Cognex Dataman Barcode Readers deliver best-in-class performance

NATICK, MA, USA, 15 March, 2010, Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) today introduced two new 1D barcode readers to its DataMan® line of industrial ID readers. The DataMan 100 QL and DataMan 200 QL fixed-mount readers offer best-in-class 1D barcode reading performance. The new readers offer the additional benefit of being easily field-upgraded to add 2D Data Matrix and QR code reading capability if application needs change at a future date.

“For roughly the same price as a laser scanner, users can get much more reliable code reading performance,” said Carl Gerst, Director of ID Products at Cognex. “The DataMan QL Series easily reads codes that laser barcode scanners fail to read, such as marks that are low contrast, damaged, or distorted by severe perspective. And even more important, the DataMan QL is future proof. A simple software upgrade enables users to read 2D Data Matrix codes as well as 1D barcodes.”

The DataMan QL Series features Cognex 1DMax™, a totally new 1D code reading algorithm which sets a new standard for 1D code reading performance. In addition to reading blurred or damaged codes, 1DMax successfully handles quiet zone violations that can occur when codes are printed close to the edge of a label. DataMan QL readers are very easy to deploy in any environment using the system’s Setup Tool. The Setup Tool also includes an image archiving feature which enables users to store images of read failures and download them to a PC in order to diagnose the root cause of a problem.

New DataMan 3.5 Software Release

Cognex has also released a new version of its DataMan Software. The new DataMan 3.5 Software adds 1DMax for best-in-class 1D barcode reading, leverages a new industrial USB driver for indestructible USB connections, and adds Ethernet/IP with Add-On-Profile support for DataMan 200 models. Cognex has also improved the IDQuick™ Data Matrix reading algorithm for consistent high speed reading of well printed codes, simple DPM codes and codes with smaller defects.

The DataMan 100 QL and 200 QL are available now. For more information and to download a datasheet on DataMan QL readers visit www.cognex.com/QL. To learn more about the new DataMan 3.5 Software, visit www.cognex.com/IDsoftware.

About Cognex
Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures and markets machine vision sensors and systems, or devices that can "see." Cognex vision sensors and systems are used in factories around the world where they guide, inspect, gauge, identify and assure the quality of a wide range of items during the manufacturing process. Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 500,000 machine vision 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, Japan, Europe, Asia and Latin America. For details, visit Cognex on-line at http://www.cognex.com.