USB2.0
MegaCamera
Getting Started Manual
Revision 0.5
August 9, 2003
Silicon Imaging, Inc.
**** Company Confidential ****
Getting Started Manual
Silicon Imaging USB 2.0 Cameras
The Silicon Imaging USB 2.0 cameras can connect to any USB 2.0 compatible communications port. Earlier versions of the USB interface USB 1.1 cannot be used due to the low bandwidth of the interface.
Different USB host controller chip sets are capable of differing maximum data transfer rates. The Intel ICH4 host controller has been found to be the fastest. Others include the NEC, Adaptec and VIA chipsets. For laptop operations, it should also be noted that the Cardbus interface has a maximum bandwidth of 23MB/sec – limiting the maximum USB 2.0 transfer rate.
It is recommended that MegaXV be run under Windows XP. It will run under Windows 2000, but does not seem as stable. In addition, the MegaXV Color processing routines have been using Intel IPP Libraries and must be run on Intel machines.
The distribution information consists of the following:
MegaXV
Graphical User Interface (GUI) for controlling the camera and viewing the video.
Location of most current version:
CurrentMegaXV
API & Documentation (optional)
The USB MegaCamera API Manual documents all of the API calls required for the software developer to write code from an application to control the camera.
Location of most current version:
Current API Documentation
Programming Example
Camera Firmware (.frm files)
The MegaCameras can be field upgraded with new firmware. It is vital that the correct family of firmware is loaded into a camera. For example, firmware versions beginning with ‘uy’ are for the SI-3170 and versions with ‘uf’ are for the SI-1280F
Location of most current version:
Current SI-1280F Firmware
Current SI-3170 Firmware
MegaXV distribution is available two ways. It will either be an automatic installation package or a zipped directory structure. The automatic installation will place all of the drivers in the proper location on the computer. It is strongly recommended that the first installation be automated. Further releases can be downloaded as .zip files.
Installation
Download and install the current software from the Zip compressed file by double-clicking on the MegaXVInstall:
The Wizard will take you thru the steps to completion.
Once the MegaXV software and USB drivers (ezusb.sys & ezusbsi.inf) or extracted, you are ready to plug-in the camera.
USB Drivers & Device Manager
Plug in Camera and follow the Wizard:
A warning message will appear:
Press Continue Anyway.
Select ‘Finish’. The Registry has now been updated and the camera can now be accessed by the MegaXV application.
You can confirm the camera and USB 2.0 drivers are correctly installed by viewing the Device Manager:
You will see an entry for Silicon Imaging USB2.0 Mega Camera:
The Enhanced Host Controller entry is the USB2.0 hardware. This will most likely be an Intel 82801DB (ICH4) or NEC PCI hardware device. The driver will either be Microsoft or Adaptec. For Windows XP, Microsoft provides the USB2.0 drivers for both Intel and NEC hardware controllers.
Run MegaXV
Double-Click the MegaXV icon from the Silicon Imaging software directory:
When MegaXV first starts, the screen looks blank. Cameras or Images can be opened into the MegaXV software. Initially, no cameras are available. By clicking on the + buttun, the first of any connected cameras should be added. Press + again will add additional cameras into the MegaXV desktop.
Once a camera is added, it will be visible as a label [SI1820C] in the active window:Select between active cameras from the top tab to control their views for capture and display.
Press the Play button to start a LIVE display from the bottom capture bar:
The camera or image can be captured and scaled to fit in the window (Zoom %), processed with monochrome (B/W checker) or Bayer color (color Checker)).
To assess the maximum data transfer rate, the display should be turned off usind the no display button (Black box).
CAPTURE CONTROLS TOOLBAR
The capture controls are at the bottom of the screen. The camera icon snaps a single image. The triangle starts continuous capture and the square stops it. When in continuous mode, the ‘Frame captured’ should keep increasing. The Frame rate shows a long-term average. If adjustments are made, it is necessary to stop and start the display to see an immediate effect on the frame rate.
ARM TRIGGER
Select this mode to capture images using an external trigger. This can be used with Single-Frame Snap or Live Snap. If either capture is started the camera is put in a waiting state until a trigger is detected. Upon trigger, an image is captured and transferred into memory for display. In Live mode, the capture is then rearmed awaiting another trigger,
DOUBLE BUFFER SNAP
This modes uses 2 frame memory buffers and ping-pongs between buffers for each snap. Under certain capture conditions and camera model, this mode may provide a slightly higher capture rate.
CONFIG TOOLBAR
There are three tabs on the Config Toolbar (right panel): Color, Camera and Info.
The camera tab will display the current model camera being controlled such as SI1280 or SI3170.Camera Tab
Size
sets a window of the full frame size (always starting in the top, left). The ‘other’ option can be used to set an arbitrary window size.
Bit Depth – 8 or 12 bit.
12 bit operation requires twice the USB bandwidth and will have half the frame rate.
Gain & Offset – sets the camera analog gain and offset from a zero value for black. The analog gain should be set as low as possible for minimizing fixed pattern noise.
Clock and Exposure – The clock rate can be set within a range, dependent on the camera and host controller.
SI-3170 only: The frame time sets the total time for the readout time. If set too low, there is not enough time to complete one line readout before the next is ready. Exposure sets the relative exposure time for the frame.
Black Reference – To reduce the fixed pattern noise, the black offset for each individual pixel value can be subtracted. This is done by covering the lens, clicking on ‘Grab’ to take the reference image, removing the lens covering and checking ‘Apply’.
For the SI-1280F Only
The SI-1280F cameras include specialized hardware for adjusting the black offset and column offset of the sensor. These are global controls, adjusting the entire image. Be sure that the deviant pixel correction on the color tab is off. On the camera tab, find the Gain & Offset controls:
First, the column offset should be adjusted.
Monochrome: For monochrome cameras, use a well illuminated gray or white card. Do not saturate the pixel values.
Color: For color cameras, use a green object.
Set the zoom to 200%. Adjust the column offset to minimize any stripes in the image.
Be sure that the offset control under the color tab is set to zero. Next, with a target that spans the gray scale from solid black to white, set up the illumination so that the white portion of the target is almost saturated. Adjust the Black Offset so that the black target is a true black.
Color Tab
The Color tab provides a variety of digital controls for adjusting the image quality.
Digital Gain –
With a color camera, the relative gain values for each color channel can be adjusted. A global gain can also be used to enhance the image.
Offset
A black level offset can be added to the image to improve the black contrast.
Saturation
A saturation matrix is applied to the color image. The double arrow displays the matrix.
White Balance
A preset (selected below) or automatic white balance can be selected. For Automatic white balance, the double arrow provides a number of algorithm options.
Bayer
For color cameras, the sensor has a red, blue, green matrix of color filters in a pattern called a Bayer Color Filter. Depending on the starting color for the window, the Phase value may need to be adjusted. This is done by viewing a red or blue object and selecting the phase that provides the correct color. When color edge quality is required, the interpolation method can be set to ‘Advanced’ at the expense of frame rate.
Deviant Pixel Correction – Checking this box will provide automatic sensing and correcting for any pixels that are not responding correctly. This is a processing intensive algorithm and will reduce the maximum display rate of MegaXV.
Presets – Complete color transformation matrices, correcting for differing lighting temperatures can be selected, either from a list or a file.
Info Tab
This provides model, firmware revision and camera serial number information. Please have the model and firmware version available when calling or emailing problem reports.
The Vendor Request Dialog is only to be used by developers testing low-level USB command transfers to the camera. It should not be used during the normal operation of the camera.
Firmware Upload
This operation should be done carefully, as it is possible to render the camera non-functional and not field repairable. Be sure the camera is in a stopped mode before continuing.
After selecting the Upload Firmware menu option, you will select the newer version of firmware:
Be sure that the firmware matches the camera type. Also, the firmware is distributed as a zip file and must be unzipped before installing. After selecting the firmware, several minutes will pass. Do not do anything. Eventually, this window will display:
Each version of firmware is distributed with a checksum value. This is a unique value for every firmware version. Enter the value, click on OK and DO NOT TOUCH THE COMPUTER UNTIL THE PROCESS IS COMPLETE. This can take 30 seconds to a minute.
Image Save & Load
The operational screen should look like this:
The file menu provides a method for opening image files, saving binary files and bitmaps.
BLACK REFERENCE CORRECTION
In order to correct for background non-uniformity and dark current accumulation, a full frame image subtraction can be performed on a pixel for pixel basis:
Cover your lens and adjust Black Offset and Column offset to insure Black is in the digitizing range:
From the Camera Tab (eg. SI1280), press the GRAB button and check the apply radio box.
The image should now appear black:
Uncover the lens and the picture will have a uniform background:
Go to the Color Tab and Select the correct lighting color correction Presets Option (Tungsten, Fluorescent, Sunlight, etc). Then, adjust Digital GainsOffset for best contrast and Advanced Interpolation for best rendering:
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