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Is it possible to display real-time video in a window?
Yes. Video display is achieved though a software technique.
Each of our frame grabbers comes with sample software that
illustrates this technique. You can run our code on your system
and check the speed, and you can also feel free to use our code
as a starting point for your own application.
Whether the display is real-time or not depends on your
processor speed, VGA card, and operating system. In general an 8-bit monochrome image will usually display in real-time
on most modern computers. However, in the case of very large
images or 24-bit color images, the answer is not quite as simple
since the amount of data is much greater.
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Is it possible to display overlay graphics in real time?
The CX100 can be purchased with optional OVERLAY RAM. In that
case, displaying real time graphics depends on the amount
of graphics you want to display and the frequency. If you
want to store a graphic design in overlay once and display
it often, then it can be displayed in real time. Data being
written to overlay RAM is moving across the ISA bus at
one megabyte per second. If the amount of graphics is very
small, then you can probably achieve real time. The graphics
overlay on the CX100 is only available on the video output
connector for display on an external monitor.
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Can the CPU do other things while grabbing frames?
Yes. It is possible to grab frames in the background with
all of our frame grabbers. Our PCI products
(PXR, PXC and PXD) implement a feature that we
call queuing. You can queue up a command such as a grab and
it will execute while your program is doing other
processing.
The CX100, being an older design, does not offer queuing,
but you can achieve the same effect by using the hardware
grab feature.
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Can I put more than one frame grabber in my system?
Yes. You can use multiple copies of all of our products in
the same computer. When there are several boards, your software
will identify each one by a number: 0, 1, 2, 3, etc.
The limit for CX100s is eight. Each board can be set to one of
eight different port addresses.
The limit for PCI products (PXR, PXC and PXD) is the
number of PCI slots in your computer.
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Do your boards have a video output connector?
The CX100 has a BNC connector for connecting analog video to an
external monitor. The CX100 is an ISA frame grabber and will display
either incoming video or the contents of memory in real time on an
external monitor. You can also purchase the CX100 and CX104 with
overlay RAM for drawing graphics or writing text on an external
monitor.
The CX104 (for PC/104 systems) also has video output capabilities
on one of its pins, but it does not use BNC connectors.
None of our PCI boards (PX, PXC, or PXD) have video output
connectors. The PCI boards pipe the video directly into PC
memory in real time without the ability to display it on an
external monitor.
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What is the warranty for Imagenation frame grabbers?
Imagenation frame grabbers have a one year warranty
limited to parts and labor.
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What is the "Optional Control Package" for the
Imagenation PXC200A frame grabber?
The "Optional Control Package" or "F" version of the
Imagenation PXC200A provides more performance characteristics for
multiple camera applications. The F version should be selected over
the L version for applications that require very fast
switching between cameras and/or more camera control.
PXC200AF features:
-Eight separate I/O's, four triggers and four strobes.
-Vertical and horizontal sync out for genlocking a video
source.
-Strobe inhibit during CCD transfer time for reliable capture
with strobes.
-Multiple S-video input capability.
-DC restore on all inputs for fast multiplexing.
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What is included with an Imagenation frame grabber?
Your Imagenation frame grabber purchase comes complete with
the frame grabber card of choice, driver and library software
required to use the frame grabber and an operation manual.
Technical support and service is available at no extra cost.
Image processing software compatibility
can be found on the tech support page.
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Are sample programs with source code included with
Imagenation frame grabbers?
Yes. Every Imagenation frame grabber comes with several source
code examples designed to illustrate important features of the
board. The features covered include initialization, triggering
and real time control of I/O lines. The samples are always
written in the C programming language and are sometimes also
written in Visual Basic. Many of our customers begin their
application development by directly copying code from our samples.
You can download and investigate any sample for any Imagenation
frame grabber regardless of whether you currently own the frame
grabber. Please feel free to do that to get a "feel for the board."
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Are there any complete applications available to be used with
Imagenation frame grabbers?
CyberOptics Semiconductor does not provide complete applications
or image processing software for use with Imagenation frame grabbers.
Most customers who use Imagenation frame grabbers develop their own
image processing applications and/or take advantage of the driver
support available for some of the more popular image processing packages.
Imagenation frame grabbers include a software development kit (SDK),
sample applications and source code examples to demonstrate basic
board functionality. This information may also be used as a starting
point in developing custom applications.
For the most up-to-date information on third-party drivers and image
processing package support,
please click here.
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Are Imagenation frame grabbers equipped with triggers, strobes,
and/or general purpose I/O lines?
Yes. Please see table below.
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Product
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Triggers
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Strobes
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GP I/O
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CX
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1
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1
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-----
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PXC-AL
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1
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1
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-----
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PXC-AF
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4
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4
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8 (four inputs, four outputs) |
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PXD
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1
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2
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4 (two inputs, two outputs) |
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PXR
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4
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3
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8 (four inputs, four outputs) |
The PXD also has three RS422 outputs.
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Do you support digital camera output?
Yes, Imagenation
now has a new digital frame grabber, the
PXD1000.
The PXD1000 digital frame grabber is a low-cost,
PCI-compliant video capture board suitable for machine
vision systems using RS422- and EIA-644-based digital
cameras. The PXD1000 is characterized by its high input
data rates, reliable data transfers, large onboard FIFOs,
high speed, efficient PCI performance and "on the fly"
reformatting. The PXD1000 family includes a comprehensive
SDK for the major operating systems. The PXD1000 library
allows frame grab operations to be queued in the background,
freeing the host processor for applications processing.
An easy-to-use Camera Configuration Application and
customizable cable assemblies simplify camera and frame
grabber setup.
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Do Imagenation frame grabbers work with resettable cameras?
Yes. The PXR800 and the CX100 can both acquire sync in
less than one horizontal line time which makes them
ideal for use with asynchronous cameras for capturing
fast moving objects.
In the digital world, the PXD1000 digital frame grabber can
be used with resettable digital cameras.
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Do you support progressive scan cameras?
Yes. The PXR800 is designed to be used with cameras that produce
either a non-interlaced or an interlaced output. Most progressive scan
cameras produce a non-interlaced output and will work quite well
with the PXR800 providing the output occurs at a rate of
30 frames per second (NTSC) or 25 frames per second (CCIR).
"Frame store" cameras take a progressive scan picture, but
produce the output as two interlaced fields and these cameras
do not require a progressive scan frame grabber. A frame
store camera that produces an interlaced output will work with
the CX100, the PXC200A, or the PXR800.
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What video formats can be used as inputs to Imagenation
frame grabbers?
There are two basic types of Imagenation frame grabbers; standard
analog and digital. Standard analog frame grabbers include
the PXC and PXR series which support NTSC (RS-170), CCIR (PAL),
SECAM, and S-video (PXC only) formats while the PXD1000
digital frame grabber supports RS422 and EIA-644(LDVS) formats.
The PXC can accept up to four composites and one S-video input
for the PXC200AL or four composites and four S-video inputs
for the PXC200AF. The PXR can accept up to four composites for
use with interlace, progressive scan and resettable cameras.
The PXD can be used with cameras that provide a single channel for
up to 32 bits/pixel and pixel rates to 40M pixels/sec for
EIA-644 (LVDS) signals; a dual channel for up to 16 bits/pixel
and up to 80M pixel/sec rates; or a four channel camera at
8 bits/pixel and up to 160M pixels/sec rates.
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Is there a risk of losing frames or images while
switching cameras?
All of CyberOptics' analog PCI frame grabbers have a four to one
multiplexer before the video input. That means you can connect
up to four cameras and select any single camera to be the input
at any time. When you switch from one camera to another, you
will always lose data unless your cameras are genlocked.
Switching always occurs at the end of a field of video.
If the cameras are not genlocked, then the fields of video
from the four cameras will end at different times. When you
switch from one camera to the next, you switch from the end
of a field into the middle of another field. You will always
lose the rest of that field plus the next complete field.The frame grabber resynchronizes during the full field.
The average loss is 1 to 1 ½ fields on each camera switch.
The Imagenation PXC200AL is an exception and will lose up to
two complete frames. If you like the features and price of the
PXC200A and you require camera switching, then you need the
Imagenation PXC200AF with the option package. The PXC200AF
has an average loss of only 1 to 1 ½ fields per camera switch
as does the Imagenation PXR800.
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If my digital camera is not listed as a supported digital
camera for the Imagenation PXD1000, will it still work with
the PXD1000?
The Imagenation PXD1000 is compatible with most commercially
available digital cameras. CyberOptics provides pre-configured
files for several operating modes of popular cameras enabling
them to work quickly with the PXD1000. For other models,
CyberOptics provides a Windows-based Camera Configuration
Application. It allows you to create, modify and test
configuration files.
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Is there a list of cameras that are compatible with
Imagenation frame grabbers?
Imagenation analog frame grabbers (PXR, PXC) are compatible with
most analog cameras. The Imagenation PXD1000 is our digital frame
grabber and will work with most digital cameras with a frequency
less than 40MHz. CyberOptics provides configuration files for
many digital cameras. Please
click here
for a list of currently tested digital cameras. If your camera
is not listed, please call our technical support department for
further information on how to obtain the camera configuration
files. |
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Can Imagenation frame grabbers accept a pixel clock
input from a camera?
Yes. CyberOptics offers two frame grabbers that accept pixel
clock input from a camera: the PXR800 and PXD1000. The PXR800
lets you select either the rising or falling edge of the pixel
clock as a trigger for sampling while the PXD1000 always uses
the rising edge.
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What is the switching time between cameras with Imagenation
frame grabbers?
The actual switching time is immediate. However, the time
required to resynchronize to the incoming video and grab a
good image is an extra field on all products except the
PXC200AL which requires two complete frames.
Immediate switching means zero data loss if your cameras
are genlocked. In other words, you could switch cameras
during the vertical sync period when there is no data and grab
the next field or frame.
In the normal (non-genlocked) mode you typically switch into
the middle of a video field when you switch cameras. The frame
grabber will "be confused" for the rest of that partial field
of video and will require one full field to resynchronize.
On average the time required to switch and resynchronize
is 1 to 1 ½ fields.
The PXC200AL is not suited for rapid camera switching. If you
like its feature set and price you should look at the PXC200AF
with the optional control package. It has a normal
resynchronization time of 1 to 1 ½ fields.
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What is the maximum number of cameras per Imagenation
frame grabber?
The table below explains the maximum number and type of
cameras that may be used with each Imagenation frame grabber.
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CX100
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One Analog Camera
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PX610A
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Four Analog Cameras
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PXC200AL
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Four Analog Cameras (One S-video maximum)
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PXC200AF
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Four Analog Cameras (All four can be S-video)
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PXR800 |
Two Analog Cameras (Plus additional two with PXR801) |
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PXD1000
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One Digital Camera |
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What analog frequencies can be used as inputs by Imagenation frame
grabbers?
Imagenation analog frame grabbers are standard analog products,
which means they accept standard analog frequencies as
inputs i.e. 12.27 MHz for an RS170/NTSC signal and 14.75MHz
for a CCIR/PAL signal.
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What is the maximum image size I can capture with an
Imagenation analog frame grabber?
Imagenation analog frame grabbers accept only standard analog inputs
of NTSC/RS170 (640 x 480) or CCIR/PAL (768 x 576).
Therefore the maximum image size that can be captured is 768 x 576.
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If I have a digital camera, is there an easy way for me
to configure my camera with an Imagenation frame grabber?
The Imagenation PXD1000 digital frame grabber is compatible with
most commercially available digital cameras that operate at 40Mhz
and below. CyberOptics Semiconductor offers compatible cables, cable
wiring diagrams, configuration instructions and configuration files
(.CAM files) for many of the more popular digital cameras. A list
of digital cameras with this support may be found at http://www.imagenation.com/dnpages/pxd_files.html .
If the digital camera you plan to use is not listed, a cable will
need to be built along with a configuration file. This is very easy,
using the configuration utility PXDConfig. that is included with
every PXD1000. If you have questions about how to use PXDConfig.
or digital camera compatibility please contact tech support at
800.366.9131 or via e-mail at
CSinfo@cyberoptics.com.
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Do Imagenation frame grabbers support third party image
processing packages and libraries?
For most Imagenation frame grabbers, CyberOptics Semiconductor offers third party image processing support, including Common Vision Blox (CVB), Halcon & Activ Vision Tools, and Xcaliper. For the most
up-to-date information on specific supported image processing package
versions or to download these drivers, visit the Imagenation frame
grabber website at
http://www.imagenation.com/dnpages/ip_files.html.
Another option that many of CyberOptics Semiconductor's customers
choose is to develop their own image processing applications using
the extensive, powerful SDK that ships with all Imagenation
frame grabbers.
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Do Imagenation frame grabbers work with LabVIEW?
LabVIEW does not require any special support or drivers.
Most of our products can be used with LabVIEW 4.0 or greater.
Beginning with version 4.0, LabVIEW is capable of making
calls to a standard Windows DLL. All of our PCI products
(PXR800, PXC200A and PXD1000) come with standard Windows DLLs
that are directly compatible with LabVIEW. In the case of
the CX100, the special Visual Basic DLL is compatible
with LabVIEW.
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Is Delphi support available for Imagenation frame grabbers?
CyberOptics Semiconductor does not offer formal support for Delphi
for use with Imagenation frame grabbers. We can provide interface
files and sample programs for Delphi that have been built and
donated by customers. Click here to locate these files.
If you encounter problems during your development, please call or
email our support team at
CSsupport@cyberoptics.com
and we will do our best to assist you.
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Is Visual Basic support available for Imagenation frame grabbers?
CyberOptics Semiconductor provides support for Visual Basic, including
example programs, for use with most Imagenation frame grabbers.
Sample code for Visual Basic is currently available for the
Imagenation
PXD,
PXC and
CX.
We are in the process of adding formal Visual
Basic support for the PXR.
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Does CyberOptics Semiconductor provide C++ or Microsoft Foundation
Class (MFC) support for Imagenation frame grabbers?
Imagenation frame grabber API's are in ANSI C, however, the
frame grabber libraries will work with standard MFC programs.
Please contact the CyberOptics Semiconductor technical support
group for further details and programming examples for using an
Imagenation frame grabber API in C++ or MFC development environment.
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What programming languages can be used with Imagenation frame grabbers?
Imagenation frame grabbers from CyberOptics Semiconductor come
with a software development kit (SDK) for custom
application development in C, C++ or Visual Basic.
Complete support for Visual Basic for use with the PXR800
will be available soon. Be sure
to check the
http://www.imagenation.com/dnpages/pxr_files.html
for the most up-to-date information.
Sample programs, complete with source code, are also included.
These samples quickly demonstrate how to get started with your
application development using an Imagenation frame grabber.
If you have more questions about applications using specific
programming languages with a particular Imagenation frame grabber,
please contact our technical support team at
800.366.9131 or via email
at CSsupport@cyberoptics.com.
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Is QNX support available for Imagenation frame grabbers?
Please contact us if you plan to use the QNX operating system
with the Imagenation PXC200AL or PXC200AF. Although we do not
have formal support for QNX at the moment, we have a number of
options at our disposal and would like the opportunity to
select exactly the right one for your needs. Such support would
be in the form of linkable libraries for QNX4, QNX6 and Photon.
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Are your PCI products compatible with docking stations?
We have not done any testing with docking stations, but
some of our customers have reported mixed results. For
example, the Toshiba 740CDT laptop in conjunction with the
Desk Station 5+ docking station seems to work quite well.
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Do Imagenation frame grabbers work under Linux?
Although CyberOptics Semiconductor does not formally support the
Linux operating system, we can provide links to other sites where
drivers for some Imagenation frame grabbers can be found.
Click here for links to Linux sites.
If the above links do not satisfy your requirements, please contact our technical support team at 800.366.9131 or via email at CSsupport@cyberoptics.com. We are always interested in learning more about
our customers' requirements.
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How do I interface a camera to a digital frame grabber?
CyberOptics Semiconductor offers open-ended cables for use
with digital cameras and the Imagenation PXD1000. For more
information about these open-ended cables and how to build
your own cable, see the
Detailed Cable Construction Guide. |
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What types of applications are Imagenation frame grabbers used for?
Imagenation frame grabbers from CyberOptics Semiconductor are used
in a variety of industries and applications. They have been the
frame grabber of choice within industries including semiconductor,
manufacturing automation, medical/scientific, security and traffic.
The features and flexibility of Imagenation frame grabbers make them
appropriate for use in image processing, inspection, optical character
recognition (OCR), product quality control and many more applications.
CyberOptics Semiconductor offers a free white paper
"Choosing a Frame Grabber for Performance & Profitability"
that provides basic information about selecting the
appropriate frame grabber for an application.
If you have questions about which Imagenation frame grabber is the
best match for your specific application please call or email us at
CSsupport@cyberoptics.com.
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