PCIe 1427 base configuration access all 24 data bits

[vcampb3ll]

Hi,

I'm very new to using CameraLink and Frame Grabber cards so please forgive me if I say something silly.

I've been working on a project where I'm using the PCIe1427 card in base CameraLink configuration and I've got a custom camera which I'm designing right now. We have previously used the 1427 card for other cameras and these were also configured in base mode, 16 bit pixels which are single tap. 

With the camera I'm working on now, we are sending the data to the PC from an FPGA, store the image data in a buffer and display it through Python. So we are interfacing to the IMAQ DLL not using the NI GUI. I have a working CameraLink interface and I am able to get  test data from the FPGA into the Python buffer if I have the ICD file configured as the following:

BitDepth (16)
BitsPerComponent (16)
NumComponents (1)

or this:

BitDepth (16)
BitsPerComponent (8)
NumComponents (2)

So the problem I'm having is the fact that I need to get 2 x 10 bit pixels over in one transfer, thus using 20 of the 24 data bits available and have tried a number of combinations of setting the parameters above that seem logical to make it work but the IMAQ DLL keeps reporting various errors when it comes to creating the buffers, etc. Aside from that there are various bits of information I've found online which contradict each other, leaving me confused whether this operation is even possible on the PCIe 1427 card in the first place.

The link below suggests it is impossible to get any more than 16 bits of data of the 24 available using the PCIe1427 card:

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000kHzSSAU&l=en-GB

Whilst this link suggests that it is possible:

https://www.ni.com/en/support/documentation/supplemental/18/framegrabber-specifications-for-the-ni-c...

So please could you help me out as I'm not entirely clear on what's going on. Due to the IMAQ DLL crashing, I am inclined to think that the card does give you access to any bits over 16 so could somebody please clarify.

Thank you,

Vadim Campbell

[AmitShachaf]

If your camera is define as 2Tap with 16Bit image it should be fine.

2 Tap configuration in Camera link means you are transferring 2 x 16 bit  in one transfer.

My older camera that I use is Imperx Bobcat B0620M and that is the way I work (https://www.imperx.com/ccd-cameras/b0620/)

You need to configure your frame grabber to 2 Tap camera configuration.

[vcampb3ll]

Hi Amit,

Thank you for your reply.

I think there is a misunderstanding. I'm using a single CameraLink cable connection and running in Base Mode, meaning the most I have access to in a single transfer are 24 bits of data so 2 x 16 bits is impossible in my case as that would require at least 32 data bits. 

My problem is that there are contradicting sources appearing on NI website, some of which are saying I should be able to configure the PCIe1427 frame grabber card to a configuration of up to 2 taps of 12 bit pixels and other sources saying that the maximum I can get access to are 16 bits of data in base configuration with PCIe1427 card.

I can configure the card to give me 2 taps but only when the data doesn't exceed 16 bits. Whereas in my case I have 2 x 10 bit pixels per transfer (totalling 20 bits out of the 24 bits available) but whatever configurations of the ICD I've tried, I get errors associated with the IMAQ DLL. 

Vadim

[AmitShachaf]

I think you should contact NI support.

I don't have the PCIe 1427. But I was working with the PCIe 1433 in base mode (only one cable) in configuration of 2 Tap 10bit.

You might be right and your card can't do it. I am not sure.

Amit

[vcampb3ll]

Hi Amit,

yeah this link:

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA00Z000000kHzSSAU&l=en-GB

which was in my original post does say that 1427 cannot do more than 16 bits. But there are other sources that suggest that it should. Just seems a little wasteful to have all the 24 data bits but the card is only picking up 16 of them. 

Do you know how I could contact support to confirm this? 

Kind Regards,

Vadim

[AmitShachaf]

Hi Vadim,

I think you are right and this frame grabber can't do it. 

I have PXI-1428 and PCIe-1433 and they both can do what you want.

The 1433 is better.

You can call NI and ask them to help you define the frame grabber. They will know to tell you what frame grabber to buy.

[AmitShachaf]

In the user manual of NI PCIe-1433 you can find table that list the possible configurations.

According to the table the configuration you want to do should be available is Base Camera Link

See Page 2-2

You might want to call NI support

[AmitShachaf]

In the user manual of NI PCIe-1433 you can find table that list the possible configurations.

According to the table the configuration you want to do should be available is Base Camera Link

See Page 2-2

You might want to call NI support

[vcampb3ll]

Hi Amit,

Thank you very much for your messages. I am indeed now looking at the 1433 card as we not have any time to waste on the project I am working on and I have contacted NI to confirm which of the sources on their website is true and which is false as one of them is clearly wrong.

I shall update you with the outcome.

Vadim