Atmel M2CL2014 Timing Problem

[KennyTao]

I'm running a Atmel M2CL2014 with a NI 1428 card and I have custom software that routes the camera TTL to a BNC output so I can time other devices using the camera's internal TTL during free run mode. I'm trying to run the camera at the max speed possible (20us integration time advertised and 36us integration time using the NI icd). However, looking at the internal TTL of the camera during free run I see that the high time for each integration period is 50us with a 5-7us delay time between periods. The delay time is what is advertised in the 2014 datasheet, however, the datasheet also shows a minimum high time of 1us. Since my operating frequency is limited by the high time to ~18kHz line rate now instead of the 50kHz i want, is there a way to change that parameter in the .icd file or is that 1us minimum for the high time only available for external timing modes only?

[allen_h]

Hello KennyTao,

I found the data sheet for the Atmel M2 CL 2014 online and took a look at it.  I believe you were looking at Table 3 on page 6 when you said that the minimum high time is 1us.

If you look closer, the 1 you saw in that the table is not saying the minimum integration time is 1us.  The 1 actually refers to Note 1 below the table, which says “the integration time is set by the serial line and should be higher than the read-out time (otherwise it is adjusted to the readout time)".  So in this case, it looks like the minimum integration time in Free Run mode is 36us (as indicated in MAX when you select this camera file).

In External Trigger mode, the minimum integration time is 5us.

Atmel M2 CL 2014 Data Sheet
http://www.atmel.com/dyn/resources/prod_documents/doc2160.pdf

Allen H.

[KennyTao]

Hi Allen,

Yea, I saw that too and I just interpreted that as saying during free run, the readout time is around 36us. In either case, I still can't get the camera to run at 36us integration time in free run. Like I said, anything under 50us integration time isn't getting any faster since the high time is still 50us. I'm just wondering how I'm supposed to adjust that high time because just adjusting integration time isn't doing it.

[allen_h]

Hello KennyTao,

The 1428 is simply sending serial commands to the Atmel camera.  You might want to contact Atmel to determine what the camera might be actually doing after it receives this serial command that sets the integration time to 36us.  Also, you should also find out if that TTL line you are measuring is in fact the integration time.

Allen H.