c# smart camera "No interface found"

[forum-dv]

Hi Barna,

Happy New Year to you too (and to all other members).

I was told that GigE cameras just don't work over Standard Ethernet, so PCIe GigE card was recomended (http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/205960 ).

As Standard gigabit ethernet I understand "office like gigabit ethernet" (PC - to switch - to printer).

What do you think about this:

- 3x GigE camera (connected through standard switch (level one, linksys,...) )

- 12" - 15" touch panel PC (with gigabit ethernet card)

- 3x lenses

That's it about hardware. What about software needs:

- Vision Development Module (tools for image acquiring and processing: to develop application in C#)

- NI Vision Developer Module Runtime  (to actually run my application on target PC)

Is there anything else I need?

I prefer using GigE cameras, since I get much more flexibility with C# and I can use the PC's processing power.

(btw: I understand the advantage DSP processor is bringing but there are some issues: Not all algorithms are supported by DSP, price is higher)

------------- 

For testing purpose:

- I have downloaded VDM2009 trial (about 1GB).

- I can't find any C# or VB.NET examples, that would show image from Smart Camera (www.ni.com/ask you say??? Ok.)

  However there are bunch of examples showing the image processing.

I think, I will www.ni.com/ASK guys in technical support for simple example? 

Thanks for help. I really do appreciate the effort you have put into this.

Damjan

Message Edited by forum-dv on 01-05-2010 07:57 AM

Message Edited by forum-dv on 01-05-2010 08:04 AM

[dobarni]

Hi Damjan,

 Let me summarize on high level the solutions we discussed based on the two camera options:

Option A: Smart Camera

Since the Smart Camera is a real-time target (you can think of it as a small PC (without VGA) which has a CCD on motherboard and a lense), you will need to create an application to acquire and process/transmit (over TCP/IP for instance) the images. This application should be created with Vision Builder AI or Labview + Modules (Real Time and Vision Dev.)

1. Smart Camera configured with Vision Builder for AI. 

You can create quite complex image acquisition/processing and decision making application with VBAI, but (in my understanding) in this case you would have to save the image in SmartCam, than copy it (via FTP) to PC and display it. This is not quite realtime, but this is how I see this solution would work.

2. Smart Camera programed with LabVIEW + LabVIEW Real Time Module + LabVIEW Vision Development Module

With this SW option you will have to create a LV RT application, which will run on Smart Camera. This should acquire the image (process it if needed) than send it over TCP/IP to the PC. On PC you can have get the image through TCP/IP communication than continue with processing and decision making. This application can be created with LabVIEW or C# + Vision Development Module.

In conclusion VDM and C# is not enough to get the images into the PC from a Smart Camera. 

Option B: (Panel)PC + GigE cameras.

In case you don't have enough GigE ports on your interface, you can use GigE Ethernet switch, and create application for PC using either LabVIEW and Vision Development Module, either C# with Vision Development Module, to acquire, process the image and make decisions.

 I hope this helps.

Regards,

Barna 

[forum-dv]

Hey,

I think I get it now, but there are still some points where additional explanation is needed.

Review:

Option A:

1. Not working in realtime, as you mentioned! This option is out.

2. I finally understand what NI mean when talking about RT application. It is actually Labview application which runs on SmartCamera's realtime operating system.

    If I understand correctly, Vision Builder AI  works pretty much the same (with limitations) as LV RT application.

    This option is OK, if we choose LabView as development environment.

I read a few documents and try to get as much info as I could. I found that VAS is responsible for Image Acquisition and VDM for Image Processing.

I installed VAS 2009 (latest trial), but no luck with C# (just can't get image --> but MAX shows image very fast = 59fps - depends on exposure settings).

Option B (this is what I prefer):

I still don't have a clear picture about GigE ports. GigE term is new to me.

I am confused.

GigE port ?=? Gigabit Ethernet (1000BaseT IEEE 802.3)

(source: Wiki)

1000BASE-T capable PCI-X network interface card from Intel1000BASE-T (also known as IEEE 802.3ab) is a standard for gigabit Ethernet over copper wiring.

If GigE is synonim for 1000BaseT IEEE 802.3 standard, then everything is clear now.

Of course I don't have 3 ethernet (or GigE) ports in PC. So I would normally use gigabit ethernet switch.

So, again:

If I choose this option, I need:

- GigE Cameras

- Gigabit Ethernet Switch 

- VDM

- VDM Runtime

Am I missing something?

Thanks,

Damjan 

Message Edited by forum-dv on 01-05-2010 02:01 PM