An Array of Colors

By Katherine Bonfante, Managing Editor, Digital Media

Autumn and its beautiful colors are finally here. I've been looking forward to this season because I enjoy looking at the fallen leaves and I try to determine their true colors. Sometimes, the leaves are a perfect blend between reds, yellows, oranges and browns—I feel like I need an industrial color sensor device, just to help me decide what color the leaves truly are.

In industrial environments, machine builders and designers might not need color sensors to verify leaves' colors, but this sensing capability is essential for machine vision systems, digital signal processors and product assembly equipment and systems.

To learn more about color sensor technology and to understand the difference between basic and advanced color sensors, read "Color Sensor Selection," written by contributing editor Loren Shaum. The article points out that some sensors can detect variations of the same color, while others evaluate the type of reflected light. If you are wondering what type of color sensors should be used in your particular industrial processes, read this article at www.controldesign.com/ColorSensors to find out more.

When it comes to color sensing needs in industrial machines, knowing what is a priority and what isn't could be difficult. The correct answer to this question depends on the process you try to perform. We asked our experts how much color sensing is necessary for product assembly equipment, and when slow machine vision systems should be replaced by color sensors. Read the answers to these questions in "Color Sensing Needs Should Be Considered When Replacing a Machine Vision System" (www.controldesign.com/MachineVision), and learn from our industry leaders' vision system expertise.

If you are installing color sensors in your machines for the very first time, keeping the sensor installation and its capabilities as simple as possible is critical. Find out in "Seeing the Learning Curve in Color" (www.controldesign.com/ColorCurve), written by Phil Burgert, why simplicity in first-time color-sensor installation is fundamental.

Being color-blind or having a color-blind machine system could be problematic in the industrial packaging world. If the universe were black and white, using photoelectric sensors would be very straightforward, but of course the real world is in full color. "Color-Blind No More," a white paper from Pepperl+Fuchs, explains how contrast and color sensors can open eyes to packaging/converting applications. Read this white paper to learn more at www.controldesign.com/SensorColorBlind.

Enjoy this month's colorful selection of web articles on color sensing technology, and stop by www.controldesign.com to learn more. Don't forget to take some time to admire the fall colors as well.