Philips PC Camera User Manual

Philips PC Camera User Manual

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1 Introduction...................................................................................................................... 2
2 Preparation ....................................................................................................................... 3
3 Camera and software installation..................................................................................... 5
4 Using the applications...................................................................................................... 7
5 Settings............................................................................................................................. 8
6 TWAIN applications...................................................................................................... 14
7 Tips and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).............................................................. 17
8 Technical specifications................................................................................................. 22
9 Regulations, Warnings & Maintenance ......................................................................... 24
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Summary of Contents for Philips PC Camera

  • Page 1: Table Of Contents

    6 TWAIN applications...................... 14 7 Tips and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).............. 17 8 Technical specifications....................22 9 Regulations, Warnings & Maintenance ................. 24 All brand names and trademarks acknowledged. Copyright © 2001 Philips Components BV All data subject to change without notice.
  • Page 2: Introduction

    1 Introduction Brilliant images and blazing colours. That's what you get with the Philips USB PC Camera. Forget about installing grabber cards and separate power supplies. You don't need them. Power is supplied direct to the camera through the USB cable and the camera returns audio and video...
  • Page 3: Preparation

    Unplug all your USB devices (except USB keyboard or USB mouse) before you start. Place the Philips installation CD-ROM in your CD-ROM player, let the Philips installation program install the driver software and the application software, and connect the camera...
  • Page 4 or suspend the camera from your laptop Put the camera on top of the monitor, or on a table or screen ! desk... « How to mount the perch: (Ensure that the supporting surface is free of grease and dirt.) Remove backing from adhesive tape.
  • Page 5: Camera And Software Installation

    In order to maximize the video and audio performance offered by your camera, we have included a Philips installation program on CD-ROM. Please follow these directions for the camera installation exactly, and make sure that you have your Windows CD-ROM to hand.
  • Page 6 - Installed applications, as selected by the user during this installation procedure. Plug in any USB devices you might have disconnected at the first step of the installation. You are now ready to start working with your Philips USB Camera. Go to the central camera application VLounge...
  • Page 7: Using The Applications

    4.1 General VLounge is the central application for easy access to your Philips USB PC Camera and all video applications installed during setup, together with access to one application of your choice. You can start VLounge using the Windows QuickLaunch menu on your taskbar, through the program group 'Philips ToUcam Camera', or by double-clicking the VLounge icon on the desktop.
  • Page 8: Settings

    5 Settings The camera properties (audio and video) can be changed from within an application, or independently by clicking the VProperty icon which can be found in the right hand part of the Windows taskbar at the bottom of your screen. Most applications can show a 'live preview' video image on your monitor.
  • Page 9 Control: Full Auto on/off This Full Auto mode provides a very easy way to get the best out of your camera. Or you can choose to have maximum manual control over the camera settings by switching the Full Auto mode off. Full Auto 'on' is the preferred setting for normal use. Functions activated in Full Auto mode are: - Automatic exposure control and automatic white balance control, to provide the best video source signal possible.
  • Page 10: Camera Controls

    5.2 Camera Controls The next tab is marked 'Camera Controls'. White Balance In Auto mode the camera automatically controls the different colour components in the picture to obtain the most natural colour reproduction. This setting is the preferred setting for normal use. Switch off the automatic white balance control to enable Manual control.
  • Page 11 In manual mode (no check mark in the Auto checkbox) you can control the gain and shutter speed settings manually. The manual exposure mode disables the controls for contrast and backlight compensation in the other property tab (marked Image Controls) and the flickerless control in this tab.
  • Page 12: Audio Controls

    5.3 Audio Controls The third tab is marked 'Audio Controls'. Volume slider This slider provides manual control over the microphone volume. The 'Volume Wizard' helps you to choose the correct sound level setting for the slider control. Balance slider Not implemented since the camera microphone itself produces a mono audio signal. Mute Shuts off the microphone completely.
  • Page 13 Some applications may offer you a fourth tab called 'Capture source'. Usually this setting has only one option when the USB PC Camera is the only video source connected to your computer. However, if more than one video source is connected to your system, then this is where you switch between them.
  • Page 14: Twain Applications

    Use the voice control feature of the camera (say 'Cheese') to be sure to capture an image of you smiling. The Philips USB PC Camera is TWAIN-compatible (like a scanner), so you can use the camera as an input device for any application software that uses TWAIN as a data source (e.g.
  • Page 15 Camera source Usually this setting features only one option when the USB PC Camera is the only video source connected to your computer. However, if more than one video source is connected to your system, then this is where you switch between them.
  • Page 16 Auto Image Capture • In the 'Auto Image Capture' section you can enable the Auto Capture function together with an appropriate timer interval. This function triggers the capturing of images at adjustable regular intervals. The 'Capture' button in the View Finder changes into an 'Auto Start' button to indicate this selection, and the Voice Control option will become unavailable.
  • Page 17: Tips And Frequently Asked Questions (Faqs)

    CD-ROM. Camera performance and system requirements In VGA resolution this digital USB PC Camera provides a very large data stream that needs to be processed in real-time by the application you are using. Although the camera will perform satisfactorily on a Pentium I at the lower resolutions, we recommend a more powerful computer, e.g.
  • Page 18 If you unplug the camera while it is actively providing an audio or video stream to an application on your computer, the computer may crash. To avoid problems, first close all applications that use audio from the camera microphone or video from the camera before unplugging your Philips USB PC Camera.
  • Page 19 A: If you unplug the camera while it is providing an audio or video stream to an application on your computer, the computer may crash. To avoid problems always close applications that use audio from the camera microphone or video from the camera before unplugging your Philips USB PC Camera.
  • Page 20 The camera microphone can only produce a mono audio signal. Check whether the application uses this setting. If not, adjust the audio setting to mono. Check whether the USB PC camera microphone is selected as the current recording device. (Start, Settings, Control Panel, MultiMedia, Audio tab. In the recording section, the 'Philips VGA Digital camera, Audio (Microphone)' should be selected).
  • Page 21 Please bear in mind that the majority of video applications do not require high resolutions in combination with high frame rates. In most cases, therefore, you will not encounter this phenomenon at all. Visit our website at www.philips.com/pcstuff for new or updated information.
  • Page 22: Technical Specifications

    8 Technical specifications Optical Camera model number: PCVC720K, lens ring colour: red body colour: grey Sensor CMOS Pixels 352 (H) x 288 (V) Still image resolution 640 (H) x 480 (V) Illumination < 10 lux Integrated lens F2.0 Resolution/performance Output resolution Pixels (H x V) Frame rate in frames/sec [fps] 352 x 288...
  • Page 23 Microphone, USB speakers or sound card with speakers Internet connection Software Windows 98 / 2000 drivers by Philips VRecord by Philips VideoLink Mail by Smith Micro NetMeeting by Microsoft Photo Explorer by Ulead SpotLife by SpotLife GameCam by Reality Fusion...
  • Page 24: Regulations, Warnings & Maintenance

    Keep the camera away from heat sources, lights, and direct sunlight. • Never point the lens of your camera at the sun. All brand names and trademarks acknowledged. Copyright © 2001 Philips Components BV All data subject to change without notice.
  • Page 25 10 Glossary Audio input device (recording device) One of the Windows multimedia settings is the recording device setting. This setting determines which audio hardware is being used to provide audio signals to audio applications. This setting is accessible through: the Windows 'Start' menu, Settings, Control Panel, MultiMedia, Audio tab. In the recording section, the USB digital camera microphone should be selected.
  • Page 26 Audio input device (recording device) One of the Windows multimedia settings is the recording device setting. This setting determines which audio hardware is being used to provide audio signals to audio applications. This setting is accessible through: the Windows 'Start' menu, Settings, Control Panel, MultiMedia, Audio tab. In the recording section, the USB digital camera microphone should be selected.
  • Page 27 Philips installation program A standard installation program that runs from CD-ROM. Usually, this program starts automatically after inserting the installation CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive, and guides you through the whole installation process.
  • Page 28 Philips installation program A standard installation program that runs from CD-ROM. Usually, this program starts automatically after inserting the installation CD-ROM into your CD-ROM drive, and guides you through the whole installation process.
  • Page 29 TWAIN Standard software interface for imaging applications. If a hardware device has a TWAIN driver, it can be used as an image source for TWAIN-compatible imaging applications. Choose your TWAIN source in the imaging application itself. Then choose 'Acquire' to start the TWAIN driver for the TWAIN source.

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