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MallinCam Signature User Manual

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Signature Camera
[Version 1.2]
Michael Burns
[
Signature User Manual
This document will introduce you to the wonders of the Mallincam Signature Camera.
It will include instructions on how to connect the Signature to your computer along
with explanations of the camera's various settings. Imaging techniques with the
various hardware and software options will be covered. Both the standard CVBS
video output and SDI video output will be discussed along with hints and suggestions
on how to resolve any problems that you encounter with this camera. Enjoy the
adventure with Rock Mallin's professional SDI video camera, this his Signature
masterpiece.
Signature User Manual
Revision Sheet
]
Page i

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Summary of Contents for MallinCam Signature

  • Page 1 Signature User Manual This document will introduce you to the wonders of the Mallincam Signature Camera. It will include instructions on how to connect the Signature to your computer along with explanations of the camera’s various settings. Imaging techniques with the various hardware and software options will be covered.

  • Page 2: Revision History

    Revision Sheet Revision History Version Date Revision Description 3/22/2014 Template Creation 3/23/2014 Typo’s 3/24/2014 Added Appendix F specifically for RS485 Adapters Signature User Manual Page ii...

  • Page 3: Table Of Contents

    Table of Contents .......................... 0 Introduction ..........................3 The Contents of the Signature Package ................3 You purchase will include the following items: ..............3 The Camera (Just the Facts) ....................4 The Camera (its Anatomy) ....................... 5 The Camera (Connection Diagram) ..................7 The Camera (RS-485 Connection) ..................
  • Page 4 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 Appendix A – OSD Menu ....................... 28 LUMINANCE MENU1 (1/4) ......................28 ALC ..............................28 AES ..............................28 FIX SHUTTER ............................ 29 PEAK AVERAGE ..........................29 BACK LIGHT ............................. 29 XDR ..............................30 GAMMA .............................. 30 LUMINANCE MENU2 (2/4) ......................
  • Page 5 Connecting Hardware .......................... 53 Installing Driver Software ........................54 US Converters RS232 -RS485 Converter Model Number XS201A ..........55 Connecting Hardware .......................... 55 Appendix G – Signature Setting Example Sheets .............. 56 Appendix H – Notes ........................ 57 Signature User Manual Page 2...

  • Page 6: Introduction

    Solar System objects. Many special thanks to Rock, Jack, Bob, Bryan, Shevill and others whose advice and techniques are incorporated in this manual. This manual is based on the RED LED version of a NTSC Signature Camera which also includes RS485 control capabilities.

  • Page 7: The Camera (Just The Facts)

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 The Camera (Just the Facts) The Mallincam Signature Camera is the ultimate Solar, Lunar, and Planetary Video Camera ever made. This scientific instrument contains the following specifications: Image Sensor sCMOS  CCD Pixels: 1384(H) by 1076(V) with 3.25 m Pixel size for a total of 1.49 Mega Pixels...

  • Page 8: The Camera (Its Anatomy)

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 The Camera (its Anatomy) The Signature camera is 4.5” x 2” x 2” and weighs in at about 1 lb Signature User Manual Page 5...
  • Page 9 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 The Signature Camera also comes with comes with 120 Volts AC Power Supply, 1.25" Eyepiece Adapter, 25 foot Power / Video (analog) Combination Cable and RS485 connection cable. Signature User Manual Page 6...

  • Page 10: The Camera (Connection Diagram)

    March 23, 2014 The Camera (Connection Diagram) The Camera (RS-485 Connection) The Signature communicates via a 3 pip RS485 port on the back of the camera Note: Only the Red LED Version of the Signature has communication capabilities. Ground Signature User Manual...

  • Page 11: Hooking Up Hardware

    Mallincam RS485 Port Connector. You need to connect the Mallincam RS485 Port Connector to the back of the Signature Camera and then connect the three cables to the green thingy (this is the technical term we use in the industry) that came with your purchased “RS485 Adapter”.

  • Page 12: Software

    Solar System objects (major planets, Sun and Moon). The Signature does provide a Slow Shutter capability that allows longer exposures from 1/15s to 8s to capture those dimmer objects. The Signature was not designed for Deep Sky Objects, but that is still not out of its capabilities with the end user’s expertise.

  • Page 13: Hd-Sdi

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 HD-SDI Serial digital interface (SDI) is a family of digital video interfaces first standardized by SMPTE (The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) and is used for broadcast-grade video. High-definition serial digital interface (HD-SDI), was also standardized in SMPTE;...

  • Page 14: Cvbs

    SDI-HDMI converter called the Spector that will do the job for you. CVBS The CVBS OUT BNC connector on the back of the Signature Camera produces an analog signal that can be captured by any analog capture device such as the Mallincam MCV video capture device.
  • Page 15 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 For those of you who want to display the analog signal from the Signature on a HDMI monitor, Mallincam provides an analog to HDMI upscaler. This device U p-Scales Composite Video, S-Video, and HDMI to 720p/1080p (selectable) HDMI.

  • Page 16: Instructions

    8. If necessary select Crossbar from AMCAP to choose the RCA connection on MCV rather than the S-video. 9. Hold down the Centre button on the back of the Signature for about 2 seconds (release when you see OSD menu on your Video Display Software) 10.

  • Page 17: Connecting Signature To Computer (Hd-Sdi)

    8. Ensure all resolutions match from the Signature camera to the Video Capture Device to the Video Display Software (1030p). 9. Hold down the Centre button on the back of the Signature for about 2 seconds (release when you see OSD menu on your video display software) 10.

  • Page 18: Controlling Signature Using The Buttons

    LEFT and RIGHT Buttons to cycle through the Main Menu screens. When the OSD is activated and NO Button activity has been detected by the Signature Camera for about a minute, the Signature will EXIT the OSD screen automatically.
  • Page 19 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 To close the OSD, look for an EXIT option at the Bottom of a Main Menu, move the arrow to EXIT and press the CENTRE Button. Some Menu options may have its own SUB MENU (for example SPECIAL...
  • Page 20 Press the CENTRE Button and the arrow will jump to the OFF or ON Step 3 Option (depending upon what the Signature is set to). Using the UP or DOWN Button select ON and hit the CENTRE Button to select it.
  • Page 21 It is worth your time to become familiar on how to move around the OSD menu choices using the Back Buttons on the Signature Camera, As you will notice the amount of settings you can adjust on the Signature is astronomical (sorry), and each specific settings will be unique to you and your equipment and seeing conditions.

  • Page 22: Using "Signature With Buttons" Software

    March 23, 2014 Using “Signature with Buttons” Software One of the first things I noticed when using the Signature Camera is that I would make small experimental setting changes by using the Back Buttons on the camera. But, the act of touching the Signature affected the image, and sometimes I would press too hard on the back of the camera and would nudge to scope.

  • Page 23: Procedure

    March 23, 2014 Procedure  Connect the constructed RS485 – USB cable (as per The Camera (RS485) section at the beginning of the manual) to the Signature and a USB Computer Port.  Visit http://sdrv.ms/Lb3wV3 and open the folder “Signature Camera Applications and Documentation”...
  • Page 24 Note how mine says COM5. You can select that port and modify the properties if required, (my software will do that automatically) but if you feel the urge then the following are the settings for the Signature Camera: Communication Speed: 19200...
  • Page 25 COM button to display all of the available Com Ports, then click on the Com Port that your Signature Camera is connected to. (In my case, my Signature is actually connected to COM5, so I would choose COM5 from the drop down list, and now my PC Com Port would display COM5.

  • Page 26: Signature User Manual March

    Exit button in the Exit Program box. This will reactivate manual control to the Signature, deactivate the COM port, and shut itself down. You then can control the Signature just like you were pushing the buttons at the back of the Signature Camera. See chapter Controlling the Signature using Buttons except rather than holding the CENTRE button own for three seconds to activate the OSD, you need only press the Activate Emulation button on the software.

  • Page 27: Using "Signature Application Software

    March 23, 2014 Using “Signature Application Software” This is a simple program that allows me to control the RED LED version of the Signature camera from my computer using a USB to RS485 Cable (see: “Hooking up Hardware” in Chapter 1 of this manual).
  • Page 28 Com Ports, then click on the Com Port that your Signature Camera is connected to. (In my case, my Signature is actually connected to COM5, so I would choose COM5 from the drop down list, and now my PC Com Port would display COM5.
  • Page 29 (can take up to 30 seconds)  You can load a previous setting file into the Signature by clicking on “Load from File” and choosing a previous settings list to load. (Can take up to 30 seconds) ...
  • Page 30 Signature When you are finished with the software (hopefully for the evening, not forever), Click on the Exit button in the Configuration tab. This will reactivate manual control to the Signature, deactivate the COM port, and shut itself down.

  • Page 31: Reference

    LUMINANCE MENU1 (1/4) Automatic Luminance Control is one of the three Luminance control Modes used by the Signature (the other two are FIX SHUTTER and AES Control). You can Turn it ON (and adjust the Luminance Level), OFF, or select FLC...

  • Page 32: Fix Shutter

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 FIX SHUTTER Fix Shutter is one of the three Luminance control Modes used by the Signature (the other two are AES and ALC). You can Turn it ON (and adjust the Shutter Speed), or OFF.

  • Page 33: Xdr

    When XDR is set to LOW then the GAMMA setting automatically sets to 0.45 (at least is says so, But I don’t see it changing on the Signature). For Astronomy use: Experiment GAMMA Adjusts the brightness of image. It is actually the exponent on a power function thus CRT’s and Laptops may require...

  • Page 34: Agc

    Experiment with this setting. For Astronomy use: Experiment DAY/NIGHT This setting adjusts the Signature to expect to be imaging either bright objects (DAY) or dim objects (NIGHT). Since most Solar Systems objects are bright, set to DAY and leave it there.

  • Page 35: Fog Reduction

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 The Fog Reduction setting has 4 levels FOG REDUCTION (OFF, LOW, MID, HIGH). It provides the ability to reduce the I/R component (capture) of the image. When activated it automatically sets ECLIPSE to OFF and sets GAMMA to 0.45 (at least that’s what the manual says,...

  • Page 36: Color Menu (3/4)

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 COLOR MENU (3/4) COLOR MODE When set to ON the Signature will display Colour. When set to AUTO, you can adjust the AGC SUPPRESS Level. When set to OFF you get Black and White image but...

  • Page 37: Uv Matrix

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 UV MATRIX luminance The YUV model comprises and two colour difference (U, V) components. The luminance can be computed as a weighted sum of red, green and blue components; the color chrominance difference, or...

  • Page 38: Setup Menu (4/4)

    For Astronomy use: Optional DEFAULT Use this setting specifically to reset the Signature to its Factory settings. Comes in handy if you have messed up settings and have lost communications. Note: Camera ID is set to 000, which turns off RS485 communications.

  • Page 39: Special Functions (1/2)

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 SPECIAL FUNCTIONS (1/2) PRIORITY This allows you to prioritize the Signature’s Sense UP capabilities. SLOW SHUTTER slows down all operations of the camera even the menu display and button response. Be patient when using this setting.

  • Page 40: Display Mode

    For Astronomy use: OFF CROSS LINE With this setting the Signature will draw a set of thin lines that cross. You can use this CROSS LINE to centre on a planet. You can adjust the cross lines up down left and right to match your requirements.

  • Page 41: Freeze

    For Astronomy use: OPTIONAL COMM ID This setting is used to set the communication ID for the Signature camera. The Default is 000 which has no communications abilities. When set to any other ID (001 to 127) then it can communicate thru the RS485 port.

  • Page 42: Appendix B - Special Button Power Sequences

    March 23, 2014 Appendix B – Special Button Power Sequences The Signature Camera has some Power Up sequences that will turn ON or OFF specific hardware features of the Camera. To activate the appropriate hardware features, just HOLD DOWN the appropriate button(s) on the back of the Signature when you POWER UP it up (Plug in the Power).
  • Page 43  CVBS ON, SDI OFF  CVBS ON, SDI ON  CVBS OFF, SDI ON Determines current Video settings on the Signature If both SDV and HDV are active then the camera will display something like this:  HDV DISPLAY 720p60 CENTRE ...

  • Page 44: Appendix C - Trouble Shooting Procedures

    No Video Image from any process cycles thru the activation output port of the ports.  See Appendix B Signature is lost trying to complete a task. Have you activated SLOW  SHUTTER, as this slows down the The OSD screen is frozen...
  • Page 45 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 to get back response from the camera and deactivate SLOW SHUTTER. Power Down and then Power  Back UP  See Chapter 4 in SETUP MENU about how to do a Factor Reset Signature User Manual...

  • Page 46: Appendix D - Installing Mcv

    I use both the Mallincam Xtreme and the Mallincam Note Signature exclusively with computer control, so I needed to assign one USB port for my video input (MCV) and another USB port for my serial cable (Belkin USB Serial cable).
  • Page 47 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 You should see 5 folders and about 4 other files inside the unzipped folder. Insert the MCV-1 or MCV-1e Step 2 Remember the USB port you choose for the MCV; you will always use this USB port for the MCV.
  • Page 48 2828x Device”. This is the driver for either the MCV-1 or MCV-1e device. This is the one we want. Select it  Power up your Signature, and you should be able to see the camera’s images on the video window of your software.

  • Page 49: Appendix E - Installing Blackmagic Ultrastudio

     Connect the SDI Video cable from the HD-SDI BNC connector on the back of the Signature Camera to the BNC input connect on the Blackmagic UltraStudio.  Connect the USB 3.0 cable from the BlackMagic UltraStudio to a USB 3.0 Port on your computer.
  • Page 50 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 After the UltraStudio has been connected to your computer it is now time to install the Blackmagic Drivers onto your computer. Signature User Manual Page 47...
  • Page 51 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 1. Ensure you have the very latest driver. Visit www.blackmagicdesign.com/support 2. Open the “Desktop Video” folder and launch the “Desktop Video” installer. 3. The drivers will now be installed on your system. “Do you want to allow the...

  • Page 52: Getting Sdi Video Images

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 If this is the first time you are trying to connect the Signature to the UltraStudio, you will need to check and if necessary change the HD output to 1080p30. Connect your Signature using the Composite video port (Not the...
  • Page 53 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 Step 1: Power up the Signature (LED light should shine, Mine is the RED LED version) Step 2: Power up the Computer Step 3: Activate the Windows “Control Panel” Step 4: Select “Hardware and Sound”...

  • Page 54: Using Other Software

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 You should be up and running. Note have the “Blackmagic Media Express” selected to the “Log and Capture” Tab, this is the Video Display Window, the other tabs allow you to play videos that you have captured.
  • Page 55 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 If you are using other software besides “Blackmagic Media Express” that software has to capture 1920 x 1080 otherwise you will see only a zoomed portion of the actual screen. (I use the SharpCap software).

  • Page 56: Appendix F - Rs485 Connection Options

    USB end, or a set of longer wires between the Screw Terminal Board and Rock’ s Signature Connector. Connecting Hardware Attach Rock’s Signature Connector to the Screw Terminal Board by matching R+, R- and GND. Signature User Manual...

  • Page 57: Installing Driver Software

    RS485/422 Cable. You should now have connection path that allows you to attach one end to a USB Port on your computer and the other end to the RS-485 Port on the back of the Signature camera. Installing Driver Software Plug in the completed cable into a free USB Port on your computer.

  • Page 58: Us Converters Rs232 -Rs485 Converter Model Number Xs201A

    Make note of the COM Port number that Windows assigns to your USB to RS485/422 cable Adapter, for this will be required by the software that controls the Signature. Windows Operating system knows nothing about RS485, all it knows is that you have a USB device attached, and that this device is acting like a Serial Cable.

  • Page 59: Appendix G - Signature Setting Example Sheets

    Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 Finally attach Rock’s Signature Connector to the green Screw Terminal Board of the US Converters RS232 to RS485 Adapter. When attaching Rock’s Signature Connector to the Screw Terminal Board by matching R+, R- and GND.

  • Page 60: Appendix H - Notes

    Mallincam Signature Settings Object Observed: Telescope (Aperture, F ratio): Monitor Type: Computer Config: MENU Setting Settings On/Off/Auto 1 OF 4 LUMINANCE MENU 1 Value Telescope Accessories Etc. Luminance Level Filter(s) Luminance Level Barlow FIX SHUTTER Shutter Speed PEAK AVERAGE Peak Mix Level...
  • Page 61 Mallincam Signature Settings Mars Orion XT-12,f/4.9 Speco Computer Config: MENU Setting Settings On/Off/Auto 1 OF 4 LUMINANCE MENU 1 Value Telescope Accessories Etc. Luminance Level Filter(s) Luminance Level Barlow FIX SHUTTER 1/30 Shutter Speed PEAK AVERAGE Peak Mix Level Focal Reducer...
  • Page 62 Mallincam Signature Settings JUPITER Telescope (Aperture, F ratio): LX 200 Monitor Type: COMPUTER LCD & CRT 14” F10 Camera@ Prime Focus Computer Config: ROXIO EASY VHS TO MENU Setting Settings On/Off/Auto 1 OF 4 LUMINANCE MENU 1 Value Telescope Accessories Etc.
  • Page 63 MALLINCAM SIGNATURE SETTINGS Object Observed Monitor Telescope/Aperture Computer MENU PLANETARY LUNAR SOLAR 1 OF 4 LUMINANCE MENU 1 FIX SHUTTER PEAK AVERAGE BACK LIGHT GAMMA 2 OF 4 LUMINANCE MENU 2 SLOW SHUTTER DAY/NIGHT FOR REDUCTION ECLIPSE SHARPNESS ENHANCE 3 OF 4...
  • Page 64 MALLINCAM SIGNATURE SETTINGS Object Observed Jupiter Monitor Telescope/Aperture Computer MENU PLANETARY LUNAR SOLAR 1 OF 4 LUMINANCE MENU 1 FIX SHUTTER 1/180 PEAK AVERAGE BACK LIGHT GAMMA 0.45 2 OF 4 LUMINANCE MENU 2 AUTO SLOW SHUTTER HIGH DAY/NIGHT FOR REDUCTION...
  • Page 65 Signature User Manual March 23, 2014 Appendix H – Notes _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Signature User Manual Page 57...

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