Serial Communication; Making The Serial Connection; Converting Camera Link Output To Rs-644 With A K-Bic (A501K Only); Rs-644 Serial Communication - Basler A500k User Manual

2.6 RS-644 Serial Communication

The A500 is equipped for RS-644 serial communication via the frame grabber as specified in the
k
Camera Link standard. The RS-644 serial connection in the Camera Link interface is used to issue
commands to the camera for changing modes and parameters. The serial link can also be used
to query the camera about its current setup.
The Basler Camera Configuration Tool Plus (CCT+) is a convenient, graphical interface that can
be used to change camera modes and parameters via the serial connection. The configuration
tool is installed as part of the camera installation procedure shown in the booklet that is shipped
with the camera. Section
Detailed instructions for using the tool are included in the on-line help file that is installed with the
tool.
Basler has also developed a binary command protocol that can be used to change camera modes
and parameters directly from your own application via the serial connection. See section
details on the binary command format, and section
camera with binary commands.

2.6.1 Making the Serial Connection

Frame grabbers compliant with the Camera Link specification are equipped with a serial port
integrated into the Camera Link interface that can be used for RS-644 serial communication. The
characteristics of the serial port can vary from manufacturer.
If you are using the Basler CCT+ to configure the camera, the tool will detect the characteristics
of the serial port on the frame grabber and will determine the appropriate settings so that the tool
can open and use the port.
If you are configuring the camera using binary commands from within your application software,
your software must be able to access the frame grabber serial port and to determine the
appropriate settings so that it can open and use the port. See your frame grabber's documentation
to determine the port access method and the port characteristics.

In order for the Camera Configuration Tool Plus and the CPA driver to detect and use
the port, the characteristics of the port must comply with the Camera Link standard
and the DLL called for in the standard must be present.
2.7 Converting Camera Link Output to RS-644 with a
k-BIC (A501
On the A501 , video data is output from the camera in Camera Link LVDS format and parameter
k
change commands are issued to the camera using RS-644 serial communication via the frame
grabber. On older cameras, video data was output using an RS-644 LVDS format and commands
were issued using RS-232 serial communication via the host PC. The output from A501
can be converted to the older style of output by using a Basler Interface Converter for k-series
cameras (k-BIC). The k-BIC is a small device which attaches to the A501
compatible cable. For complete information on the k-BIC, refer to the k-BIC Users Manual and the
k-BIC Installation Guide.
k
Basler A500
PRELIMINARY
4.1 provides some basic information about the configuration tool.
Only)
k
4.2 for information on how to configure the
k
Camera Interface
4.2 for
cameras
k
with a Camera Link
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