PC-Dig
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PC-DIG is a PCI-compatible board that provides high-performance, yet cost-effective image acquisition for virtually all of today's commercially available digital line and area scan cameras. Interfacing with high-resolution digital cameras is now made easy via connection through the PC-DIG's 32-bit differential interface. In addition, direct camera function control is made possible through two on-board RS232 I/O ports. For industrial process control applications, PC-DIG also includes an OPTO 22-compatible parallel I/O (8 in/8 out) port for monitoring and controlling discrete events or operations.

PC-DIG's flexible image acquisition interface handles any clock/data relationship at up to 20 MHz pixel rates with it standard RS422 interface, or at up to 40 MHz pixel rates with an optional LVDS (EIA644) interface. On-board real-time image re-sequencing for multi-tap digital cameras significantly reduces host CPU burden thereby giving the host more time to process and analyze image data. Further, the PC-DIG's ability to interface multiple cameras simultaneously dramatically reduces cost of components for automated system builders.

The PC-DIG parallel digital video acquisition board provides the industry's fastest transfer of video data to host PC memory. With 4MB of high-speed, SGRAM memory, sustained transfer speeds of up to 120 MB/second is achievable - with guaranteed no loss of video information when transferring data to the host PC memory! The PC-DIG is capable of bus mastering image data directly to the host PC memory as lines become available or as full 8- or 16-bit images in either normal or 4:2:2 image format. In addition, through the 4:2:2 image format the PC-DIG is able to deliver non-destructive overlay on live images with 0% load on the host CPU - a first and only in the industry! The scatter-gather feature enables automated image transfers which further reduces CPU overhead and leaves much needed processing cycles for demanding continuous inspection applications.

Video Formats

• 32-bit differential LVDS input up to 40 MHz or RS422 input up to 20 MHz pixel acquisition rates
  
• Supports single-, dual- or quad-tap monochrome or color digital cameras

Features & Benefits

• 120MB/sec bus master transfer to host, guarantees no missing lines and low host CPU burden
  
• Non-destructive overlay on live image with 0% load on the host CPU
  
• On-the-fly re-sequencing of image data for multi-tap cameras
  
• Supports both multi-camera and multi-board applications
  
• Two RS232 Serial ports provide flexible control and setup for camera functions
  
• OPTO 22-compatible parallel I/O (8/8) port eliminates need for an additional I/O card
  
• Dual 16 x 16 LUT for image transformations
  
• 4MB SGRAM image buffer supports acquisition rates up 160MB/s (32 bits @ 40 MHz)
  
• Scatter-gather feature supports highly memory-efficient image transfers and management

Applications

• Continuous or semi-continuous web inspection
  
• 300 mm semiconductor wafer scanning
  
• High-speed surface inspection

Sensor Interface:

• 32-bit differential LVDS to 40 MHz, or RS422 to 20 MHz

Video Input:

• 8-bit single, dual and quad tap; 10-,12-,14- or 16-bit single and dual tap; and 32-bit single tap cameras
• 24-bit color cameras
• Multi-camera aquisition

Image Buffering and Output:

• 4 MB of high bandwidth SGRAM supports acquisition rates up to160MB/second (32-bits @ 40 MHz)
• Provides ROI (cropped) transfer to reduce data volume
• Transfer of 8- or 16- bit images in normal or 4:2:2 format
• Output clipping of Windows colors during bus master to eliminate conflicts with Windows reserved colors
• Supports basic image transforms such as flip, mirror, rotate180

On Board I/O:

• OPTO 22 compatible 16- bit parallel port (8 bits in, 8 bits out)
• Two RS232 Serial Ports for control of camera functions

Camera Timing I/0:

• Pixel Clock, Frame Enable, Line Enable and Multi Purpose inputs with programmable functionality
• Pixel Clock, Sync, Programmable Integration and Mode control outputs

External Triggers:

• Trigger divider to rate-divider trigger source
• Advanced multi-trigger acquisition modes
• Dual external triggers available as differential, TTL or OPTO-coupled
• Software triggering for host controlled acquisition

Cascade Capability:

• Multiple PC-DIG boards can be cascaded to provide greater than 4 taps & 32 bits
• PC-DIG Link provides required timing and coordination between boards

Programmable Window Generator:

• Enables acquisition of subset of camera image and has the following characteristics:
  • Maximum Window - 64K x 64K
  • Horizontal Resolution - 1 pixel
  • Vertical Resolution - 1 line
• Programmable independent X/Y decimation (/2,/4,/8,/16) performed during image acquisition
• Color images stored using 32-bit or packed 24-bit formats

Look Up Tables (LUTs):

• Dual 16 x 16 LUTs for pixel transformations
• Arithmetic operations on or between 8 - bit image data

Multi-Tap Data Resequencing:

• Reformats Multi-Tap data on the fly
• Provides line/row resequencing to output most any multi-tap image in normal raster scan format

PCI Interface:

• Scatter-gather feature for highly efficient image transfers
• Bus master of image data at 120MB/second sustained
• Target access (random R/W) to onboard registers, image memory and LUTs
• Multiple interrupt sources

Bus Requirements:

• 32-bit PCI slot
• 1.3 Amps @ +5v
• 3/4 length PCI card