Introduction - DAGE-MTI Excel Series User Manual

Introduction

Excel Camera Hardware
The DAGE-MTI Excel family of digital cameras are based upon the Kodak KAI series of
interline transfer, progressive scan, CCD sensors. These high performance sensors have
7.4um square pixels with microlenses to provide high sensitivity and the large full well
capacity results in high dynamic range. The XLV camera has 640x480 pixels (VGA) @ up to
75 frames per second. The XL16 camera has 1600x1200 (UXGA) pixels @ up to 16 frames
per second and the XLM camera has 2048x2048 pixels @ up to 7.2 frames per second. All
models are available with color or monochrome sensors.
The Excel cameras operate over an IEEE-1394 Firewire
all that is required for operation is a single IEEE-1394 cable connection between the camera
and the PC. An IEEE-1394 PC card and cable are provided with each camera. Optional
IEEE-1394 PCMCIA adaptors and cables are available for use with Laptops.
The Excel cameras are IIDC version 1.31 compliant set forth by the 1394 Trade
Association. Having the cameras adhere to a defined set of guidelines ensures easier
integration and consistency for software interface and development. This also allows the
cameras to be controlled by 3
Full automatic and manual shuttering, gain and extended exposure modes allow for
exceptional image results even under difficult lighting conditions. Binning is available in color
and monochrome versions to provide increased sensitivity and frame rates for dynamic
images. A scalable ROI (Region Of Interest) feature allows viewing and saving of portions of
the image area needed. This also allows faster frame rates for dynamic images and smaller
saved file sizes.
An Auxiliary connector provides an external trigger input and a strobe output for triggered
capture to external events. Two General Purpose In/Out (GPIO) pins are also provided for
various features such as a Footswitch capture control.
The camera mounts to the industry standard C-Mount optics. This allows connection to
Microscopes with C-Mount ports as well as C-Mount lenses. A Nikon F-mount adapter is
available for adapting the camera lens mount to accept Nikon F lenses.
rd
party software designed to control IIDC compliant devices.
4
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bus. For simplistic operation,