IMAQ snap for Pulnix TM-6701AN

[FilipTTI]

Hello,

I am currently using the TM-6701AN camera at 60 Hz with a frame grabber in Labview (IMAQ
vision) without any problem. This means: I can use IMAQ snap, acquire sequences etc... When I switch the camera (with the switch on the camera itself) to Double scan mode (120 Hz) or any other mode  than the Normal mode(100 line scan, 200 line scan mode), the acquisition does not work (Labview gives the timeout error :IMAQ Snap returns Error "-1074397150 at IMAQ Snap.vi wait timed out - acquisition not complete". ). What
settings do I have to change to get acquisition in -for instance- 120 Hz Double scan mode?

Thanks,

Filip

[J.R.]

Hi FilipTTI,

When you "play" with a camera with the driver IMAQ, there is a camera file that's containing all the settings of your camera that is called.

But if you change the settings with a hardware switch, the configuration of your camera file is out of date and then need to update this file.

Hope this help.

Regards,

[J.R.]

Sorry this is the proper link

[FilipTTI]

Hi,

Ok, so I need a camera file (.ICD file). Unfortunately the Pulnix TM-6701AN is an obsolete model, and I have difficulties in finding the appropriate files. I also cannot run the camera file generator from NI because I have the version 3.1 of NI IMAQ (too old). What can you suggest that I do? Does anyone have the .ICD files that I need? Can I perhaps change the file that I have (for the 60 Hz mode) too a file that works for the 120 Hz mode?

In attachment is the .ICD file that works for the 60 Hz mode (I need the version that works for the 120 Hz mode)

Sincerely,

Filip

[J.R.]

Hi Filip,

I was in contact with US to have more infos. And they are some questions about your camera and what you want to do with it.

This issue is a matter of looking to see what the expected pixel, HSYNC, and VSYNC clocks are needed for 120 Hz progressive scan.  In order to determine if the framegrabber is capable of doing this, some information on what the customer is expecting to do needs to be known:

What pixel clock rate are they expecting to use?

What acquisition window and bit depth are they going to have?

Can they get any documentation for their camera?

By the way, the camera file generator is for digital cameras only, and will not be of use for this case.

If the framegrabber cannot support an internal pixel clock rate that they need, then they will have to provide the pixel clock to the framegrabber.  Is this functionality available for their camera?

Regards,

[FilipTTI]

Hello,

In the pulnix TM-6701AN manual (attached below) I find:

*What pixel clock rate are they expecting to use? 25.49MHz

*What acquisition window and bit depth are they going to have?

Actually there are 4 modes : (As I said, the normal mode works fine, with bit depth 10)

  *Normal mode : 60 Hz non-interlace VGA format (648 x 484)
  *120 Hz : 242 vertical lines (combining each two rows) non-interlace video (648 x 242)
  *130 Hz : 200 vertical lines(648 x 200)
  *222 Hz : 100 vertical lines (648 x 100)

*documentation for this camera? See Attachement below.

*I cannot answer to your final question : "If the framegrabber cannot support an internal pixel clock rate that they need, then they will have to provide the pixel clock to the framegrabber.  Is this functionality available for their camera?" Maybe you can find this information in the manual?

Thanks in advance!

Filip

[J.R.]

Hi Filip,

Sorry to come back so late. I was giving courses for the two previous weeks.

this is the reply I received from the US :

I have an update on this issue.  I spoke with R&D about the feasibility of acquiring images from an analog camera at 120 Hz, and the consensus was that as long as the image data coming from the camera follows one of the standards (RS-170, CCIR, NTSC, etc) then there should be no problems acquiring the images at these rates.  A couple of things to compensate for in the camera file is the maximum image size property, and the acquisition window size. 

Have the customer adjust the maximagesize() property to the vertical height of the expected smaller images.  I believe this was 242 rows.  Then in MAX, set the acquisition window to something smaller than this, say 100 rows for testing purposes.  See if the customer can acquire images in this fashion.  Note that the VSYNC, HSYNC, and pixel clock will have to be supplied to the card at the rate that is necessary for 120 Hz acquisition.

regards,

[FilipTTI]

Hi,

One of these days I will recieve the necessary cables to connect the VSYNC and HSYNC information from the camera to the NI card. With your latest information I am confident that it will work. As soon as I have some news I will reply.

Filip

[FilipTTI]

Hi Julien,

I'm back with good news 🙂

As you suggested, I adjusted the maximagesize() property in the camera file, and everything works! I never thought it were that simple 🙂

I am very happy that it finally works. Thank you very much for your good advice,

Best regards,

Filip

[FilipTTI]

Hi, I'm back again

I'm affraid that I jumped to conclusions too quickly. So basically, I did not succeed in acquiring 120Hz images yet.

I am a little bit confused by the previous reply by Julien, where in the last sentence it says "Note that the VSYNC, HSYNC and pixel clock have to be supplied to the card at the rate that is necessary for 120 Hz acsuisition".Does this mean that a camera file alone is NOT enough to make an 120Hz acquisition?

All together I see 2 possible solutions :

1) The problem is the camera file : in 60 Hz mode (VGA) the camera file works well. When I switch the camera to 120 Hz mode, the video signal changes, but the framegrabber gives a timeout error. Can I adjust the camera file so that the framegrabber knows the signal is 120Hz?

2) The problem is the need of PCLK, VSYNC and HSYNC input : If the framegrabber really needs these signals from the camera in order to make an acquisition, possibly I have a problem : I tested the signals coming out of the camera and apparently none of the cables provides PCLK, VSYNC or HSYNC signals...

Best regards,

Filip