Sapera Processing

AI-Enabled Application Development Library for OEMs and System Integrators

Sapera Processing is at the heart of Sapera Vision Software delivering a suite of image processing and artificial intelligence functions which include the following:

Basic image processing primitives such as filtering, morphology, geometry and point-to-point operations.
Image analysis tools such as barcode reading/grading, pattern matching (search), OCR, color analysis, camera calibration for lens distortion correction, 2D/3D measurement and blob analysis functions.

Combine AI models with traditional image processing techniques for a complete solution

by LINX Taiwan Co., Ltd., CC: BY-ND 4.0

Run AI models in Sapera and combine AI outputs with traditional machine vision tools. Use pixel segmentation and heatmaps to measure features and defects.

3D processing, analysis and measurement functions to operate on data from Z-Trak 3D sensor or any third-party 3D device.

Sapera Processing also offers a suite of demo programs showing how to integrate acquisition from Teledyne devices via Sapera LT.

Download Sapera Processing

Key Features

Hardware independent, image acquisition, image processing/analysis and artificial intelligence library
Supports Area-scan and Line-scan, monochrome and color, 2D and 3D cameras
Power tools for tasks like image recognition, object identification, 2D/3D measurement, machine guidance, surface inspection, object segmentation, object tracking and others
Designed for machine vision OEMs, System Integrators and End users
Modular components supporting C++ and .NET languages
Multi-Core optimization supported on single or multiple CPU configurations
User-friendly non-programming graphical environment to quickly prototype and test drive application specific imaging tools

Key Benefits

Extensive camera and frame-grabber support
Industrial strength algorithms ensure accuracy and reliability
Cost effective solution for inspection, identification, guidance and measurement applications
Solution to very complex vision tasks involving highly varying environment
Upgrade with no code change given code and binary backward compatibility

AI Tool

Sapera Processing includes a series of classes to perform AI inference on models generated by Astrocyte^™ (available only with Sapera AI license).

Train state of the art AI models using Teledyne DALSA’s Astrocyte AI Trainer
No AI background or coding required
Load and run AI model files exported from Astrocyte
Supports the following AI architectures: classification, anomaly detection, object detection, segmentation

Automatic internal pre-processing and post-processing for adapting to input images of various size and format
Generate heatmaps at runtime for finding location and shape of objects
Continual learning (aka Lifelong Learning) in classification. Allows learning from a few extra image samples at runtime to add new classes or improve accuracy on existing classes.
Selection of execution on GPU or CPU

Barcode Tool

Sapera Processing offers two different barcode reading algorithms:

Quick Barcode is the preferred tool as it allows very high speed reading while being tolerant to noise, occlusion and geometrical distortions.
However in cases of very highly degraded conditions Standard Barcode might be a good alternative to Quick Barcode. Standard Barcode provides more flexibility in adjusting parameters as well as providing the ability to create golden models for an increased robustness.

As part of the barcode tool Sapera Processing also offers Print Quality Grading. Grading is used to verify the quality of 1D and 2D marks.

Quick Barcode

Fast and robust decoding of most 1D barcode and 2D matrix code symbologies
- 1d symbologies: Code 11, 32, 39, 93, 128, I25, UPC-A/E, EAN-8/13, Databar, BC412, Pharmacode and more
- 2D symbologies: Data matrix (ECC200), QR Code, PDF417, MicroPDF and more
Quickly and accurately reads printed, stamped or etched 1D/2D codes
Reliably reads Data Matrix and QR codes with damaged or missing finder patterns
Reads poorly printed, low contrast, noisy, warped, and damaged barcodes
Decodes multiple barcodes in the same image ROI
Two licensing options:
- Quick Barcode decodes the majority of codes.
- Quick Barcode DPM offers greater robustness for decoding marks etched or dot peened on plastic or metallic surfaces

Standard Barcode

Supports 1-D and 2-D industry standards (includes the majority of standards supported by Quick Barcode).
High tolerance for noisy and poorly illuminated images
Asian native language and Unicode output
Includes Barcode Studio to set up barcode reading via Learning Assistant to help adjust optimal parameters
Supports model training on Data Matrix for increased robustness highly damaged images
Two licensing options:
- Standard Barcode supports a wide variety of codes and options, and does not require training
- Advanced Barcode offers the ability to train a Data Matrix model for increasing robustness while supporting the same codes and options as Standard Barcode.

Print Quality Grading

Use in combination with Quick Barcode or Standard Barcode
Includes the following standards:
- ISO/IEC 15416 (Barcode print quality test specification - linear symbols)
- ISO/IEC 15415 (Barcode symbol print quality test specification - Two-dimensional symbols)
- ISO/IEC 16022 (Data matrix barcode symbology specification)
- AIM PDM (Direct Part Mark Quality)
- AS9132 (Aerospace Standards - Data Matrix Coding Quality Requirements for Parts Marking)

Search Tool

Area-based

Algorithm based on normalized cross-correlation (NCC)
Extremely fast when no scaling is involved
Tolerant to extreme noise
Position accuracy to 1/25 pixel

Edge-based

Algorithm based on object contours
Rotation and contrast independent
Position accuracy to 1/50th pixel
Angle accuracy to 1/80th degree
Locates up to 5 instances of target in image

Image Processing

Sapera Processing includes a powerful frame grabber configuration and camera set-up utility plus a suite of image processing tools including a series of highly optimized basic image processing functions, Blob Analysis and Calibration tools.

Image Processing Primitives

Filters: including convolution, low/high pass, 1D, 2D, Laplacian, Gaussian, edge and line detection, and more
Geometry: flipping, transposition, translation, rotation, zooming, shearing, warping, and more
Measurement: statistics, histograms, projections, differencing, regressions, cross-correlations, variance and more
Morphology: dilation, erosion, opening and closing, filters, gradients, and more
Point-to-point: arithmetic and logical operations, thresholding, segmentation, edge detection, contrast equaliztion, and more
Transforms: Fourier, DCT, DHT, Hough
Miscellaneous: sub-pixel edge crossing, contour following, frame averaging
See brochure for complete list

Blob Analysis

Blob Analysis segments objects in a scene from the background and computes geometric and grayscale features. Ideal for defect detection in electronic and semiconductor industries
Supports 1-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, binary or grayscale input
Supports infinite frame size when using line scan cameras
Supports hardware accelerated blob analysis operations
Spatial and grayscale blob features
Blob centroid, area, and perimeter length
Bounding box location and size, number of holes
Best-fitting oriented ellipse with axes lengths
Blob roundness and elongation
Convex area and solidity (ratio of net area to convex area)
Feret diameters, bounding box location, size and orientation
External and internal perimeter points, filled area
Minimum, maximum, standard deviation of all pixels
Gray scale centroid
Sorting and blob selection based on calculated feature
Robust automatic threshold algorithms
Optional output of RLE (Run-Length-Encoding) for user-defined feature calculations
See brochure for complete list

Calibration

Compensation for geometrical distortions
Lens distortion
Postitioning distortion
Any arbitrary image distortion
See brochure for complete list