Cognex Checker 4G Series with Ethernet Easily Integrates into your Factory Network

NATICK, MA, USA 19 January, 2011. Cognex Corporation today announced the addition of the Checker® 4G Series to its award winning line of vision sensors. The new Checker 4G vision sensor by Cognex offers the same powerful and easy-to-use setup Checker is known for plus adds Ethernet networking for remote setup and monitoring, PLC communication through EtherNet/IP and PROFINET and the ability to save inspection images to an FTP server… all for less than $1,000USD.

Checker 4G allows the user to configure the sensor as a presence sensor or measurement sensor to inspect and error proof his manufacturing process. Presence sensors verify that features are present. Measurement sensors verify that features are the correct height, width and/or diameter. In either mode, there is no limit to the number of part features that a single Checker can “check”. With patented part detection technology Checker sensors are also able to detect and inspect over 6,000 parts per minute in varying positions along the production line. No other sensor, vision sensor, or vision system can overcome imprecise part positioning while delivering consistent, precisely timed pass/fall results.

"With our new Checker 4G Series, customers can realize many of the benefits of a networked vision sensor over Ethernet including the ability to easily communicate with factory automation devices and remotely monitor and manage vision sensor activity throughout the manufacturing process," said Pascal Dorster, Vision Sensors Business Unit Manager.

The Checker 4G Series is available in both high speed and high resolution models. A full list of features includes:

• Integrated lighting, optics and I/O in an Industrial IP67 housing
• Remote setup and display through your PC
• Patented part detection technology
• Inspects multiple part features for presence or correct dimension
• EtherNet/IP industrial protocol with RSLogix5000™ Add-On-Profile
• PROFINET industrial protocol
• Image storage to FTP server
• Logic for custom outputs
• Up to 32 job changes
• Up to 4 discrete outputs
• Encoder based part tracking
• Colored lens filters

The new Checker 4G Series complements the existing Checker 3G Series, which features simple USB connectivity and no PC setup with the SensorView® teach pendant. All Checker models give even a first-time user the ability to deploy an error proofing solution in a mere matter of minutes.

Checker 4G is available now. For more information visit http://www.cognex.com/4G.

About Cognex
Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and markets machine vision and industrial ID systems, or devices that can "see." Cognex vision and ID systems are used around the world for a wide range of inspection, identification and guidance applications throughout the manufacturing and distribution process. Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision and industrial ID industries, having shipped more than 500,000 systems, representing over $2.5 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981. Headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, USA, Cognex has regional offices and distributors located throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Japan and Latin America. For details, visit Cognex on-line at http://www.cognex.com.