IMAQ TM IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428 User Manual High-Quality Camera Link Image Acquisition Device for PCI and PXI IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428 User Manual June 2004 Edition Part Number 322862D-01
Support Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information ni.
Important Information Warranty The IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428 is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to be defective during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.
Compliance Compliance with FCC/Canada Radio Frequency Interference Regulations Determining FCC Class The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules to protect wireless communications from interference. The FCC places digital electronics into two classes. These classes are known as Class A (for use in industrial-commercial locations only) or Class B (for use in residential or commercial locations). All National Instruments (NI) products are FCC Class A products.
Conventions The following conventions are used in this manual: <> Angle brackets that contain numbers separated by an ellipsis represent a range of values associated with a bit or signal name—for example, DIO<3..0>. » The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options from the last dialog box.
Contents Chapter 1 Introduction About the IMAQ 1428 ...................................................................................................1-1 Camera Link ..................................................................................................................1-2 Overview .........................................................................................................1-2 Software Overview ...........................................................................................
Contents Start Conditions............................................................................................... 3-5 Acquisition Window Control .......................................................................... 3-5 Serial Interface ................................................................................................ 3-5 Chapter 4 Signal Connections Connectors.....................................................................................................................
1 Introduction This chapter provides an overview of the IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428 image acquisition device, the Camera Link standard, Camera Link and IMAQ 1428 interfacing guidelines, and your software programming choices. About the IMAQ 1428 The IMAQ 1428 is a highly flexible image acquisition (IMAQ) device that supports a diverse range of Camera Link-compatible cameras from various camera companies.
Chapter 1 Introduction The RTSI bus uses the National Instruments RTSI bus interface and ribbon cable to route additional timing and trigger signals between the PCI-1428 and up to four National Instruments DAQ, motion control, or IMAQ devices. The RTSI bus can also synchronize multiple IMAQ hardware captures. The RTSI bus is integrated into the PXI system’s backplane for the PXI-1428. For detailed specifications of the IMAQ 1428, refer to Appendix A, Specifications.
Chapter 1 Introduction Software Overview Programming the IMAQ 1428 requires the NI-IMAQ driver software for controlling the hardware. National Instruments also offers the following application software packages for analyzing and processing your acquired images. • Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (AI)—Allows you to configure solutions to common inspection tasks. • National Instruments Vision Development Module—Provides customized control over hardware and algorithms.
Chapter 1 Introduction National Instruments Application Software This section describes the National Instruments application software packages you can use to analyze and process the images you acquire with the IMAQ 1428. Vision Builder for Automated Inspection NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (AI) is configurable machine vision software that you can use to prototype, benchmark, and deploy applications.
Chapter 1 Introduction NI Vision Assistant is included with the Vision Development Module. Vision Assistant is an interactive prototyping tool for machine vision and scientific imaging developers. With Vision Assistant, you can prototype vision applications quickly and test how various vision image processing functions work. Vision Assistant generates a Builder file, which is a text description containing a recipe of the machine vision and image processing functions.
2 Installation This chapter contains a list of necessary and optional items for getting started acquiring images with the IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428. This chapter also explains how to unpack, configure, and install the IMAQ 1428.
Chapter 2 Installation Optional Equipment National Instruments offers a variety of products for use with the IMAQ 1428, including the following: • IMAQ D6804 breakout cable used for external triggering only. This cable provides BNC connectivity to the four external trigger lines on the 68-pin VHDCI connector. • IMAQ D6826 breakout cable used for medium configuration and external triggering.
Chapter 2 Installation Safety Information The following paragraphs contain important safety information you must follow when installing and operating the device. Caution Do not operate the device in a manner not specified in the documentation. Misuse of the device may result in a hazard and may compromise the safety protection built into the device. If the device is damaged, turn it off and do not use it until service-trained personnel can check its safety.
Chapter 2 Installation Clean the device and accessories by brushing off light dust with a soft, nonmetallic brush. Remove other contaminants with a stiff, nonmetallic brush. The unit must be completely dry and free from contaminants before returning it to service. You must insulate signal connections for the maximum voltage for which the device is rated. Do not exceed the maximum ratings for the device. Remove power from signal lines before connection to or disconnection from the device.
Chapter 2 Installation • Installation Category III is for measurements performed in the building installation at the distribution level. This category refers to measurements on hard-wired equipment such as equipment in fixed installations, distribution boards, and circuit breakers. Other examples are wiring, including cables, bus-bars, junction boxes, switches, socket-outlets in the fixed installation, and stationary motors with permanent connections to fixed installations.
Chapter 2 Installation ♦ 4. Touch a metal part on the computer case to discharge any static electricity that might be on your clothes or body before handling the PCI-1428. Static electricity can damage the device. 5. Gently rock the PCI-1428 into the slot. The connection may be tight, but do not force the device into place. 6. If required, screw the mounting bracket of the device to the back panel rail of the computer. 7. Replace the cover. 8. Plug in and power on the computer. PXI-1428 1.
Chapter 2 Installation Interfacing with the IMAQ 1428 The Camera Link standard defines physical connections between image acquisition devices and Camera Link cameras, and it allows for flexibility of image format and data transfer protocols. The camera manufacturer defines image parameters, such as image resolution and the number of bits per pixel. Camera control parameters, such as frame-on-demand and exposure control signals, are also defined by the camera manufacturer.
3 Hardware Overview This chapter provides an overview of IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428 hardware functionality and explains the operations of the device’s functional units. Functional Overview The IMAQ 1428 features a flexible, high-speed data path optimized for receiving and formatting video data from Camera Link cameras. Figure 3-1 illustrates the key functional components of the IMAQ 1428.
Chapter 3 Hardware Overview Camera Link and IMAQ 1428 The IMAQ 1428 supports the Camera Link Base configuration as well as the 8-bit × 4 mode of the Camera Link Medium configuration. Base Configuration The Camera Link Base configuration places 24 data bits and four enable signals (Frame Valid, Line Valid, Data Valid, and a spare) on a single Channel Link part and cable.
Chapter 3 Hardware Overview LUTs The IMAQ 1428 offers lookup tables (LUTs) that can perform operations such as contrast enhancement, data inversion, gamma manipulation, or other nonlinear transfer functions. The LUT fully supports any 8-bit to 16-bit base or medium configuration supported by the IMAQ 1428. Refer to the Camera Link and IMAQ 1428 section for more information on supported Camera Link configurations.
Chapter 3 Hardware Overview High-Speed Timing Built from high-speed counters, the high-speed timing circuitry on the IMAQ 1428 can generate precise real-time control signals for your camera. Map the output of this circuitry to a trigger line to provide accurate pulses and pulse trains. Use these control signals to control exposure time and frame rate. For your convenience, the external control for cameras that support the IMAQ 1428 has been preprogrammed into the camera file.
Chapter 3 Hardware Overview Start Conditions The IMAQ 1428 can start acquisitions in the following ways: • Software control—The IMAQ 1428 supports software control of acquisition start. You can configure the IMAQ 1428 to capture a fixed number of frames. This configuration is useful for capturing a single frame or a sequence of frames. • Trigger control—You can start an acquisition by enabling external or RTSI bus trigger lines.
Chapter 3 Hardware Overview You can use the serial interface interactively with MAX and clsercon.exe, or programmatically with LabVIEW and C. Interactively: • MAX—Use MAX with a camera file containing preprogrammed commands. When an acquisition is initiated, the commands are sent to the camera. • clsercon.exe—Use National Instruments terminal emulator for Camera Link, clsercon.exe, if a camera file with preprogrammed serial commands does not exist for your camera. With clsercon.
4 Signal Connections This chapter describes the MDR 26-pin connector and the 68-pin VHDCI connector on the IMAQ 1428 device. Connectors Figure 4-1 shows the connectors on the IMAQ 1428 device. NI PXI-1428 CAMERA LINK TRIGGERS 2 1 1 MDR 26-Pin Connector TRIGGERS 1 CAMERA LINK Image Acquisition 2 2 68-Pin VHDCI Connector Figure 4-1.
Chapter 4 Signal Connections MDR 26-Pin Connector The MDR 26-pin connector provides reliable high-frequency transfer rates between the camera and the acquisition device. To access this connector, use a 3M Camera Link cable. For additional information on Camera Link cables, including ordering information and cable lengths, refer to the Camera Link Cables section of Appendix B, Cabling. Figure 4-2 shows the IMAQ 1428 MDR 26-pin connector assignments.
Chapter 4 RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED DGND DGND RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED DGND DGND RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED DGND DGND DGND DGND *CHASSIS_GND RESERVED DGND RESERVED 68 67 66 65 64 63 62 61 60 59 58 57 56 55 54 53 52 51 50 49 48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41 40 39 38 37 36 35 34 33 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Signal Connections RESERVED
Chapter 4 Signal Connections Connector Signal Connection Descriptions Table 4-1 describes the MDR-26 and 68-pin VHDCI signal connections. Table 4-1. I/O Connector Signals Signal Name Description TTL_TRIG<3..0> TTL external triggers/DIO lines (input/output) DGND A direct connection to digital GND on the IMAQ 1428 CHASSIS_GND A direct connection to the computer chassis, which is grounded through the power cord X<3..
A Specifications This appendix lists the specifications of the IMAQ 1428. These specifications are typical at 25 °C, unless otherwise stated. External Connections Number of external trigger I/O lines...... 4 Trigger input Voltage range .................................. 0 to 5 V (TTL) Input high voltage .................... 2.0 V Input low voltage ..................... 0.8 V Polarity............................................ Programmable, active-high or active-low Trigger output Voltage range .........
Appendix A Specifications Clocks Pixel clock frequency range....................20 to 50 MHz Note Camera Link cameras must transmit at a minimum of 20 MHz.1 PCI Interface Theoretical max PCI bandwidth .............133 MB/s Memory Onboard memory PCI-1428..........................................16 MB SDRAM PXI-1428 .........................................32 MB SDRAM LUTs .......................................................Four 8-bit; two 10-bit to 16-bit Serial Requirements Baud rates supported ...
Appendix A Specifications Weight PCI-1428 ......................................... 0.127 kg (0.28 lb) PXI-1428......................................... 0.172 kg (0.38 lb) Environment The IMAQ 1428 device is intended for indoor use only. Operating temperature............................ 0 to 55 °C Storage temperature ............................... –20 to 70 °C Maximum altitude .................................. 2,000 m Pollution Degree .................................... 2 Relative humidity ...........
Appendix A Specifications for this product, visit ni.com/hardref.nsf, search by model number or product line, and click the appropriate link in the Certification column. IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428 User Manual A-4 ni.
B Cabling This appendix contains cabling requirements for the IMAQ 1428, including Camera Link cable ordering information. 68-Pin VHDCI Cable Specifications National Instruments offers cables and accessories for connecting to video sources, trigger sources, or synchronization sources. However, if you want to develop your own cable for the 68-pin VHDCI connector, you must use twisted pairs for each signal.
Appendix B Cabling TTL_TRIG (0) RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED GND GND GND RESERVED 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 GND GND RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED RESERVED TTL_TRIG (3) TTL_TRIG (2) TTL_TRIG (1) RESERVED Figure B-2. 25-Pin D-SUB Trigger Connector For information about additional connector pin assignments, refer to the Connectors section of Chapter 4, Signal Connections.
Appendix B Cabling Figure B-3 illustrates the Camera Link cable. 1 2 1 MDR 26-Pin Male Plug 2 2X Thumbscrews Figure B-3. Camera Link Cable Ordering Information Camera Link cables are manufactured by 3M corporation and are available from both National Instruments and 3M. Two-meter Camera Link cables (part number 187676-02) are available from the National Instruments Web site at ni.com/catalog. Camera Link cables are available in 1 to 10 m lengths from the 3M Web site at www.3m.com.
Technical Support and Professional Services C Visit the following sections of the National Instruments Web site at ni.com for technical support and professional services: • Support—Online technical support resources at ni.
Appendix C Technical Support and Professional Services If you searched ni.com and could not find the answers you need, contact your local office or NI corporate headquarters. Phone numbers for our worldwide offices are listed at the front of this manual. You also can visit the Worldwide Offices section of ni.com/niglobal to access the branch office Web sites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support phone numbers, email addresses, and current events. IMAQ PCI/PXI-1428 User Manual C-2 ni.
Glossary A acquisition window The image size specific to a video standard or camera resolution. active line region The region of lines actively being stored. Defined by a line start (relative to the vertical synchronization signal) and a line count. active pixel region The region of pixels actively being stored. Defined by a pixel start (relative to the horizontal synchronization signal) and a pixel count. API Application programming interface.
Glossary D DAQ Data acquisition. (1) Collecting and measuring electrical signals from sensors, transducers, and test probes or fixtures and inputting them to a computer for processing. (2) Collecting and measuring the same kinds of electrical signals with A/D or DIO boards plugged into a computer, and possibly generating control signals with D/A and/or DIO boards in the same computer. DMA Direct memory access.
Glossary M mux Multiplexer. A switching device with multiple inputs that selectively connects one of its inputs to its output. N NI-IMAQ Driver software for National Instruments IMAQ hardware. P PCI Peripheral Component Interconnect. A high-performance expansion bus architecture originally developed by Intel to replace ISA and EISA. PCI offers a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 133 Mbytes/s. pixel Picture element.
Glossary ROI Region of interest. A hardware-programmable rectangular portion of the acquisition window. RTSI bus Real-Time System Integration Bus. The National Instruments timing bus that connects IMAQ and DAQ devices directly, by means of connectors on the devices, for precise synchronization of functions. S scatter-gather DMA A type of DMA that allows the DMA controller to reconfigure on-the-fly. SDRAM Synchronous dynamic RAM. T tap A stream of pixels from a camera.
Index Numerics Medium configuration, 3-2 overview, 1-2 CC<4..
Index E interfacing with, 2-7 optional equipment, 2-2 overview and features, 1-1 requirements for getting started, 2-1 software programming choices, 1-3 integration with DAQ, 1-5 National Instruments application software, 1-4 NI-IMAQ driver software, 1-3 Vision and Motion, 1-5 Vision Builder for Automated Inspection, 1-4 Vision Development Module, 1-4 unpacking, 2-2 installation cabling, B-1 68-pin VHDCI cable specifications, B-1 Camera Link cables, B-2 hardware, 2-5 procedure, 2-5 unpacking, 2-2 instrume
Index serial interface, 3-5 serial requirements, A-2 SerTC± signal (table), 4-4 SerTFG± signal (table), 4-4 signal connections, 4-1 connectors 68-pin VHDCI connector, 4-2 IMAQ 1428 connectors (figure), 4-1 MDR 26-pin connector, 4-2 signal descriptions, 4-4 software (NI resources), C-1 software controlled start conditions, 3-5 software programming choices, 1-3 integration with DAQ, 1-5 National Instruments IMAQ Vision, 1-4 NI-IMAQ driver software, 1-3 Vision and Motion, 1-5 Vision Builder for Automated Insp
Index T W technical support, C-1 timing circuitry, high-speed, 3-4 training and certification (NI resources), C-1 trigger control and mapping circuitry, 3-3 trigger controlled start conditions, 3-5 troubleshooting (NI resources), C-1 TTL_TRIG signal (table), 4-4 Web resources, C-1 X X<3..0>± signal (table), 4-4 XCLK± signal (table), 4-4 Y U Y<3..
