Nac HotShot User Manual

High-speed camera

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HOT

Version 1.0

User Manual

NAC Image Technology Inc

Pixoft Diagnostic Imaging Ltd

Feb 2005

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Summary of Contents for Nac HotShot

Page 1: User Manual
Version 1.0 User Manual NAC Image Technology Inc Pixoft Diagnostic Imaging Ltd Feb 2005...
Page 2: Table Of Contents
Contents Introduction........................3 Installation........................3 Software Installation ....................3 Microsoft™ DirectX ....................3 HotShot Link Software Installation ...............7 Hardware Installation....................10 HotShot PCI controller configuration..............13 Connections......................17 The software.........................18 The Main Window ....................18 Connecting a Camera...................19 Recovering Data from the Buffer ................21 Making a Recording.....................21 Record Controls ....................22 The Trigger ......................22...
Page 3: Introduction
This manual describes the operational procedures for NAC HotShot high-speed cameras. Installation Software Installation For a trouble free installation you should first install the HotShot Link software and then the HotShot PCI Board. Microsoft™ DirectX NOTE: Microsoft™ DirectX® version 8.1 is required. The following steps will guide you through the inspection and update process of DirectX®.
Page 4 3. From the Start Menu run the DirectX® 8.1 installation file at X:\dx81NTeng.exe where X represents the CD-ROM drive letter for your particular computer. Click the [OK] button. 4. In the “Microsoft DirectX 8.1 Setup” window click the [Yes] button to begin installation.
Page 5 6. Please wait while the DirectX® components and drivers are extracted and installed.
Page 6 7. In the “DirectX Setup” window click the [OK] button to reboot. 8. Once Windows® restarts verify that DirectX® was updated by running the diagnostic utility again. From the Start menu run the command dxdiag. Click the [OK] button. 9. Verify that DirectX® 8.1 is now shown. Click the [Exit] button.
Page 7: Hotshot Link Software Installation
HotShot Link Software Installation Follow these steps before installing the PCI boards: 1. From Windows Explorer or My Computer look inside the CD-Rom and find the install program called HotShotInstall.exe. 2. In the “Welcome” window click the [Next] button. 3. In the “Choose Destination Location” window click the [Next] button to accept the...
Page 8 4. In the “Backup Replaced Files” window click the [Next] button to backup all replaced files. If you do not wish to backup these files, click the No radio button and then click the [Next] button. 5. In the “Select Program Manager Group” window click the [Next] button to accept the default program folder.
Page 9 6. In the “Start Installation” window click the [Next] button to begin the installation. 7. Please wait for the software components to be installed. 8. In the “Installation Complete” window click the [Finish] button to exit.
Page 10: Hardware Installation
9. Finally shut down the computer from the Start menu. Hardware Installation CAUTION: Power down your system before opening the computer case. Handle electronic devices with care. 1. Remove the computer case cover. Install the HotShot PCI Controller in any empty PCI slot on your system board.
Page 11 2. Connect the trigger ribbon cable to connector P4 on the HotShot PCI Controller. 3. Connect the power cable to the power supply.
Page 12 4. Connect the HotShot PCI Controller to the Camera Head using the supplied Data and Power cables. Connect on the PCI Controller to on the Camera Head Connect on the PCI Controller to on the Camera Head Connect Power on the Power / Trigger Panel to...
Page 13: Hotshot Pci Controller Configuration
HotShot PCI controller configuration NOTE: These steps assume that all software and hardware have been installed. Please wait while the PCI card is recognized and the “Found New Hardware Wizard” window appears. 1. In the “Found New Hardware Wizard” window click the [Next] button.
Page 14 3. In the “Found New Hardware Wizard” window check the “Specify a location” box. Click the [Next] button. 4. In the “Found New Hardware Wizard” window click the [Browse] button.
Page 15 5. In the “the “Found New Hardware Wizard” window click the [Browse] button. Search for the driver located here: C:\Program Files\NAC\HotShot\Drivers\Win2K\Epixxcw2.inf Select the “Epixxcw2.inf” file and click to [Open] button. You may however have specified somewhere different when you installed the software.
Page 16 8. In the “Digital Signature Not Found” window click the [Yes] button.
Page 17: Connections
9. In the “Found New Hardware Wizard” window click the [Finish] button. 10. Restart the computer from the Start menu. Connections If the installation above was followed correctly the computer is now setup to operate in single camera mode. The trigger input on the power / trigger back plate needs to be connected to a BNC trigger cable to provide an external triggering to stop/start recordings.
Page 18: The Software
The software You can open the software from the following location: START MENU|Programs|NAC HotShot|ShotShot If you like you can copy this short cut to your desktop. See your Windows Guide for how to do this. The Main Window When the software starts it will look like the screen shot below: This window is divided into three areas.
Page 19: Connecting A Camera
Connecting a Camera On the selection tab there is a box at the top called ‘Camera / video list controls’, here is a grid, and some control buttons. To add a camera: 1. Click the Camera button on the top row in the middle. 2.
Page 20 ‘Connect Selected Cameras’ button or disregarded by clicking the ‘Cancel’ button. Note the ‘Position’ field can not be changed. 6. After any changes have been made the camera can be connected by ticking the camera’s name and clicking the ‘Connect Selected Cameras’ button, this will also save all the cameras in the list even if not checked to memory for future use.
Page 21: Recovering Data From The Buffer
5. ‘Copy Frame’ – Copies the frame showing in the image window and places on the Windows™ clipboard. 6. ‘About’ – Displays information relating to the HotShot Link software. Recovering Data from the Buffer To recover data from the buffer perform the following: 1.
Page 22: Record Controls
Record Controls Use this … To do this… Set the memory segment in use. Memory Segment Set the Frames Per second (Pictures Per Second) Frame Rate Shutter Set the Shutter Speed (Exposure Time) Trigger To Set the Trigger Mode Trigger Frame Sets the number of “Pre Trigger frames”...
Page 23: Play Controls
between these two extremes. See ‘Preferences’ for further details. After data has been captured clicking the trigger button will load the trigger frame into the viewing area. Play Controls Use this … To do this… When? Jump to the first frame of the recording, or the first After a Rewind frame of the sub range (see below)
Page 24: View / Measure / Reticle Functions
Mark IN Sets the Start position of the sub-range of images After a recording Mark OUT Sets the End position of the sub-range of images After a recording Mark IN When the Mark IN button is pressed or the slider-bar After a Frame Num sub-range triangle is used the current frame number is...
Page 25: Image Quality Settings
given in pixels. The same function is also available from the ‘Tools’ Tab Page Calibrate Calibrate the Scene. After depressing this button you will be Scene required to click on two points in the image for which you know the distance apart. You will then have to enter this distance into a dialog as shown below.
Page 26: Record Information
This section is for information purposes only. It displays the following: 1. Available record time. 2. The current frame number and time of the frame (relative to trigger). 3. The estimated uncompressed file size. Record Information Area of Interest You do not need to record the full resolution image. You have the option to select an area of interest.
Page 27: Saving Out
See also Preferences. Saving Out HotShot Link allows the saving out of recorded images, either separately or if there are two cameras in the PC, two recorded images can be saved out joined together. A comment typed here will be added to the frame information if frame information is included on the image output.
Page 28 option to reduce the size of the images saved out, in these boxes are the current width and height, if new figures are added into these boxes then the images will be first reduced before saved out into an AVI files. The ‘Keep Aspect Ration’...
Page 29 9. Once the required settings have been entered, click the ‘Ok’ button. 10. Then input a filename and location when the next window appears. 11. When another window appears select the compression if any. 12. Then watch the progress bar as the AVI is made. Note Other file format can be saved out along with AVI;...
Page 30: Tools
Tools Calibration This tool is used to calculate basic depth correction. Click the button will allow the user to select two points on the image that the distance apart is known. After clicking two points on the image you will see the dialog above. Enter the distance apart of the two points and the units of measure.
Page 31: Grid
Grid HotShot Link allows the overlay of a grid onto the images. Use this … To do this… Toggle the grid ON and OFF Grid On Set the start point of the grid. Both Polar and Line Set Start grids will begin at the point set. Press the button and then click the image.
Page 32: Pixel Analysis
Pixel Analysis Note for multi-camera systems. For all pixel tools the first camera that is ticked is the camera used to provide images for the tools. Any subsequent cameras ticked will be ignored. To view there camera’s pixel values make sure that camera’s name is ticked and no other.
Page 33 5. This window contains a colour selection option at the top along with the middle x and y co-ordinates highlighted by the blue box on the grid below. 6. Because the camera is monochrome, there will be no colour options, it the camera was a colour model;...
Page 34 7. A yellow square will now indicate the pixels being looked at in the grid, and the grid will update to view the pixel’s values. The centre x and y position is the pixel that was click on the images, and the co-ordinates are stored in the edit boxes above.
Page 35 With this option select the grid automatically goes to the centre of the images and highlights the centre pixel. Again click on the image will display the pixel values around the area click with the area clicked being at the centre display of the grid and the co-ordinates being displayed in the edit boxes above.
Page 36: Pixel Views
Pixel Views At the top of this box is ‘Display Options For All Tools’, this box changes settings for the following three pixel functions. This option with the bullet in will only display that channel in the graphs. Row/ Column Intensity This function extracts from the current frame the pixel values (intensity’s) along a pre-selected Row or Column.
Page 37 5. The window contains a graph show the pixel intensity on the left ranging from 0 to 155, and on the bottom the pixel’s position. In the case of a row from left to right or if a viewing a column from top to bottom. 6.
Page 38 To use this function: 1. Select the channel to be viewed in the ‘Display Options for All Tools’ box. 2. Select the correct range using the ‘Play Controls’ sub range slider. 3. Click the ‘Pick Time’ button. 4. Select the required pixel by click on its location with the mouse. 5.
Page 39 Average Intensity Over Time This function is very similar to the above function, but instead of just finding out a specific pixel’s value, this function will work out the average intensity for a row, column or area on each image within the ranges set. To use this function on a row or column: 1.
Page 40: Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous Preferences The ‘Default Settings’ button will show the preferences screen.
Page 41: Start End Trigger Offset
Use this … To do this… The % of memory to “delay” when using a Start or Start/End End trigger. (see Below) Trigger Offset Set the state of the External Sync from the camera External head. Sync / Flash Include Denote whether frame information (Frame Number, frame info time, shutter, trigger, comments) are displayed on the...
Page 42: Memory Segmentation
Memory Segmentation On clicking this button will open up the following window: This window controls the number of segments the PCI board is made into. A segment is part of the total available video memory. The top half of the window is where the user can select how many segments there are.
Page 43: Advance Options
The Capture update control how often the image window is updated with the latest image captured from the HotShot, the higher the setting the quicker its updated, however the slower the software responds as the operating system allocates more time to the capture thread instead of processing messages from the mouse and keyboard.
Page 44: About
About The about box displays, the current version, and build number underneath, and what operating mode the programme is working in: 1. Multi-Camera. 2. Single Camera.