how can be used a non Direct Show camera in Vision Assistant 8.5?

[jalili]

I have a non direct show camera like Canon Powershot S2 IS.  This camera has a USB cable. I want to use this camera in Vision Assistant but it is not recognize that? please help me.

thanks

[Jaidev]

Hi,

NI does not officially support USB cameras. It is true that we have an NI IMAQ for USB driver on Developer Zone but its only meant to work with DirectShow compatible cameras. If your camera isnt Directshow compatible, I'm afraid theres no way you can directly acquire images in Vision Asst. However, if image analysis is all you need, you could always use your camera software to transfer images to your Hard Drive and then open them in Vision Assistant. Vision Assistant gives you the ability to process multiple images using the Image Browser and Batch Processes.

Please let me know if this helps.

Thank You,
Jaidev

Message Edited by Jaidev on 04-25-2008 08:32 AM

[jalili]

When we used a camera with DirectShow compatable, it's resolution is low. Do you know a camera with DirectShow compatable and 5MP resolution?

Thanks

[Jaidev]

Hi,

The largest resolution USB directshow cameras I know are all about 1.3 MP. For a 5 MP camera, you'll have pretty high data rates and you would probably need to consider a firewire camera.

You should take a look at the NI Camera Advisor at www.ni.com/camera.

Its an online tool that lets you search for and compare cameras from many different manufacturers.

Thanks,
Jaidev

[SandeshKesarkar]

Hi Jaidev,

you are right. I am also facing the same problem.

I have 3.0 MP camera and I can only grab Picture upto 1.3 MP.

Is there any way to modify this Directshow Dll file to aquire 3.0 MP grabbing ?

Pl. suggest.

[Jaidev]

Hi Sandess,

I am not entirely sure that Directshow imposes a hard limit on the pixel resolution of your camera. Directshow is just a Microsoft API that lets you access your USB hardware. Also, Directshow is from Microsoft and I dont think you can modify it. Even if you could, I am not sure that would address this issue.

Thank you,

Jaidev 

Message Edited by Jaidev on 11-13-2008 11:08 AM

[Brad]

uEye has 5MP USB cameras (http://www.ueye.com/frontend/catalog.php?nav1=25&nav2=75&nav3=53&form_KatTable=menue3&form_KatID=53) and so does Lumenera (http://www.turnkey-solutions.com.au/cam_lumenera_camera_index.htm).

Hope this helps,

Brad

[SandeshKesarkar]

Jaidev,

The problem is my camera is grabbing the image in YUY/2 in compressed format and Imaq USB initialisation VI doesnot recognise it.

Is there any way to add this property in property node VI and How to decompress the image?

Pl. help.

Sandesh

[Jaidev]

Hi Sandess, 

To the extent of my knowledge, the USB driver exposes all the methods that your camera exposes to Directshow. So I am not sure how you can add a property that might not exist. I am going to try and find the answer to this. In the meantime, as Brad mentioned Lumenera makes high res USB cameras. I know that their driver can support call their cameras. You can give their driver a try. Obviously, no guarantees that this will work. Navigate to http://www.lumenera.com/support/download.php  and install National Instruments LabVIEW Plug-in. 

Thanks,

 Jaidev

[Jaidev]

Hi Sandess,

I dont know if you camera is Directshow compatible. If it isnt, it might be worth looking at the Lumenera cameras that Brad mentioned. While you are at it, you might also want to consider a firewire camera if the prices are comparable. Our Firewire driver IMAQdx is completely supported.

Thanks,

Jaidev