Chapter 1
Introduction
1-4
ni.com
and device configuration—you can call from your application development
environment (ADE). NI-IMAQ handles many of the complex issues
between the computer and the image acquisition device, such as
programming interrupts and camera control.
NI-IMAQ performs all functions required for acquiring and saving images
but does not perform image analysis. For image analysis functionality, refer
to the
National Instruments Application Software
section of this chapter.
NI-IMAQ is also the interface path between the NI 1409 and LabVIEW,
LabWindows
™
/CVI
™
, or a text-based programming environment. The
NI-IMAQ software kit includes a series of image acquisition libraries
for LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement Studio, which
contains libraries for Microsoft Visual Basic.
NI-IMAQ features both high-level and low-level functions. Examples
of high-level functions include the sequences to acquire images in
multi-buffer, single-shot, or continuous mode. An example of a low-level
function is configuring an image sequence, which requires advanced
understanding of the image acquisition device and image acquisition.
National Instruments Application Software
This section describes the National Instruments application software
packages you can use to analyze and process the images you acquire
with the NI 1409.
Vision Builder for Automated Inspection
NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (AI) is configurable machine
vision software that you can use to prototype, benchmark, and deploy
applications for use in LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement
Studio. Vision Builder AI does not require programming, but it is scalable
to powerful programming environments.
Vision Builder AI allows you to easily configure and benchmark a
sequence of visual inspection steps, as well as deploy the visual inspection
system for automated inspection. With Vision Builder AI, you can perform
powerful visual inspection tasks and make decisions based on the results of
individual tasks. With Vision Builder AI, you can migrate the configured
inspection to LabVIEW, extending the capabilities of your applications if
necessary.