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Configuring the PXD1000 Digital Frame Grabber with a
Digital Camera and Building a Compatible Cable
Rev 1.1 12/00
The PXD1000 digital frame grabber is compatible with nearly all commercially available
40Mhz and below digital cameras. In order to use a digital camera with your PXD1000
digital frame grabber, a compatible cable and configuration file will be required.
Imagenation provides direct support with compatible cables and configuration files for a
number of the more popular digital cameras (see list below). Since support for new
models of digital cameras are being added on a regular basis, please check the
Imagenation Technical Support web page for an up-to-date list of all digital cameras with
full support located on the Web at: www.imagenation.com -> Technical Support -> PXD
Series.
If your camera is not listed as one currently being supported, you will need to take a few
more steps to configure the PXD1000 to work with your camera. With the powerful PXD
Configuration Utility, you can create a camera definition file for your particular camera
and nearly any 40Mhz or lower digital camera can be configured and optimized to
operate with the PXD1000.
Why Is It Necessary To Build a Unique Cable & Configuration File
For Each Digital Camera?
Due to a lack of industry standards in the digital camera world, it is typically necessary to
have a specially configured cable for the frame grabber and each digital camera make and
model. This is because in general each digital camera can have unique connectors, signal
pin-outs, data formats, and data widths (8, 10, 12 bits, etc…).
For example, suppose you plan to use a single channel 10-bit camera; the image data is
transmitted on 10 twisted pairs (20 wires). If the camera is generating the timing for the
frame grabber then at least Line-Data-Valid (LDV), Frame-data-valid (FDV), and the
camera pixel clock (CAMERACLK) will be required In addition, for example, if the
camera uses a single exposure control implemented with EIA-644 and you want the
frame grabber to control it, then another twisted pair is required. All in all, even this
simple application requires at least 14 twisted pairs.
Options for acquiring compatible digital cable: -
1) Purchase from Imagenation
Imagenation provides full support for a number of different digital
cameras. We provide camera guides, which include specific instructions
for configuring the PXD1000 for the camera. Some camera guides and
camera configuration files are located on the CD that comes with the