Can I use a DAQ with my CCD?

[frostbug22]

I have a multifunction DAQ card and LabView 6.1. I would like to capture images using a CCD camera and am hoping that all I need is software, is this available? Do I need a new card and if so which one?

[Will Denman]

If your camera is analog, you can use you multifunction DAQ card to read in the analog signal. You will have to monitor the signal for the H-Sync and the V-Sync pulses and then convert the meaningful analog picture signal into digital values. For more information on the analog video signal please reference the following document:
Anatomy of a Video Signal

If the camera is digital, you will not be able to read in the signal with the multifunction DAQ board. The multifunction DAQ boards can perform static digital input and output (software timed). For reading in a digital signal you will need a hardware timed digital acquistion. Our
DAQ boards in the 653x family can be used for hardware timed digital input and output. In this situation, you would use the pixel clock of the camera to time the acqusition of the 653x device.

If the camera is analog you should consider purchasing one of National Instruments framegrabber boards for you acquistion. These boards are designed specifically for this purpose. (NI 1409 or NI 1411)

If the camera is digital, I would suggest visiting our online camera advisor to see if your camera is compatible with our digital framegrabbers (NI 1422, NI 1424, NI 1428)
Industrial Camera Advisor

Will Denman
Application Engineering
National Instruments