Imperx Bobcat Camera Summary

1. ICL-B2020M 2056/2048 x 2060/2048 16/20 fps Mono

ICL-B2020C 2056/2048 x 2060/2048 16/20 fps Color

2. The BOBCAT cameras are progressive scan, line of interline transfer CCD imagers & fully programmable.

3. The combination of electronic shutter and long time integration enables the cameras capturing speed to be from 1/500,000 second to more than 16 seconds.

4. The cameras have a standard GEV or Camera Link™ interface that includes 8/10/12/14 bits data transmission with one or two output taps as well as camera control and asynchronous RS232 serial communication interface, all on a single cable.

5. The camera is fully programmable via the serial interface using a GUI based configuration utility.6. Camera data output is compliant with base Camera Link standard and includes 12VDC Power over

camera Link (PoCL), 4 W max, 24 data bits, 4 sync signals (LVAL, FVAL, DVAL and User Out), 1 reference clock, 2 external inputs CC1, CC2 and a bi-directional serial interface.

Camera Features:1. The camera offers two independently selectable LVAL and FVAL sizes. The first LVAL value envelops

all visible pixels in a line (active pixels plus buffer pixels) and the second – only the active pixels. Respectively, the first FVAL envelops all visible lines in a frame (active lines and buffer lines), and the second – only the active lines. The camera speed (Frames per Second) is the same for both image size selections. Typically, the pixels outside of LVAL and FVAL (primarily dark pixels and lines) are masked with zeros, but in BOBCAT, the user has an option to mask or not to mask these pixels or lines. Refer to section “BOBCAT Configuration” for more information.

2. ICL-B2020 M/C of the models is available in single or dual.3. Interline and Frame time control

The camera speed (frame rate) depends on the CCD “read-out” time – the time necessary to read all the pixels out of the CCD imager. The frame rate can be calculated using the following Formula 1.1:

Frame rate [fps] = 1 / read-out time [sec]The user can independently extend the camera line time and camera frame time. The camera line time can be extended to ~ 200 us, with a precision ~ 25 ns. The camera frame time can be extended to ~ 16 sec, with a precision of ~ 1.0us. Please refer to “EXPOSURE CONTROL” section for more information.

4. External Line and Frame Time Control: The camera speed (frame rate) can be controlled using external sync pulses. The camera line time can be slaved to an external H-Sync pulse, and the camera frame time can be slaved to an external V-Sync pulse. The camera can be slaved to one or both pulses. The H-Sync and V-Sync has to be mapped to corresponding camera input. For more information, please refer to the I/O Control section.

5. Area of InterestTo qualify the selected pixels/lines MAOI uses DVAL, where DVAL is high within the selected MAOI. The frame-grabber horizontal and vertical resolutions must be adjusted for each window size.

6. Binning :Horizontal binning combines adjacent pixels in horizontal directions to effectively create larger pixels and less resolution. BOBCAT supports 4 binning modes 2x, 3x, 4x and 8x.Horizontal binning does not affect the frame rate.Vertical binning is a readout mode of progressive scan CCD image sensors where several image lines are clocked simultaneously into the horizontal CCD register before being read out. This results in summing the charges of adjacent pixels (in the vertical direction) from two lines. BOBCAT supports 4 binning modes 2x, 3x, 4x, and 8x.Vertical binning reduces the vertical resolution and almost doubles the frame rate.

7. Exposure Control : a. Internal and External Exposure , Automatic Exposure Controlb. Variable Frame Time – Programmable Line and Frame TimeVariable frame time mode provides the ability to run the camera in full resolution and a frame rate slower than the nominal camera frame. This has two effects: 1) it reduces the bandwidth requirements on the camera output and 2) it increases the exposure time for the frame. During normal camera operation (no shutter), the nominal frame rate determines the integration time. The desired frame rate, and thus the new integration time, can be achieved by moving the vertical transfer pulse, VCCD, beyond the normal integration period (the standard frame time). The user can program the camera integration (frame time) from the nominal camera frame time to 16 sec (~ 0.0625 fps) with a precision of 1.0 us.

Frame rate [fps] = 1 / frame time [sec]

8. External Triggera. Triggering Inputsb. In the normal mode of operation, the camera is free running. Using the trigger mode allows the

camera to be synchronized to an external timing pulse. There are three input modes available for external triggering – software (CC), internal (pulse generator), and external. Please note that the desired trigger input has to be mapped to corresponding camera input. For more information, please refer to the I/O Control section.-“External” – the camera receives the trigger signal coming from the connector located on the back of the camera. -“Computer” – the camera receives the trigger signal command from the frame-grabber. -“Internal” – the camera has a built in programmable pulse generator – refer to “Pulse Generator” section. In Internal triggering mode the camera receives the trigger signal from the internal pulse generator.

-“Software” – the camera receives the trigger signal which is computer generated. This input is available only for GigE Cameras. The camera expects a one clock cycles pulse generated by the computer. The trigger exposure is internal register controlled. Pulse duration exposure is not allowed.

9. Triggering Modesa. Standard Mode

When the standard triggering mode is enabled, the camera idles and waits for a trigger signal.The number of frames captured after each trigger pulse can be programmed. The time interval between the trigger pulses must be greater than the combined exposure and frame time. If the time between the triggers is shorter, the frame read-out cycle will be interrupted and part of the frame will be lost.

b. Fast Synchronized Triggering – Rapid Capture

c. Double Exposure TriggeringDouble exposure allows two events (two images) to be captured in rapid succession using a single trigger pulse.

d. Frame Accumulation Triggering

10. Asynchronous Triggering When the Asynchronous triggering mode is enabled, the camera is free running. Upon receiving the external trigger signal, the current CCD timing stops, all camera lines are rapidly flushed, and a new frame starts – Figure 2.18. This completes the current trigger cycle, the camera free running and waits for the next trigger pulse. In this mode the camera exposure can be controlled with the internal shutter or with the trigger pulse width. The time required for rapid line flush (all charges stored in the vertical registers are cleared) is camera dependent and if the camera is triggered via CC line, and the camera exposure is determined by the duration of the CC pulse, the CC pulse duration must be longer than the rapid flush time, as shown below.

11. Data Output Format

- “14-bit” – All original bits D0 (LSB) to D13 (MSB) are used. This mode is available only for Single Output.

- “12-bit” – If the 14 bit original camera data is D0 (LSB) to D13 (MSB), and camera is set to output 12 bit data, the 12 output bits are mapped to D2 (LSB) to D13 (MSB).

- “10-bit” – If the 14 bit original camera data is D0 (LSB) to D13 (MSB), and camera is set to output 10 bit data, the 10 output bits are mapped to D4 (LSB) to D13 (MSB).

- “8-bit” – If the 14 bit original camera data is D0 (LSB) to D13 (MSB), and camera is set to output 8 bit data, the 8 output bits are mapped to D6 (LSB) to D13 (MSB).

A. Single Output Cameras: For the camera with monochrome imager the user has only one option – 1 Tap Sequential. If the camera has a color imager user can select the raw Bayer data output (1 Tap Sequential) or the interpolated color – 3 Tap RGB.

- “1 Tap Sequential” – In this mode all pixels (for every line) are sent to one output (Tap 1) in a sequence, starting with the first and ending with the last (L) pixel (1, 2, 3, … L-1, L) – Figure 2.23. Each pixel can be 8, 10, 12 or 14 bit deep.

B. Dual Output Cameras

For Dual mode of operation regardless of imager type (mono or color) the user has two choices – 2 Tap Sequential or 2 Tap Interleaved. 3 Tap RGB is not available because of bandwidth limitations for Base Camera Link - “2 Tap Sequential” – In this mode all pixels are sent to two outputs (Tap 1 and Tap2) in the following sequence – Figure 2.24a. Each pixel can be 8, 10 or 12 deep (14 bit output is not available in this mode). This feature is custom and it is not implemented in the camera, please contact Imperx for more information.

Tap 1 – starting (for every line) with the pixel 1 and then all pixels in a sequence (1, 2, 3 … M-1, M) until reaches the middle pixel (if the CCD has 1000 pixels in one line, the middle pixel M is #500.

Tap 2 – starting (for every line) with the pixel M+1 and then all pixels in a sequence (M+1, M+2, M+3 …L-1, L) until reaches the last pixel for the line.

- “2 Tap Interleaved” – In this mode all pixels are sent to two outputs (Tap 1 and Tap2) in the following sequence – Figure 2.24b. Each pixel can be 8, 10 or 12 deep (14 bit output is not available in this mode).

Tap 1 – starting (for every line) with the pixel 1 and then all odd pixels in a sequence (1, 3 … L-3, L-1) until reaches the one before last pixel.

Tap 2 – starting (for every line) with the pixel 2 and then all even pixels in a sequence (2, 4 …L-2, L) until reaches the last pixel for the line.

12. TEST IMAGE PATTERNS The following test images are available:

- Black – displays black image (value x0000) - Gray – displays a uniform dark gray image (value x2000) - White – displays a uniform white image (value 3FFF) - H Ramp Still – displays a stationary horizontal ramp image - V Ramp Still – displays a stationary vertical ramp image - H Ramp Move – displays a moving horizontal ramp image - V Ramp Move – displays a moving vertical ramp image - Vertical Bars – displays a set of 8 vertical gray bars with different gray levels.