PicPort^®-Mono

Monochrome video image acquisition board for PCI and CompactPCI bus with various sync modes, asynchronous acquisition and support for nonstandard video sources.

2. Main features

Note: Because most features are same for the cards of both, PicPort^®-Mono and PicPort^®-Stereo families, all the compatible chapters are marked «(M/S)» for your convenience.

Image acquisition and manipulation

The following text describes the image data flow through the PicPort^®-Mono digitizing and preprocessing electronic circuits. All the operations are performed in real time.

Input format (M/S)

PicPort^®-Mono accepts image resolutions up to 2048×2048, 2:1 interlaced or noninterlaced mode, pixel shape in accordance with CCIR601 or square, from standard CCIR or RS170 (EIA) sources.
Moreover, for PicPort^®-Mono, most nonstandard cameras can be simply adjusted by an easy to use Camera Editor application, which lets you set all the necessary parameters as video norm, color coding, image resolution, sync type and other.

Digitization

The input image first reaches the Image Digitizer (see also Architecture), which consists of two major parts. The first one, an AD converter, assures real time conversion of input analog video image to digital 8-bit monochrome image data at sampling rate of up to 20 MHz. The resulting video data stream is of the best studio quality, no further sharpness adjustment is needed.

Tonal corrections

By means of Tonal Corrector, the second part of each Image Digitizer, you can adjust further digitization parameters via software. PicPort^®-Mono digitizer possesses freely programmable 256×8-bit input LUT for real time contrast and binarization adjustments; lower and upper conversion threshold can be defined as well (gain and offset setting).

Downscaling and mirroring (M/S)

Image scaling and mirroring are operations performed by the Pixel Stream Manager. The range of functionality depends on the data path (DMA channel) currently used (see Architecture). DMA channel A with its High Performance Scaler offers interpolating scaling down to 40×40 pixels and horizontal or/and vertical mirroring. Due to the usage of mathematical interpolation methods, independently along both x and y axes, the resulting image is preserved from any significant detail loss.
On the other side, when simpler DMA channel B is used, only vertical mirroring and 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 vertical and/or 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 1:8 horizontal independent downscaling by skipping pixels is available.

Full color overlay (M/S)

The image data (flowing through the DMA channel A in PicPort^®'s Pixel Stream Manager) can be overlaid by text or graphics of any desired shape. The PicPort^® boards feature the possibility of defining a special 1-bit write protection mask (Lock Mask), allowing to lock desired pixels in video or main memory against rewriting. In fact, the Lock Mask is a compressed bitmap with same dimensions as the processed image and 1-bit pixel depth (1 = rewriting permitted, 0 = rewriting forbidden).
Such approach brings along several advantages when compared to conventional overlay techniques: The Lock Mask bitmap (or its part) can be drawn up using standard Windows GDI drawing functions. Further on, the data of the live video image and of the superimposed text or graphics are actually in the same memory; no additionally «overlay» memory is thus needed on the card and the superimposing graphics has exactly the same bit depth as the live image (and not only 2 or 4 bits as usual for overlay memories).

Color model conversion (M/S)

The last constituent of the Pixel Stream Manager's data path A, Pixel Packer and Color Space Converter, executes conversion of the digitized video data to desired color model.
The original color model (8-bit monochrome), used by the board video digitization, can be converted to RGB or monochrome target models with various color depths and bit uses, as described in the table bellow; the conversion options vary for both DMA channels.
Furthermore, when grayscale images from PicPort^®-Mono are displayed on 8-bit VGA card, the 20 Windows system colors are preserved by means of LUT; 236 grayscale values are thus represented on the card.

Original format	DMA	Target format	Bit use
monochrome, 8-bit	A & B	Y8, packed	8-bit luminance
monochrome, 8-bit	A & B	Y2, packed	2-bit luminance
monochrome, 8-bit	A & B	Y1, packed	1-bit luminance
monochrome, 8-bit	A	αRGB, 32-bit	8-8-8-8
monochrome, 8-bit	A	RGB, 24-bit packed	8-8-8
monochrome, 8-bit	A	RGB, 16-bit	5-6-5
monochrome, 8-bit	A	αRGB, 15-bit	1-5-5-5
monochrome, 8-bit	A	RGαB, 15-bit	5-5-1-5
monochrome, 8-bit	A	RGB, 8-bit	3-3-2

Data transfer

The digitized and preprocessed data are transferred using two independent DMA channels directly to the CPU and/or video memory. Directly here stands for no on board intermediate storage and for no (or in fact minimal) CPU intervention. This allows other simultaneous processing. The board acts as a PCI bus master allowing transfers (without requiring continuous host intervention) at peak rates of up to 132 MB/s - real time transfer for all acquisition modes.

The PicPort^® interface supports PCI Standard Rev. 2.1. To assure full hardware performance, also mainboard and graphic adapter should be PCI Standard Rev. 2.1 compliant. Please check latest HW equipment recommendations and test results.

Synchronization (M/S)

PicPort^®-Mono models are able to work in five different synchronization modes or in asynchronous mode.

Unique easy to use Camera Editor allows user to set up all synchronization parameters: the type of sync signal input or output (composite, vertical, horizontal, pixel clock), termination impedance, upper and lower signal level, polarity, sync pulse width.

Because Microsoft Windows is not a real time operating system and it can not properly handle time critical tasks such as asynchronous camera reset, the PicPort^® cards are equipped with an on board controller RPS to manage such operations independently of the host processor and all other activities on the PC. Possible synchronization modes are:

Slave H/V

Besides the image signal, PicPort^®-Mono accepts horizontal synchronizing pulses (which signal and force reading new image line) and vertical synchronizing pulses (new field/frame) from camera or other external device. The signals are used to control internal timing of the board by means of PLL/VCO (a circuit controlling grabber’s timing in accordance to external sync information). The pixel clock rate may be freely programmed within certain limits, however this affects the resulting aspect ratio, i.e. the ratio width to height of the image - higher clock rate implies more pixels in every line and thus wider image.
Instead of two H-sync and V-sync signals, single Common-sync signal can be used.

Slave from CVBS

Similar as Slave H/V, but the necessary horizontal and vertical synchronizing information is decoded from the incoming camera's composite CVBS video signal. By other words no separate sync signal is needed and «Slave from CVBS» is thus the simplest possible synchronization mode.

Slave, pixel synchronized

Another slave mode, but in this case the board accepts also the pixel clock signal (defining sampling rate for reading individual pixels), which is used for precise timing of video digitization. This technique assures 100% compatibility of camera's and board's timing and thus precise mapping of every single camera's pixel to the same storage location every time (with no inaccuracies). As a result, this leads to a high quality noiseless image suitable for measurement applications.
Naturally, the pixel clock rate can not be changed - it is defined by the input clock signal. Only a single camera may be attached in this mode, because the board has to fully adapt itself to the rigid geometry of the camera.

Master

An opposite to the Slave mode. PicPort^®-Mono generates H and V sync signal to control attached camera(s). Now it is the camera which has to conform its timing. When several cameras are synchronized at a time by single PicPort^®-Mono, user application can switch between them during vertical retrace (return time of the scanning beam) without any single image loss. In case of nonsynchronized cameras, the grabber would have to wait for the beginning of next image after switching to another camera and accommodate itself to the camera’s timing. This would cause a certain delay and so loss of some data.

Master, pixel synchronized

Direct opposite of the Slave, Pixel Synchronized mode. Horizontal, vertical sync and pixel clock signals are now generated by the card and used by camera for accommodation. Multiple cameras can thus be used in this mode.

Asynchronous reset

When working with cameras supporting asynchronous operation, PicPort^®-Mono can freely control the starting point of image readout as needed. Trigger signal, supplied by external device via optoisolated connector, can initiate new image scanning at any time in dependence on user application current status. Additional signals (e.g. for igniting a strobe) can be synchronously generated by PicPort^®-Mono.

I/O connector configurations

Leutron Vision provides the PicPort^®-Mono boards in versatile connector configurations to comply many special application needs. Bellow we outline a short description of all the models. Please check full pin wiring schemes description of all the multiconnectors if necessary.

Universal camera connector, Trigger I/O of PicPort^®-Mono (M/S)

Because all the PicPort^®-Mono models feature the same female HDsub 15-pin camera connector and a 16-pin terminal strip connector for trigger input/output, we'll describe them in a separate chapter.
The Universal Camera Connector possesses 2 video inputs, sync, clock i/o and +12 VDC/950 mA camera power supply.
The other common connector serves as input and output for trigger signals, which can be used to synchronize your application software with external devices or to synchronize directly the board timing or camera's scanning process in accordance to these external signals. All the inputs/outputs are optoelectronically separated to facilitate safe and easy utilization of the boards in industrial environment.

PicPort^®-Mono

Three or four standard female BNC connectors allow to connect up to 4 image sources (one digitized at a time). As the BNC cables transmit only the video signal, the connected cameras can not be intersynchronized. The board works just in «Slave from CVBS» synchronization mode.

Connector scheme of PicPort^®-Mono/Mono-H4

PicPort^®-Mono-H4

The only, but crucial difference to PicPort^®-Mono is that the 4 image inputs are female Hirose sockets (compatible with SONY XC-75 cameras). Hirose 12-pin cable enables transmission of synchronizing signals(including pixel clock), so that the board can operate in all sync modes. Because all the connected cameras can be intersynchronized, switching among them may be performed without any image loss during vertical retrace. The cameras are also powered from the board with up to 12 V/225 mA per camera.

Connector wiring schemes

Different versions of PicPort^®-Mono boards are provided with different connector interfaces (as described in previous sub-chapter). The pin wiring schemes of all the connectors are described below.

Note: You can identify the version number of your PicPort^®-Mono from label sticked on the back side of the board.

Universal camera connector (different for standard PCI bus and for CompactPCI bus models)

15-pin (HD-sub) version for standard PCI bus boards:

Pin	Signal
5	Video 0 Input, Signal; shared with BNC0 or Hirose0 1)
10	Video 1 Input, Signal; shared with BNC0 or Hirose0 1)
15	Video 0 & 1, Ground
9	C/HSync Input, TTL
13	Vsync Input, TTL
3	Cblank Input, TTL
2	PClk Input, TTL
12	C/HSync Output, TTL
7	Vsync Output, TTL
11	Cblank Output, TTL
1	PClk Output (pos), RS422
6	PClk Output (neg), RS422
14	reserved 2)
4	+12 VDC/700 mA, protected (9601.1) 950 mA (9601.2 and higher)
8	Ground
case	Ground

¹⁾ Shared means that the same signal is available on both connectors. Only one connector can be used at the time.
²⁾ Customers who are manufacturing their own camera cable must short pin 14 to pin 8 (Ground) inside the DSub male connector!
12-pin (Hirose) version for CompactPCI bus boards:

Pin	Signal
3	Video 0 input, Signal; shared with BNC0 or Hirose0 1)
4	Video 1 input, Signal; shared with BNC1 or Hirose1 1)
5	C/HSync input, TTL
12	VSync input, TTL
10	PClk input, TTL
6	C/HSync output, TTL
7	VSync output, TTL
9	PClk output (pos), RS422
8	PClk output (neg), RS422
11	reserved 2)
2	+12 VDC/950 mA, protected
1	Ground
case	Ground

¹⁾ Shared means that the same signal is available on both connectors. Only one connector can be used at the time.
²⁾ Customers who are manufacturing their own camera cable must short pin 14 to pin 1 (Ground) inside the DSub male connector!

Optocoupler I/O (all PicPort^®-Mono models)

Pin 1)	Pin 2)	Signal
3	2	Optocoupler Input A0 + 5 V Anode
5	3	Optocoupler Input A1 + 24 V Anode
7	4	Optocoupler Input K Cathode (signal ground)
6	11	Optocoupler Output Emitter
4	10	Optocoupler Output Collector
1	1	TAP 5 V, External Power Supply
2	9	TAP 24 V, External Power Supply
10	13	+5 V power (for test purpose only)
15	8	+12 V power (for test purpose only)
12	14	Common Ground (+5/12 V)
8	12	reserved, do not connect
9	5	reserved, do not connect
11	6	reserved, do not connect
13	7	reserved, do not connect
14	15	reserved, do not connect
16	NC	reserved, do not connect

¹⁾ Pin numbers for the 16-pin flatcable connector CO703 on PicPort^®-Mono/Stereo. On the solder side of the board you can see, that one of the 16 pins has a square shape, the rest has circle shapes. The one with square shape is pin 1.
²⁾ Pin numbers for the optional female Dsub-15 connector on a PC-slot-bracket.

Hirose camera connectors (PicPort^®-Mono-H4 models)

Pin	I/O 1)	Signal
1	-	Ground
2	O	+12 VDC
3	-	Video in, channel 1; Ground
4	I	Video in, channel 1; Signal
5	-	Hsync, Ground
6	O	Hsync, Signal
7	O	Vsync, Signal
8	-	Pixel clock in/out, Ground
9	O	Pixel clock in/out, Signal
10	-	Ground
11	O	+12 VDC
12	-	Vsync, Ground

¹⁾ I means Input to PicPort^®, O stands for Output from PicPort^®.

3. Comprehensive specifications

Note: The following table tries to describe all known features and parameters of the framegrabber. When a times mark (×) is filled in a cell, it means that the board doesn't employ accordant feature or specifying such parameter doesn't make any sense for this board.

4. Complementary and related products

Supporting software

Comprehensive set of software tools consisting of video capture libraries and image processing libraries; Windows 98 compatible. Please check especially the following ones:

Daisy

Video capture library of LV-SDS (Software Development Suite). Object oriented library of functions controlling all features of PicPort^® boards.

Camera editor

An easy-to-use application enabling user to connect one of many predefined video sources or specify another, even nonstandard one.

Real-time Image Sequencer

Allows acquiring image sequences to the CPU memory.

Cameras for use with PicPort^®-Mono

Leutron Vision offers wide range of industrial CCD cameras. The best suited for work with PicPort^®-Mono are:

LV-75/75CE

High resolution camera, various shutter modes, restart/reset capability, field/frame integration.

SONY XC-75/75CE

Similar to LV-75/75CE.

LV-95

High speed partial scanning camera (up to 360 fps), compatible with LV-75.

LV-1000

Megaresolution (1.3M pixels) progressive scanning camera.

SONY XC-55/55BB

Progressive scanning camera with a single-channel output; remote head version is available.

LV-65/65CE

Low cost camera with high resolution and standard electronic shutter.

Correspondent cables

Related framegrabbers

PicPort^®-Stereo

Fully compatible board with PicPort^®-Mono, but with second digitizing channel allowing simultaneous acquisition from two synchronized cameras or from a dual-channel camera.

PicPort^®-Color

Low cost framegrabber providing studio quality digitization and preprocessing of color video image.

5. Ordering information