PIXCI® SV5

Analog Video Frame Grabber

INNOVATIONS

• Color and Monochrome Video
  Formats Supported:
  S-Video, NTSC, RS-170, CCIR, PAL
• PCI Bus Master
• Real-Time Transfer to PCI Bus
• Crop, Scale, and View in a Window
• Automatic Format Detection
• 4 Input Triggers and 4 Output Triggers
• Programmable Hue, Brightness,
  Saturation, and Contrast
• Plug 'N Play Operation
• Extensive Software
• RoHS Compliant Boards Available

APPLICATIONS

• Automated Inspection
• Motion Analysis
• Microscopy
• Medical Imaging
• Robotics
• Laser Beam Analysis
• Object Tracking
• Multimedia
• Print Quality Inspection

The PIXCI® SV5 is a video-rate frame grabber that captures high quality, uncompressed, scientific quality digital images from standard analog output video sources. The PIXCI SV5 frame grabber digitizes analog video from NTSC, RS-170, PAL, or CCIR format sources such as cameras, camcorders, VCRs, and ultrasound imaging systems. Color (NTSC, PAL) and monochrome (RS-170, CCIR) video formats are supported. Capture images with 754 by 480 resolution from any NTSC, NTSC/S-Video, or RS-170 video source. Capture images with 922 by 580 resolution from any PAL, PAL/S-Video, or CCIR video source. Analog image data is digitized and transferred to motherboard memory with less than one horizontal line time delay. As a PCI bus DMA master, the PIXCI SV5 frame grabber burst transfers image data without using the host computer’s processor. Live video display is provided with software that transfers the image from motherboard memory to a graphics card or subsystem. Live, 30 frame per second (fps) display, is available when capturing from any NTSC, NTSC/S-Video, or RS-170 video source. Live, 25 fps display, is available when capturing from any PAL, PAL/S-Video, or CCIR video source.

ACQUISITION — Programmable gain, hue, brightness, saturation, and contrast adjustments allow optimized control of the input video signal. A unique digital genlock circuit ensures precise synchronization of every image. The PIXCI® SV5 can genlock to the video output of a VCR.

I/O CONTROL — Four TTL inputs and four TTL outputs are available for triggering image capture and controlling external devices. A TTL input signal from a part-in-place sensor can trigger image capture or trigger an image sequence capture. One of the TTL output signals can remove a part from an assembly line, or control extended integration of a camera.

EPIX SOFTWARE PRODUCTS –

The PIXCI® SV5 frame grabber is bundled with an imaging program that allows camera operation and frame grabber control without need to write software. Capture and save images after unpacking the board and loading the software. The XCAP-Lite imaging program, provided at no-charge with the PIXCI SV5 purchase, provides video format / mode selection, triggering, live display, and image / sequence capture to computer memory. Individual images can be saved in several industry-standard formats including TIF, BMP, and JPEG.

The XCAP-Ltd ($495) program adds the ability to capture sequences (uncompressed full-motion video movie clips at 25 or 30 fps) to memory up to a maximum size of approximately 3.5 gigabytes (computer configuration dependent), and includes the ability to save sequences. XCAP-Ltd also provides annotation – the ability to write text on an image.

For image processing and video to disk, purchase XCAP-Std ($1495). In addition to all of the capabilities just described, the XCAP-Std program offers extensive processing, measurement and analysis capabilities including filters, mathematical operations, blob analysis, and particle tracking. The availability of scripts and the “blackboard” allow customization and automation of included operations. Sequence Capture options include the ability to capture video sequences to a hard drive. The PIXCI SV5 frame grabber, with XCAP-Std, can capture full-resolution video for 10 hours with a 750 gigabyte hard drive.

EPIX® developer libraries ease custom software development with hundreds of functions for image capture, processing, measurement, and analysis. Libraries are available for Linux, Windows, and 32-bit DOS.

The XCLIB ($495) library provides command and control functions for capturing image data from a video source and implements transfer to computer memory, graphics cards, or hard drives. XCLIB-Lite ($195) is an economical and reduced capability version of XCLIB.

The PXIPL library ($500) simplifies the development of software for processing, measuring, or analyzing images after they have been transferred into the computer. XCLIB and PXIPL provide high-level services that allow the software developer to concentrate on the imaging application rather than focusing on board level controls. Please see the XCLIB and PXIPL descriptions on the Products Page for detailed descriptions.

64-bit or 32-bit Addressing Software – The PIXCI SV5 frame grabber will operate in 32 or 64 bit computers configured with up to 4 gigabytes of memory.

OPTIMIZED IMAGING SYSTEMS – The imaging potential of the PIXCI SV5 is limited only by the host computer and peripherals. A high quality computer, graphics subsystem or card, camera, lighting, and lens are recommended for best results. EPIX, Inc. can supply high quality imaging components to complement the PIXCI SV5, as well as complete, customized systems for machine vision, motion analysis, image storage and transmission, and other imaging or video applications.

CAPTURE OPTIONS –

Capture FIELDs to Double the Capture Rate: If fast capture rate is more important than vertical resolution, then selecting the Field at Field mode doubles a field capture rate while cutting vertical resolution in half. Capture 50 fields per second from a PAL or CCIR camera; capture 60 fields per second from an NTSC or RS-170 camera.

Capture FIELDs instead of full Frames: If memory or storage capacity is limited, and field resolution is sufficient, then selecting, Field at Frame allows the capturing of a sequence of fields instead of a sequence of frames (at the camera’s 25 frames per second (fps) PAL/CCIR or 30 fps NTSC/RS-170). The PIXCI SV5 Video Format menu allows resolution selection in single pixel increments for greater control, but Field at Frame offers a simple “one-click” option for added convenience.

Capture Frame at Frame: This is the default capture option offering maximum vertical resolution images at the camera’s frame rate. Selected Capture from Three Video Sources using one PIXCI SV5(A): The PIXCI SV5 imaging board features a 3-input video multiplexer that allows signal selection from two BNC and one S-Video input. The PIXCI SV5A allows signal selection from three BNC inputs.

Capture from Multiple PIXCI SV5 boards: As many as eight PIXCI® SV5 boards can be installed in one computer allowing selected capture from multiple video sources controlled by a single program. Because the multiplexer on each board allows connection of up to 3 sources, a total of 24 sources can be connected. Simultaneous capture from up to eight sources is possible – subject to the bandwidth constraints of the PCI bus or buses on the selected motherboard. There are motherboards with multiple PCI buses. Each PCI bus has a bandwidth of approximately 110 megabytes per second. Capture Short Sequence with Selected Image Save: The XCAP-Lite imaging program, provided at no charge with the purchase of the PIXCI SV5 imaging board, allows sequence capture into as much as 64 Mbytes of computer memory. Individual images can be saved one at a time.

Capture and Save Sequence into PC Memory: The optional XCAP-Ltd imaging program ($495) allows maximum resolution and frame rate sequence capture into the computer’s available memory, to a maximum of approximately 3 to 3.5 gigabytes. At full resolution and frame rate, capture a color sequence with duration of 150 seconds, or a monochrome sequence with duration of 300 seconds. Capture and Save Sequence to Hard Drive: The optional XCAP-Std imaging program ($1495) allows maximum resolution and frame rate sequence capture direct to a 7200 rpm drive or to a RAID system. Using a 750 gigabyte drive, XCAP-Std can capture a full resolution uncompressed sequence for up to 5 hours from a color source, or for up to 10 hours from a monochrome source. Longer sequence capture is available with more drives.

SOFTWARE XCAP - Menu-driven, interactive program for the PIXCI® imaging boards allowing capture, display, viewing, processing, printing, analysis, measurements, loading, and saving of imagery. Includes a script language for customization and automating tasks. XCAP is available for Windows. XCLIB - "C" libraries for accessing the PIXCI® imaging boards. Supports DOS, Windows, and most popular "C" compilers. PXIPL - "C" library of image processing and analysis routines, for use with XCLIB.	MUX - The multiplexer selects the video source for the Programmable Gain from either the S-Video input connector or from the composite video source on the BNC connector. The multiplexer may be switched during vertical blanking. Programmable Gain - Compensates for reduced amplitude in the analog signal input. Gain can be programmed from 0% to more than 200%. Luminance A/D - Provides analog to digital conversion of NTSC, RS-170, CCIR, PAL, and the luminance (Y) component of S-Video sources. Chrominance (Color) A/D - Provides analog to digital conversion of the color (C) component of S-Video. Decoder - Separates the Y/C components. Generates the U/V color difference signals. Digital Genlock - Automatic synchronization circuitry for precise digitization. Accommodates video sources which have variable periods, such as video tape recorders. Generates the pixel clock for transferring image data to the PCI bus interface. Scaling, Cropping - Interpolation is used to scale images to 1/14 of their original size. Temporal Scaling - Image sequences may be captured at full or reduced frame rates. Trigger I/O - Four input and four output TTL triggers can be used for synchronization with external events. The trigger signals are controlled by the host CPU.
PIXCI® SV5 Capture & Adjust Dialog in XCAP

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