OMRON FH/FHV series visual sensor controller

After enabling Parallel Execute in the Operation mode setting, the system will automatically allocate processing items of the same type to different CPU cores for parallel execution. But automatic parallelization cannot finely control the splitting points.

Manual parallelization requires the addition of three special processing items in the process:

Parallelize: Mark the start of parallel blocks

Parallelize Task: Define a Task Block

Parallelize End: Mark the end of parallel blocks

The processing units within each task block are independently assigned to a core, and there is no guarantee of execution order between blocks. Therefore, logic that relies on a specific order cannot be written.

2. Parallelization limitations and performance evaluation

The task block cannot contain Camera Image Input processing items (if you need to switch cameras, use Camera Switching).

Cannot access the same file or share data in different task blocks.

Parallelization has a significant effect on the Double Speed Multi input mode (increasing the number of measurements per unit time), but may interfere with the measurement on the running side in the Non stop adjustment mode.

Practical suggestion: During the debugging phase, insert the Elapsed Time processing item, measure the execution time of each unit, and identify bottleneck tasks for parallel splitting. Attention: The post-processing time after parallelization may fluctuate due to core scheduling, and it is necessary to verify it with actual artifacts.

Scenarios and Scene Groups - Flexible Response to Multi Variety Production

1. Scene and Scene Group

Each scenario is a complete measurement process (consisting of processing units). By default, there are a maximum of 128 scenes. If more than 128 scenes are required, scene groups (up to 32 groups, with a maximum of 128 scenes per group) can be used, or the "Conversion scene group data tool" can be used to expand a single group to 1024 scenes.

The scene group data is saved by default in the controller flash memory. If the data volume is too large, it can be changed to be saved to external storage (USB/SD). Set "Save after the next scene group data in the external storage device" in Tool → Scene Group Saving Destination Settings and specify the starting group number.

2. Traps to be aware of when switching scenes

When switching scenes, the BUSY signal will remain ON for a period of time. If the external PLC detection time is too short, you can add "Scene switch time, Add time [ms]" (default 10ms) in the Measurement conditions.

If "Save scene group on switch scene" is selected when switching scenes, data will be written to flash memory, and frequent switching may affect the lifespan. Do not save unless necessary.

In multi line mode, each line independently maintains scene groups, and copying settings uses the Line Maintenance tool.

Image logs and data analysis - a powerful tool for troubleshooting NG

1. Log settings

FH/FHV supports Image Logging and Data Logging. In System settings → Other → Logging settings:

Image logging: Optional None/Only NG/All.

Destination: Save to memory, Save to memory+file (to RAMDisk or USB), Save to memory+FTP Server.

Multiple image logging: When different cameras are called multiple times in the process, set to ON to save all intermediate images.

Memory estimation: The number of log images is limited by the controller model and camera resolution. For example, the FH-5000 series is equipped with a 2MP color CMOS camera, which can store up to approximately 113 images (single camera). If four cameras are connected and multiple image logs are turned on, each measurement can store approximately (113-1)/4=28 images.

2. NG Analyzer - Quickly locate the cause of false positives

The NG Analyzer tool (Tool → NG analyzer) can batch retest saved OK/NG images and calculate the error rate of each processing unit. Operation process:

Prepare two folders, OK and NG, and put them into the corresponding images.

Perform batch measurement, and the system will display detailed data such as correlation coefficient and angle deviation for each unit.

Clicking on the failed image will take you to the parameter setting interface of the corresponding processing unit with just one click, allowing you to fine tune the threshold or region.

Typical scenario: When the lower limit of the correlation coefficient of the Search processing unit is set to 60, but the correlation coefficient of some good product images is only 55, NG Analyzer will highlight these images. At this point, the lower limit can be adjusted to 50, and then batch validation can be repeated until there are no cross judgments.

3. Remote operation and centralized management

Using the Remote Operation Tool (which requires the controller and PC to be on the same network segment, and the controller Remote Operation set to ON), remote editing of processes and monitoring of measurements can be done. Free download of PC software (requires membership registration).

For multiple controllers, Centralized Manager supports batch firmware upgrades, backup/restore settings, and configuration comparison (Compare). The comparison function can highlight the differences in system variables and scene data between two controllers, avoiding fluctuations in production line quality caused by inconsistent parameters.