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Pco pixelfly usb User Manual

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  • Page 1 pco.
  • Page 2 The information is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment on the part of PCO in the future. PCO hereby authorizes you to copy documents for non – commercial use within your organization only. In...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTENDED USE 2. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 3. SYSTEM COMPONENTS 4. INSTALLATION 4.1 DRIVER 4.2 CAMWARE 5. QUICK START 5.1 PREPARATION 5.2 START 5.3 YOUR FIRST IMAGE 6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE 6.1 CHAPTER OVERVIEW 6.2 CAMERA OVERVIEW / LIST 6.3 CAMERA PROPERTIES 6.3.1 TIMING...
  • Page 4 A1 TECHNICAL DATA A1.1 DATA SHEET A1.2 MECHANICAL DIMENSIONS A1.3 PINOUT OF RJ11 CONNECTOR A2 TRIGGER INTERFACE A3 HOT PIXEL UTILITY A4 IMAGE FILE FORMATS A5 CUSTOMER SERVICE A5.1 SERVICE A5.2 MAINTENANCE A5.3 RECYCLING A5.4 TROUBLE SHOOTING A6 INDEX ABOUT PCO...

  • Page 5: Introduction

    1. INTRODUCTION 1. INTRODUCTION Advantages of the pco.pixelfly usb Features This versatile high performance 14 bit CCD camera system has an extraordinary quantum efficiency of up to 62%. At the heart of the camera is a FPGA processor which provides sophisticated control and accurate timing of the CCD and associated electronics.

  • Page 6: Safety Instructions

    2. SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS Please read the safety instructions completely and follow them always. DAMAGED POWER CABLE OR POWER PLUG Danger to life due to electric shock. DANGER  Each time the camera is used, check the power cable for damage. ELECTRIC SHOCK WARNING DUE TO VOLTAGE PARTS INSIDE WARNING Risk of injury due to electric shock.

  • Page 7: System Components

    3. SYSTEM COMPONENTS 3. SYSTEM COMPONENTS The camera system includes the following parts. Camera Head C-mount optical connection: The distance between the front edge of the c-mount and the sensor is 17.52 mm. For standard c-mount lenses and adapters. DC Power Jack (connect to power supply) USB 2.0 Connector (connect to PC)

  • Page 8: Installation

    Windows 7 USB 2.0 4.1 DRIVER Please start the USB 2.0 driver installation from your pco.usb flash drive. Don’t connect the camera to your computer before driver is completely installed. Run the provided installation file and follow the instructions of the installation wizard.

  • Page 9: Camware

    4. INSTALLATION 4.2 CAMWARE The Camware Windows application software enables you to control every camera parameter or setting. Images can be displayed on a monitor and may be downloaded and stored. The USB storage device contains the installation files for the software for latest Windows operating systems in 32 &...

  • Page 10: Quick Start

    • Camera is connected to the power supply and ready (LED green) 5.2 START Start Camware and the graphical user interface will start up: NOTE Always install latest Camware version to be able to use full function of your pco camera.

  • Page 11: Your First Image

    5. QUICK START 5.3 YOUR FIRST IMAGE Please follow the instructions: • Camware must be started. • A view window is shown automatically / or open a new one. • Start live preview. • Right-click in the view window and apply Auto Range Peak. •...

  • Page 12: Camware 4 Software

    This chapter provides a detailed description of all Camware functions. Camware works with any kind of PCO camera. Please see PCO website for the latest version of this software. 6.1 CHAPTER OVERVIEW Chapter 6.2: lists all cameras connected Preview, connected cameras, recording 6.2 Camera Overview/List...

  • Page 13: Camera Overview / List

    Camera Overview. The Camera Overview window allows you to manage several connected cameras. It displays a list of all connected PCO cameras. Camware is able to scan 2 for connected cameras or close a connected camera. It is possible to define several different Settings for each camera (max.
  • Page 14 Click and drag camera setting: If you want to copy e.g. Camera Setting 1 to Camera Setting 4, just drag Setting 1 to Setting 4 and Camware will ask you if you want to copy the settings. It is possible to copy each setting to every camera.

  • Page 15: Camera Properties

    6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE 6.3 CAMERA PROPERTIES The Camera Properties window in Camware is the main interface for all camera settings. The active set selected within Camera List can be adjusted here. The former main instance Camera Control (known from Camware 3.x) and the Convert Control (see 6.3.5) can be opened additionally.

  • Page 16: Timing

    The current frame rate (fps) is always displayed. The exposure time (delay time is not available for pco.pixelfly usb) can be adjusted in steps of 1 μs. The jitter of the actual exposure start edge: < 13...

  • Page 17: Image Size

    6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE 6.3.2 IMAGE SIZE The actual image size 1 is displayed here. Binning or Region of Interest settings affect the image size and are applied automatically. Binning Binning combines neighboring pixels (in either the horizontal or / and vertical direction) to form super pixels.

  • Page 18: Sensor Control

    The first exposure time t can be any exposure time of the available range of the exp1 pco.pixelfly usb camera. The second exposure time t can not exp2 be directly adjusted. The length of the second exposure is exactly determined by the readout time t of the first image.
  • Page 19 The pco.pixelfly has two conversion factors: 1.0 e /count and 1.5 e /count, which both can be used in standard and binning mode. As mentioned in 6.3.2 binning is available for the pco.pixelfly. The usable extended fullwell-capacity rises in binning mode from 16000 to 24000e .

  • Page 20: Recording Control

    6.3.4 RECORDING CONTROL Recorder Mode In Sequence mode the recording stops if the number of allocated images in RAM space is reached. (See 6.2). In Ring Buffer mode the camera will stop only by a stop command. In this mode the RAM is a circular buffer and overwritten again and again.

  • Page 21: Convert Control Dialog

    6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE 6.3.5 CONVERT CONTROL DIALOG Start the Convert Control Dialog with the Black/White Button in Camera Properties. Convert Control BW The user can influence how the 14 bit intensity values (x-axis) of the original image are displayed in 8 bit values (y-axis) in different ways. BW Settings (includes histogram of original data) It is possible to hide the histogram of original...
  • Page 22 Convert Control Color (only pco.pixelfly usb color) Color Balance (Histogram of original data) Intensity of single color can be controlled by Saturation and Vibrance Press the Auto button to set the white balance The balancing of RGB can be controlled by Col.Temp and Tint...

  • Page 23: Image Overlay

    6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE 6.4 IMAGE OVERLAY Open Image Overlay: you can easily switch between Camera Properties window and Image Overlay with these two buttons. If not available, please see 6.9.5 View Menu to activate this menu. This function enables an individually configurable image overlay, which allows to display information within the images.

  • Page 24: Recorder Tools

    6.5 RECORDER TOOLS Recorder Tools provides Record and Play function, Play Settings and Record Settings. It can be found on the right lower side of Camware or, if closed, activated by View Menu (see chapter 6.9.5) Record Start/Stop record: with Record Button. Record: in record state Camware software is highlighted in red.
  • Page 25 6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE Reminder dialog If you have already made a recording but did not save it, Camware will ask you to save the record before starting a new one. Extended Recorder can be activated (see 6.9.5) Recording with multiple cameras cameras activated recording...

  • Page 26: View Window

    6.6 VIEW WINDOW More View Windows It is possible to open more view windows from one camera: just open new view window 1 and Camware will create a new one 2 . Even when multiple view windows (or from multiple cameras) are open, the same image number is always shown in all of the view windows.

  • Page 27: Recorder (Images)

    6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE 6.7 RECORDER (IMAGES) When recording is done, small preview images (thumbnails) are built and displayed automatically. This will take some time depending on the performance of your computer system and of the interface used. If you click (left mouse button) within the upper scale bar 1 , you can adjust the number of images which are shown by moving the mouse left or right.
  • Page 28 Right-click menu (click on thumbnails) Allows you to rebuild all thumbnails and to search for events. Furthermore, the Set In / Out gives you the possibility to set values for a sequence, which can be played via play button. Reset In / Out discards these settings.

  • Page 29: Settings Overview

    Green background: Images are in memory Frame rate Currently selected frame rate Resolution Resolution in pixels Exposure time Selected exposure time Number of images Number of images to be recorded T0 Position Not available for pco.pixelfly usb Synchronization Not available for pco.pixelfly usb Status...

  • Page 30: Auto Save

    6.8.1 AUTO SAVE Auto Save helps to save your recorded images or sequences in an easy way. There is no need to save each image/sequence separately from each connected camera. Therefore this function is very useful if you use more than one camera. Once configured Auto Save allows acquiring and saving as many images/sequences as you will need during your experiment.
  • Page 31 6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE General Auto Save Settings – File name Set your file name individually by adding or deleting items. Position these elements as needed. Camera Specific Auto Save Settings: Configure camera specific settings for each connected camera. Save RAW File Settings: set RAW File Folder and RAW File Name (if not set to automatic file naming).

  • Page 32: Camware Menu Tabs & Features

    All camera options are deactivated. Need Help? If this window pops up because you have trouble running the camera, please see instructions in appendix A5. Settings to view the b16 files of the pco.pixelfly usb Resolution DoubleShutter...

  • Page 33: File Menu

    This command should be used to import a single image into the currently active image window. Only files with the extension and format of *.b16 (=PCO proprietary binary image format) and *.tif (16 bit TIFF image format) can be imported. If the recorder is enabled, each imported image will be transferred to the buffer shown in the picture number.
  • Page 34 Export Recorder Sequence (not reloadable!) Use this command to export a sequence of images. If more than one camera is connected and an image window is currently open, the record of the window which has got the input focus will be saved.

  • Page 35: Camera Menu

    Close Disconnects camera and switches Camware to Demo Mode. In case of multiple cameras, all cameras must be closed in order for Camware to switch to Demo Mode. Rescan Disconnects and reconnects all cameras. Setup (not available for pco.pixelfly usb)

  • Page 36: Acquisition Menu

    6.9.4 ACQUISITION MENU Live Preview The Live Preview is useful for fast and easy adjusting and focusing of the camera. The active window will be updated. To see another window, simply click on the window. This option is not available in double shutter mode. Acquire Picture (not available) Acquire Sequence Starts recording images into the system memory according to Trigger...

  • Page 37: Window Menu

    Create Support File This will activate the Camware log files. Press YES to activate log files and reboot Camware and your pco.pixelfly usb. After log files are activated it is possible to create a support file. Please send this file to the PCO support (see A5.4).

  • Page 38: Right-Click Menu

    6.9.8 RIGHT-CLICK MENU NOTE View Color: color window. Right-click in the View View Window B: if Double Shutter mode is activated, this will switch window to open this to window B (second image). menu. Stretched View: image will be fitted into the display window. Stretched View Ratio: aspect ratio are maintained.

  • Page 39: Additional Features

    6. CAMWARE 4 SOFTWARE Copy to Clipboard: will copy the actual image to clipboard. Crosshair: activates a centered crosshair. Size and color are selectable see chapter 6.9.2 → Options. Crosshair is movable, just drag it by mouse. Reset it to center position by double-click into center of the crosshair.

  • Page 40: Appendix

    A1 TECHNICAL DATA A1.1 DATA SHEET A1.2 MECHANICAL DIMENSIONS A1.3 PINOUT OF RJ11 CONNECTOR A2 TRIGGER INTERFACE A3 HOT PIXEL UTILITY A4 IMAGE FILE FORMATS A5 CUSTOMER SERVICE A5.1 SERVICE A5.2 MAINTENANCE A5.3 RECYCLING A5.4 TROUBLE SHOOTING A6 INDEX ABOUT PCO...

  • Page 41: A1 Technical Data

    A1 TECHNICAL DATA A1 TECHNICAL DATA A1.1 DATA SHEET image sensor type of sensor image sensor ICX 285L resolution (h x v) 1392 x 1040 pixel (normal) 800 x 600 (centered) pixel size (h x v) 6.45 µm x 6.45 µm sensor format / diagonal 2/3”...

  • Page 42: A1.2 Mechanical Dimensions

    All dimensions given in millimeter. NOTE Input Window Filter C-Mount flange focal distance: 17,52 mm The input window of the pco.pixelfly usb camera contains a standard 300nm – 800nm AR coating (98% light transmission). This window can be replaced by a filter (24mm diameter).

  • Page 43: A1.3 Pinout Of Rj11 Connector

    A2 TRIGGER INTERFACE A1.3 PINOUT OF RJ11 CONNECTOR Description Ground Exposure out (3V) Busy out (3V) Acquire in (not used) Trigger in (TTL 0…5V) +12V (alternative power supply) Pin Position Timing & Signals busy = TRUE: camera is recording or sensor readout in progress busy = FALSE: external trigger is ready to accept...

  • Page 44: A3 Hot Pixel Utility

    Therefore we created the program Pixelfly_DEFPIX.exe. It can be used to create or edit the hot/defective pixel list of a pco.pixelfly usb with hot/defective pixel option enabled (firmware 1.0.28 or higher). There are two choices. Auto-create a new list of defective pixels or edit an existing one.
  • Page 45 Save and Load buttons. DPX is a proprietary file format of pco. The files created can be edited with every text editor, since the content is plain ASCII. The content of the DPX file is as follows, e.g.: pco.camera defective pixel list V01.00...

  • Page 46: A4 Image File Formats

    The 16 bit information will be lost and cannot be displayed later. pcoraw This 16 bit PCO file format is based on the new BigTIFF format, thus allowing for file size > 4GB. A new PCO proprietary compression scheme is added in case it is necessary...
  • Page 47 A4 IMAGE FILE FORMATS Standard File Formats TIFF Tag Image File Format, version 6.0 and lower. There is a 16bit monochrome and color image format. Windows Bitmap Format, b/w or color 8 bit format-images, which have been saved in BMP format can be loaded later only as 8 bit images, i.e.

  • Page 48: A5 Customer Service

    A5.3 RECYCLING If you want to dispose your camera, please send it to PCO or take it to a local recycling center. The camera includes electronic devices, which can contain materials harmful to the environment.

  • Page 49: A5.4 Trouble Shooting

    A5 CUSTOMER SERVICE A5.4 TROUBLE SHOOTING If you have a question, which is not adequately addressed in this manual, please contact PCO or your local dealer. To speed your request, we need the following information: Short description of the problem...

  • Page 50: A6 Index

    A6 INDEX Keyword Chapter Page NOTE: Auto File Save 6.8.1 The mentioned page is Averaging always starting Binning 6.3.2 page of a chapter! Camware software Codec Dialog 6.9.2 Connection options A1.3 Contrast settings 21; 38 6.3.5; 6.9.9 Conversion Factor 6.3.3 Convert control 6.3.5 Cuda nvidia driver...

  • Page 51: About Pco

    CCD- and CMOS-technology for our cameras. Since 2001, PCO is located in its own facility building in Kelheim at the shore of the beautiful and international river Danube. Here in the county Bavaria, which is well known for its excellent support and...
  • Page 52 pco.

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