PixeLINK First Camera Manufacturer to Incorporate C-Mount Varioptic Auto Focus Liquid Lenses

OTTAWA, Ontario and LYON, France, June 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- PixeLINK®, a global provider of industrial cameras for the machine vision and microscopy markets, and Varioptic (a Business Unit of Parrot), the world leader in electrowetting liquid lens solutions, today announced production of the world's first industrial cameras to include an electronic, focus-controllable liquid lens. Enabling auto focus with no moving parts, these cameras will offer low power consumption, high shock resistance, and fast focus change.

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PixeLINK PL-D721, PL-D722, PL-D775, and PL-D7715 machine vision cameras now incorporate the Caspian C-39N0-16 electronic, focus-controllable C-mount lens. Leveraging Varioptic electrowetting liquid lens technology, the cameras will deliver fast, noiseless, controllable auto focus from 10 cm to infinity. With a 16mm effective focal length, the Varioptic lens will offer application-controlled and user programmable-controlled auto focus capabilities in board-level and enclosed PixeLINK cameras.

"The inclusion of cutting-edge auto focus liquid lenses into our Prometheus, Hyperion, and Titan lines of industrial cameras continues a tradition of innovation at PixeLINK," explains William Lesniowski, CEO of PixeLINK. "We are extremely proud to be the first C-Mount machine vision camera manufacturer to provide auto focus control via a liquid lens, and are excited to deliver this technology to OEMs and industrial camera users in medical, inspection, and security markets around the world."

"The availability of Varioptic compatible C-Mount cameras is key to the success of this new Caspian C product range," explains Samuel Grand, Varioptic Business Unit Director. "It will enable our customers to use an AutoFocus camera system in minutes, with no hardware or software development required."

While the typical lifespan of a mechanical lens system is a few hundred thousand cycles, liquid lenses have been tested over 100 million cycles without performance degradation. Liquid lenses can also reconfigure themselves in tens of milliseconds, making them ideal for high vibration environments and applications that require fast focus changes.

Currently integrated at select customer sites, PixeLINK's new liquid lens auto focus cameras are available for purchase directly from PixeLINK or from its network of certified channel partners. Contact PixeLINK at +1 (613) 247-1211 or visit the PixeLINK website at www.pixelink.com for further details.

About PixeLINK

PixeLINK is a global provider of custom industrial cameras for the machine vision and OEM markets. For more than 20 years, PixeLINK has designed, manufactured, and supported the hardware and software requirements for the medical, inspection, security and document scanning markets. Through its custom camera design services, PixeLINK offers reliable precision camera hardware and industry-leading software that simplifies the integration of cameras into any machine vision application. www.pixelink.com

About Varioptic

Founded in 2002 by Bruno Berge, a PhD in physics, Varioptic became a Business Unit of Parrot SA in January 2012. Varioptic develops, designs and markets electrically controlled miniature optics based on its proprietary and patented programmable liquid lens technology. The ranges of technological solutions developed by Varioptic are aimed at a number of markets in the digital camera sector (biometrics, machine vision, general consumer and medical cameras). For more information: www.varioptic.com.

About Parrot

Founded in 1994 by Henri Seydoux, Parrot creates, develops and markets technologically advanced consumer products for Smartphones and tablets. Parrot offers the most extensive range of hands-free communication systems for vehicles on the market. Its globally recognized expertise in the fields of mobile connectivity and multimedia centered on Smartphones has positioned Parrot as a key player of in-car infotainment. Additionally, Parrot designs high-end wireless multimedia products dedicated to sound, and explores new possibilities in Bluetooth Smart technology. Finally, Parrot is expanding on the UAV market with the Parrot AR.Drone, the first quadricopter piloted via Wi-Fi, and new solutions to address the UAV market for professional use. Parrot, headquartered in Paris, currently employs more than 850 people worldwide and generates the majority of its sales overseas.

For more information: www.parrot.com

Media Contact

Andrew Symes
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+1 613-741-9484 x102

Varioptic Contact

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SOURCE PixeLINK