Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX) has announced the new DataMan® 302 ID reader designed specifically for solar traceability initiatives. The DataMan 302 features integrated, bank controlled, blue illumination for reading 2-D barcodes on solar photovoltaic (PV) wafers. The high resolution (1280×1024 pixels) image-based ID reader is ideal for decoding the challenging, laser marked, ECC-200 Data Matrix codes used on PV wafers that comply with the SEMI® industry organization standard SEMI PV29-0212, published in February of 2012.
“Renewable energy sectors are rapidly adopting new technologies to increase manufacturing efficiencies. Responding to this need, Cognex is investing in new products that bring the best solutions to our customers in this industry,” says Carl Gerst, Vice President and Business Unit Manager, ID Products. He continues, “The DataMan 302 reader is exactly what solar panel manufacturers need in order to keep pace with changing requirements and the growing need for traceability in the solar industry. The DataMan solar reader can be used to read DPM (Direct Part Mark) codes on PV wafers or thin-film glass panels, making it the most versatile reader for the entire solar industry.”
The DataMan 300 series of image-based industrial ID readers provide the highest read rates and are able to decode multiple codes within one image, even if presented at an angle. The patented 2DMax+TM algorithm can handle variations in code marking, codes with damaged Data Matrix clocking or timing patterns and codes degraded during the manufacturing process.
