Cognex Expands Vision Sensor Family With Three New High-Performance Models; New In-Sight 4000 Series Extends Product Family to Nine Models.

Business/Technology Editors

NATICK, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 18, 2002

Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX), the world's leading supplier of machine vision systems, announced today that it has added three models to its award-winning family of In-Sight vision sensors. The new In-Sight(TM) 4000 Series vision sensors offer speed improvements of up to 5x over previous In-Sight models, setting a new standard of high performance, low-cost vision. Additionally, each sensor features dual processors to enable simultaneous, dedicated vision processing and network communications. The Series consists of the following new models:

- In-Sight 4000 - an ultra-high performance vision sensor offering fast frame
rates and accelerated vision tool performance.

- In-Sight 4001 - a high resolution (1024 x 768) version of the In-Sight 4000
for applications that require increased resolution for inspecting small
objects, or capturing images of larger parts.

- In-Sight 4100 - a compact, remote head camera (1.25" L x 1.25" D) version of
the In-Sight 4000. Ideal for applications where a small and/or lightweight
camera head is required, or for harsh industrial environments where protection
from dust and wash down is necessary.

"The In-Sight 4000 Series is significant for a number of reasons," said Justin Testa, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Cognex. "First, by offering accelerated performance, it will broaden the range of high-speed applications that can be solved with a low-cost product. Secondly, its dual-processing architecture provides maximum vision performance, even in network-intensive applications such as remote process monitoring. Finally, the new 4000 Series expands our ever-growing vision sensor family to nine models, with sensors to handle everything from color inspection to high-accuracy gauging to automatic ID. This makes In-Sight the most comprehensive line of vision sensors currently available."

Like other In-Sight vision sensors, each In-Sight 4000 Series sensor is equipped with built-in Ethernet communications, a full library of proven Cognex vision tools for locating, inspecting, measuring, and identifying parts, and a spreadsheet interface for fast, easy application set up. In-Sight 4000 Series sensors can be easily integrated with PC-based factory automation devices via Ethernet communications, and with PLCs on the factory floor via EtherNet/IP, DeviceNet, ModBus, and ProfiBus communications.

In-Sight 4000 vision sensors are equipped with all vision software tools pre-installed. A number of optional In-Sight-compatible accessories are available including LED-based lighting modules, an Ethernet workstation, network gateway modules, and industrial camera enclosures.

In-Sight 4000 Series sensors will be available in April 2002.

Cognex Corporation designs, develops, manufactures, and markets machine vision systems, or computers that can "see." Cognex is the world's leader in the machine vision industry, having shipped more than 150,000 machine vision systems, representing over $1 billion in cumulative revenue, since the company's founding in 1981. Cognex's Modular Vision Systems Division, headquartered in Natick, Massachusetts, specializes in machine vision systems which are used for automating the manufacture of a wide range of discrete items and for assuring their quality. Cognex's Surface Inspection Systems Division, headquartered in Alameda, California, specializes in machine vision systems which are used for inspecting the surfaces of products manufactured in a continuous fashion, such as metals, paper, nonwovens, and plastics. In addition to its corporate headquarters in Natick, Massachusetts, Cognex also has regional offices located throughout North America, Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Visit Cognex on-line at http://www.cognex.com.