Cognex CONNECT™ ensures seamless connectivity between vision system and automation controls

Natick, MA, USA June 2, 2009, Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) announces Cognex Connect™, the most comprehensive suite of communications capabilities ever offered in a vision system. Cognex Connect enables out-of-the-box connectivity between Cognex In-Sight® vision systems and virtually any major PLC, robot, HMI and Fieldbus system commonly used in factory automation. A simple point and click configuration interface makes it easy to control multiple vision systems from any network PC, and allows users to easily transfer data and images to an enterprise file server or display them in the user’s own operator interface.

“Cognex Connect makes the integration of vision into any automation system very easy,” said Justin Testa, Cognex Executive Vice President and Vision Systems Business Unit Manager. “Because Cognex Connect supports virtually all major PLC, HMI, robot controller or Fieldbus systems, In-Sight users have unlimited flexibility in selecting which system integrators and automation equipment providers to work with.”

The standard Cognex Connect suite of communication capabilities includes pre-configured drivers, ready-to-use templates and sample code to accelerate system set-up and ensure smooth communication with factory automation robots and controllers. Cognex Connect also provides an array of visualization options for integrating inspection images from In-Sight into a central operator interface.

Cognex Connect delivers built-in support for the following controls and communications:

• PLC Cognex Connect supports open standard industrial Ethernet communications protocols such as MC Protocol, EtherNet/IP and PROFINET for trouble free connection to a wide range of PLCs including Mitsubishi, Rockwell and Siemens.
• PC or HMI Cognex Connect supports OPC server, Active X display controls, and standard TCP/IP Ethernet protocols.
• Robots Pre-configured drivers, ready-to-use templates and sample code are available for robots by ABB, Denso, Fanuc, Kawasaki, Kuka, Motoman and Staubli. Communication with robots by Mitsubishi, Adept, Epson and many other manufacturers is also supported.
• Fieldbus Cognex Connect supports all established standards, including CCLink, DeviceNet, and PROFIBUS.
• The Cognex Connect suite of communication capabilities is supported on all Cognex In-Sight models. For more information on Cognex Connect, visit www.cognex.com/connect.

About Cognex
Cognex Corporation is the global leader in vision-based inspection, guidance and identification systems. Companies throughout the world use Cognex vision systems to improve product quality, reduce manufacturing costs and track parts on their production lines. By harnessing innovative technology that has led the world for over twenty-five years, Cognex products are universally recognized as offering the highest accuracy, reliability and performance. With more than half a million systems installed, inspecting billions of products every day, Cognex helps manufacturers operating in all industry sectors to isolate defective parts, optimize production processes and implement full traceability programs. With headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, USA, and offices throughout the Americas, Japan, Europe and Asia, Cognex provides exceptional service through teams of local experts and a network of over 300 approved partners. Visit Cognex on-line at www.cognex.com.