Image acquisition device

Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method for deploying a graphical program onto an image acquisition (IMAQ) device. The method may operate to configure an image acquisition (IMAQ) device to perform image processing or machine vision functions, wherein the device includes a programmable hardware element and/or a processor and memory. The method comprises first creating a graphical program which implements the image processing or machine vision function. A portion of the graphical program may be converted into a hardware implementation on a programmable hardware element, and a portion may optionally be compiled into machine code for execution by a CPU. The programmable hardware element is thus configured utilizing a hardware description and implements a hardware implementation of at least a portion of the graphical program. The CPU-executable code may be executed by a computer coupled to the IMAQ device, or by a processor/memory on the IMAQ device.

1 . An image acquisition device, comprising: 
 an input for receiving an image of an object;    a memory coupled to the input for storing data corresponding to the image of the object, wherein the memory further stores a real time operating system, wherein the memory also stores an executable program, wherein the executable program implements an image processing function, wherein the executable program is created based on a graphical program, and wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program; and    a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operable to execute the executable program to perform the image processing function on an acquired image, wherein the processor is further operable to execute the real time operating system in executing the executable program.    
   
   
       2 . The image acquisition device of  claim 1 , wherein, to create the executable program based on the graphical program, the graphical program is compiled to generate the executable program.  
   
   
       3 . The image acquisition device of  claim 1 , wherein, to create the executable program based on the graphical program, the graphical program is converted to a text-based program, and the text-based program compiled to generate the executable program.  
   
   
       4 . The image acquisition device of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the memory further stores a graphical program execution engine; and    wherein the processor is operable to execute the graphical program execution engine in executing the executable program.    
   
   
       5 . The image acquisition device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 analog to digital conversion logic coupled to the input and to the processor for performing analog to digital conversion logic on an acquired analog image to produce a digital image.    
   
   
       6 . The image acquisition device of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 timer/counter logic, wherein the timer/counter logic performs timing and/or counting operations while the processor in the image acquisition device executes to perform the image processing function on the image.    
   
   
       7 . A smart camera, comprising: 
 a housing;    a sensor comprised in the housing, wherein the sensor is operable to acquire an image of an object;    a memory, coupled to the sensor and comprised in the housing, wherein the memory is operable to store data corresponding to the image of the object, wherein the memory stores a real time operating system, wherein the memory also stores an executable program implementing an image processing function, wherein the executable program is created based on a graphical program, and wherein the graphical program comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes which visually indicate functionality of the graphical program; and    a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is operable to execute the executable program to perform the image processing function on an acquired image;    wherein the processor is operable to execute the real time operating system in executing the executable program.    
   
   
       8 . The smart camera of  claim 7 , wherein, to create the executable program based on the graphical program, the graphical program is compiled to generate the executable program.  
   
   
       9 . The image acquisition device of  claim 7 , wherein, to create the executable program based on the graphical program, the graphical program is converted to a text-based program, and the text-based program compiled to generate the executable program.  
   
   
       10 . The image acquisition device of  claim 7 , 
 wherein the memory further stores a graphical program execution engine; and    wherein the processor is operable to execute the graphical program execution engine in executing the executable program.    
   
   
       11 . The smart camera of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 analog to digital conversion logic, coupled to the input and to the processor and comprised in the housing, wherein the analog to digital conversion logic is operable to perform analog to digital conversion on an acquired analog image to produce a digital image.    
   
   
       12 . The smart camera of  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 timer/counter logic, coupled to the processor and comprised in the housing, wherein the timer/counter logic performs timing and/or counting operations while the processor in the smart camera executes to perform the image processing function on the image.