-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TdqWgDmOSi+o4DcYtiTn8Zbkb1zAIidthby2HxkjiXPvRmrm4gv7qsh+bBxRk4l0
 vmFE5A4SOpB6mZE9Y2g6dg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001013816-04-000600.txt : 20040913
<SEC-HEADER>0001013816-04-000600.hdr.sgml : 20040913
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040913163557
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001013816-04-000600
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040913
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040913

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOWE JONATHAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001284820

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08623
		FILM NUMBER:		041027829

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS, INC.
		STREET 2:		486 AMHERST STREET
		CITY:			NASHUA
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03063

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000225868
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				112400145
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		486 AMHERST STREET
		CITY:			NASHUA
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03063
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(603) 598-8400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		486 AMHERST STREET
		CITY:			NASHUA
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03063

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SOLID PHOTOGRAPHY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19810819
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4_howe-91304ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000225868</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RVSI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001284820</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOWE JONATHAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ROBOTIC VISION SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>486 AMHERST STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASHUA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03063</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>162</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1782</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person was issued shares in lieu of cash for a Board of Directors meeting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jonathan Howe</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----