Generating sync and PCLK signals for a sony XC-55 camera?

[CoandaEng]

Hello, we have a Sony XC-55 camera connected to a PCI-1408 board that we would like to use in asynchronous mode to capture images. I know that it is possible to use the camera for this purpose because there is a document on how to do this with a 1409 card.

We also have a PCI-MIO-16E-4 board that we have connected to a shaft encoder. We want to trigger the camera when the shaft encoder is at certain positions. This shaft encoder will be connected to the 8 digital lines on the MIO board.

Is there any way I could use the MIO board to generate the required HSYNC, VSYNC, and PCLK signals? I'm thinking about using the PFI signals, but I don't know how to generate the required PCLK signal.

[Brent_R]

As you may have noticed, the 1408 does not have the same pulse generation capabilities as the 1409. You cannot use IMAQ Generate Pulse with the 1408 to get the required HSync, VSync, and shutter signals. You could use the counters on the MIO board to generate two of the signals, but not all three. It might be possible to operate the camera in internal HD mode and just provide the VSync and shutter. One of the 660x counter boards could generate all of the signals, however you would probably be better off just using a 1409. PCLK is generated internally by the camera and does not need to be provided by the board.

Are you using an absolute encoder in your system? You can read an absolute encoder with the DIO lines on the MIO board, however you will have to conti
nuously poll the lines to find out when you have reached the desired positions and then output a pulse. This operation will be software timed, so there will be some latency. If you have an incremental encoder, you could connect it as the source to one of the counters and output trigger pulses at precicely defined intervals.

Regards,

Brent R.
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[CoandaEng]

Thanks for the reply, yes we are using an absolute encoder and some slight latency will be fine.

I will look into the option of using a 1409 board, but we would like to use equipment that we have already.

[Brent_R]

BTW...when polling the encoder position with the DIO lines, it might be a good idea to compare the sampled value with a window around the desired position rather than a single value. Depending on the speed and resolution of the encoder, it may not be possible to poll fast enough to catch an exact count value. Hope this helps.

Brent