge or specific training.

Specifications at 10Hz are as follows:

• 700mJ @ 1064nm
• 290mJ @ 532nm
• 135mJ @ 355nm
• 60mJ @ 266nm
• Linewidth: 0.005cm-1

Click here for more information or contact us

24 Feb 2006

Prosilica has started shipping its much anticipated GE-Series gigabit Ethernet cameras. The GE-Series are believed to be the first machine vision cameras ship to end users that conform to the draft AIA “GigE Vision” standard.

Prosilica has started shipping its much anticipated GE-Series gigabit Ethernet cameras. The GE-Series are believed to be the first machine vision cameras ship to end users that conform to the draft AIA “GigE Vision” standard. 

Prosilica’s GE-Series gigabit Ethernet cameras offer high-performance digital imaging for applications in machine vision, industrial inspection, traffic monitoring, and public security. The GE-Series sends non-compressed images at high-frame rates over standard gigabit Ethernet hardware with cable lengths up to 100 meters long.  

The GE-Series camera models now shipping include the GE650, GE1350, GE1380 and GE1600 CCD cameras ranging from VGA to 2 megapixel resolution and full-resolution frame rates up to 200 fps. Color models are also available with on-board color interpolation.

Prosilica’s GE-Series cameras have a wide range of high-performance features including region-of-interest readout of arbitrary size and shape and square binning modes up to 8x8 pixels. An SDK and viewer program are available free of charge to Prosilica customers for integrating the GE-Series cameras into customer applications. Prosilica’s SDK includes source code so that system integrators and end users can quickly and easily incorporate Prosilica’s GE-Series gigabit Ethernet cameras into their applications.

“Prosilica’s GE-Series cameras appear to be the only Gigabit Ethernet cameras currently available that conform to the draft AIA GigE Vision standard” says Prosilica CEO Marty Furse. “Because Prosilica has designed all aspects of the GE-Series camera -- all the hardware, all the firmware, as well as the SDK and driver -- Prosilica can deliver a more integrated and robust product than many of its competitors who have chosen a third-party module and third-party SDK. Because Prosilica has designed this camera end-to-end, customers can be assured that they are getting the very best”.

Contact Clive Phillips or Mark Bambrick on 01582 764334 or email

31 May 2006

FIBERPRO is a leading manufacturer of fibre optic products and a specialist in the development of custom solutions. A new catalogue has been introduced which gives brief information on the range of devices currently available from the company which also provides an outline of their capabilities in the fibre optics field.

Instrumentation available for communications applications include a high accuracy, high speed passive component analyser which is insensitive to fibre lead movement and requires only infrequent calibration. A polarisation dependent loss meter and polarisation extinction ratio meter both feature high accuracy and ease of operation. A polarisation scrambler offers 1MHz performance for use with all single mode fibres and a polarisation mode dispersion emulator with a range of customised options are described in the catalogue. A unique and patented acoustic fibre cable identifier which is non-invasive, requires no cable manipulation or freezing and has a wide dynamic range is included amongst the instrumentation products. Fibre communication components include variable attenuators, switches, multimode splitters and high performance transceivers.

Optical sensor and precision measurement products include a laser ultrasonic receiver, a high performance low birefringence analyser and a high speed, real time FBG interrogation system.

FIBERPRO also manufacture a series of products for laboratory and educational applications. Amongst those described in the catalogue are broadband and multi-wavelength sources, a state of polarisation analyser, a fibre amplifier and an educational interferometer set. Components for this range include various polarisation controllers – in-line, multi-channel and motorised models. Tunable directional couplers complete the laboratory products.

Custom made instrumentation include optical coherence domain polarimeters and reflectometers, a fibre probe interferometer and a PON OTDR.

For more information contact Adrian Harrison on 01582 764334 or email

For more information on Fibre Optic products click here

IMPERX new User Configurable Image Processor allows you to create your own secure, custom reliable In Camera Image Processing.

It's EASY 

• Pick a resolution and frame rate
• Pick an output (GigE, PoE, PoCL, HD-SDI etc)
• Add your image processing
• Use your custom camera

Features 

• Features the Altera low-power, low cost FPGA family (Cyclone-IV EP4CE75 or EP4CE55)
• Large number of hardware multipliers for high bandwidth/low latency concurrent digital image processing
• Available in industrial temperature range
• Vast parallel processing power for DSP applications (up to 200 multipliers at 260Mhz = 52GMAC/s)
• Image enhancement, preprocessing, data reduction, detection/recognition
• Text overlay, auto iris, auto exposure and auto focus based on real time image statistics
• Simplified system design (reduced PC CPU usage/utilisation)
• Easy and free programming over JTAG
• Many IP cores are available from Altera and third parties
• Extremely short design cycles

For more information, please click here to email or contact Clive Phillips or Mark Bambrick on 01582 764334.

Lambda Photometrics Ltd is a leading supplier of Measurement, Characterisation and Analysis solutions in areas including Lasers, Optics, Electro-optic Testing, Spectroscopy, Fibre Optics, Machine Vision, Optical Metrology, Instrumentation, Microscopy and Pulsed Xenon Light Systems.