Using a Firewire converter with Vision Builder AI

[JLE]

Hello,

In our company we are in need of machine vision solution for a particular problem. Since no-one of our team has any experience with machine vision or programming, we decided to try out some ready-to-use machine vision software packages. Based on tests carried out on sample images, we decided that Vision Builder AI was most tailored to our needs.

However, we encountered some compatibility problems with our available hardware. Our Leutron Picport framegrabber, which came with our analog camera, isn't supported in VBAI. However, in one of our other departments we use analog to Firewire converters (http://www.theimagingsource.com/en/products/converters/dfg13941e/overview/). These output uncompressed video. Can we use these converters in Vision Builder AI (as a digital Firewire camera)?  The converters come with a Labview driver, but does this also mean that they are supported under VBAI?

Thanks in advance,

Jo Laveyne

Message Edited by JLE on 02-12-2007 08:40 AM

[JohannS]

Jo

There are different types of FireWire Video streaming protocols: IIDC (also known as DCAM), DV, and proprietary. Vision Builder AI has support for the DCAM specification. Unless the converter box supports the DCAM specification, there will be no way acquire images in Vision Builder AI. I cannot tell for certain, but it seems the converter box you are looking at has a proprietary format.

Have you considered getting a FireWire camera for this application? There are many relatively inexpensive FireWire cameras available. See this list of available DCAM cameras.

Hope this helps,

Johann

[JLE]

Thanks for coming back on this.

We discussed the issue and we think it will be best to buy a new Firewire camera. That way, we can still use our old camera/framegrabber solution for other manual inspections.
Since we dont really need a high-res camera, we were thinking about something like this camera: http://www.alliedvisiontec.com/produktinfos.html?t=produktinfos&o=70&a=selectid . Although it states that the interface is IIDC V1.31 compliant, it isn't in your supported camera list (Industrial Camera Advisor). Can i be sure that this camera will work with VB AI based on the IIDC V1.31 compliance alone?

Cheers,

Jo Laveyne

[oliver.guennel]

The Guppy would be a great choice, we have checked all Guppies with the NI software and had no compatibility problems.
One advantage of the NI driver with the color versions of this series is the diver-built-in debayering.
We will talk to NI to adapt the Advisor asap to be filled with all missing AVT cameras.