The camera LED shows no signal and there is no ventilator sound.
Check the main of your 12V power supply.
The software camware is installed as described and the LED at the camera rear panel is lighting green. When starting the program the message appears ‘No pci card found or no camera detected! Starting without camera control functions!’
Be sure that all installed devices in the computer are working without conflict. Please check all interrupt settings in the system BIOS and in the Windows diagnostic menu. You are not allowed to use the interrupt of the pci slot where the PCI-interface-board is placed, for other devices.
How can I see under Windows NT whether the driver for the PCI-Interface-Board were started correctly?
When the installation of the hardware driver was done with administrator privileges and without errors, the system driver for the PCI-Interface-Board should be started at any time of a startup of Windows NT. If not, an error entry will be written into the ‘Event Viewer’. In ‘System Control / Devices / PCO PCI InterfaceBoard 525/520’ you can control at any time the state of the PCI-Interface-Board. It should be on ‘started’ and ‘automatically’.
When I click “End/Restart Windows”, my computer is rebooted. Is there no faster way to restart Windows9x/ME/2000/XP?
Press the Shift key when confirming the "End/Restart Window" message with OK. Now only Windows9x/ME/2000/XP will be restarted instead of rebooting your machine.
The camera can not be focused to infinity.
Adjust the back focal length as described in the manual.
Where can I find useful information about Windows9x/ME/2000/XP in the Internet?
Useful links can be found in our website: www.pco.de in the ‘partner->links’ menu.
How can I check if all devices are properly working under Windows9x/ME/2000/XP ?
For this purpose, open Start/Settings/System Control/System and select the register card "device manager". A small yellow "!" at the symbol indicates a conflict.
When installing the camera PCI-Interface-Board, I had to move my graphics card to another slot in order to obtain enough space for the long SensiCam card. Now Windows9x/ME/2000/XP is not starting properly.
When a PCI card is set onto another slot, it might occur that the automatic device detection by Windows9x/ME/2000/XP recognizes and reinstalls a new device without deleting the old device entry. This double installation leads to a device error. Open Start/Settings/System Control/Device Manager and delete both entries for the device (e.g. graphics card) from the device list. After rebooting Windows9x/ME/2000/XP, the operating system will recognize one new device and properly install it.
My computer does not recognize the camera PCI-Interface-Board!
Make sure that the BIOS definitions for the according PCI slot are correct and conflict free.
When I work with some programs under Windows9x/ME/2000/XP and then call sensicontrol/camware again, there is much less space for the image recorder available compared to calling sensicontrol/camware immediately after reboot. Why does the system provides less memory even though I have closed all other applications?
When you close a Windows application, the used memory is released by Windows, but under certain circumstances this memory will no longer be available as continuous free memory - a crucial precondition to allocate the memory space for the recorder. All you can do about this is to restart Windows.
How can I check which device uses which IRQ, which I/O address and which memory base address?
Under Start/Programs/Administrative Tools (Common)/Windows NT diagnostics you find an overview of all registered devices.
When starting the camware software, the program returns "No camera detected or no PCI card found".
This message might have a number of reasons:
• The camera is not switched on.
• The link between PCI-interface-board and the camera is defective. The camera LED shows a permanent red signal, either since the wire is not plugged in, since the coaxial connections RX and TX have been interchanged or since, in the fibre optics version, the plugs are dirty. When properly linked, the camera LED should show either a green signal (ready) or flash red / green (ready, but operation temperature has not been reached yet).
The PCI-Interface-Board is not properly placed onto the PCI slot.
• Wrong PCI/PnP definitions in the BIOS of your computer.
• The driver does not get a non-shared interrupt.
Nearly all functions are locked when I turn on the live preview in the camware software. How can I take pictures in this situation?
Live preview is a feature which helps to focus the camera to the object which is to be recorded. A high display frequency provides jerk-free pictures. In this mode, no recorder or display functions are possible.
If you start the recorder in "Seq.Wrap" mode and at the same time activate the display window, you can also see a live image. However, in most cases this might be a bit slower. Recorded images can be displayed with "Play".
The camera LED shows a permanent green signal after start-up and does not flash red/green as described in the manual.
The CCD has already reached its operation temperature of -12 to -15 degrees centigrade (10.4 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit). Possibly the camera was in operation briefly before.
The camera LED shows a permanent red signal.
The link between camera and PCI-Interface-Board is broken or not properly established. Possibly one wire end is not properly attached. Check for damage at the wire. When using coaxial wires, the plugs might be interchanged. Tx must be linked to Rx and vice versa. Clean these ends with a soft cloth and blow the camera and PCI-Interface-Board plugs with compressed air. It is absolutely necessary that you immediately place the protection caps after separating the parts! Check if the computer is turned on.
Does the selection of a smaller area (e.g. with binning, ROI) improve the read out time and the imaging frequency?
Vertical reduction of the exposed area (e.g. by binning) reduces CCD read out time. Setting an ROI (region of interest) has the same effect. The read out time for the non-exposed lines (skipped lines) is scaled down by a factor of 4. Reading out a VGA line takes 64 µs, where reading out a SuperVGA line takes 117 µs. Horizontal binning or horizontal ROI does not affect the read out time.
Example: For a VGA 640x480 sensor, a ROI of 400(H)x200(V) is selected.
At full resolution, the read out time would be 32 ms. The ROI reduces this time. The resulting actual read out time is displayed in the info window.
Calculation:
200 lines are read out with 64 µs per line. This gives 12.8 ms.
The remaining 480 - 200 = 280 lines which have not been exposed (skipped) are read out at quadruple speed, thus 280 : 4 = 70, 70 x 64 microseconds = 4.48 ms.
Summing up we obtain a read out time of 12.82 ms + 4.48 ms = 17.3 ms.
The imaging frequency is therefore 57.8 Hz.
The picture shows transmission and shift errors.
A defective or too long coaxial cable is used.
Can the camera and the PCI-Interface-Board be interchanged with another sensicam system?
Yes, systems with the same serial data transmission (coaxial or fiber optic cable FOL) are compatible with each other.
What is the maximum allowed distance between camera and PCI-Interface-Board?
For systems with coaxial cable or patchcord not more than 10 m. For systems with fibre optic cable (FOL) at maximum 1500 m.
Is it possible to change from coaxial cable to fibre optic cable a posteriori?
Theoretically, yes. However, this will prove to be very costly.
Can I use a sensicam/sensicam qe double shutter as a fast shutter/qe standard?
Yes. Within camware select the ‘Standard’ or the ‘Fast Cycles’ option instead of ‘Double Long’ or ‘Double Short’ in ‘Camera Controls’ under ‘Options’.
Can a too high light intensity (e.g. direct irradiation of a light source, sunlight) damage the camera?
No! The CCD sensor can not be destroyed in this way, unless, of course, thermal destruction...
Caution: This does not apply for image intensifier cameras!
The camera is overheating, the temperature display in the info line (Camera Control) reads more than 65 degree centigrade (117 degrees fahrenheit).
The ventilation slots of the camera (backside and bottom) are blocked or the temperature in your environment is unusually high.
Hint: The camera has an in-built safe shutdown feature which is activated at a temperature exceeding 65 degrees centigrade (117 degrees fahrenheit).
Does the dark current change when binning?
The dark current is multiplied by the binning factor. E.g., for a 2x4 binning the dark current will increase linearly 8-fold due to the 8-fold increased pixel surface.
Some of the trigger settings can not be selected?
Probably you work with an older PCI-interface-board which needs an update. Please contact us to check whether an update is required. To check this, we need the serial number of the PCI-Interface-Board.
How many images can be made in a sequence?
The number of images depend on the size of the RAM. When starting the program camware the available memory will be allocated. The image of a VGA camera requires about 0.6MB memory at full resolution, a SuperVGA camera requires about 2.6MB. With binning or ROI a data reduction can be achieved. In the status line of the main window (bottom) you can always see the actual available memory, the actual image size and the number of images which can be written to the allocated memory.
Which BIOS settings are relevant for operating the camera PCI-interface-board?
It is crucial that the PCI plug and play automatic of the card is able to allocate free interrupts (IRQs). In most cases, you can do this in the PnP/PCI SETUP of the BIOS. Lock all the IRQs for applying the PnP automatic for cards with ISA Bus. The automatic can not recognize, and therefore can not administrate the IRQs of ISA cards (mostly "Legacy ISA"). In many computers, the IRQs 9 through 12 are used for PCI cards and all other IRQs are locked for PCI by "Legacy ISA". Additionally, DMA channels which are used by ISA cards should be locked for the PCI automatic. In general, IRQs and DMA channels should only be given to one device.
Furthermore, in the case of FlashBIOS computers, we recommend to use the latest BIOS version of the mainboard manufacturer (go to their homepage on the Internet!), to turn off the power management in the BIOS and to deactivate all devices on the mainboard which are not needed, like e.g. SCSI controller, 2nd IDE interface, infra red interface, PS2 interface.
To which PCI bus specification should my mainboard correspond?
Use mainboards with PCI bus specification 2.1 and higher.
I want to upgrade my computer to a new mainboard before using the camera PCI-interface-board. Which mainboard do you recommend?
The camera PCI-interface-board has been successfully tested on many mainboards by the Gigabyte company, as well as boards by, Elite-Group and QDS.
What to do if software can not find the camera, if there is a conflict with the PCI board, etc.?
in the system BIOS:
• in the PNP options should be an option PNP OS. Set it to NO, although you use a Plug&Play OS like Windows2000! (Check whether you get resources in the device properties)
• switch off all devices, that are not needed, like USB, IDE2, et.
• set all NonPNP device to 'Legacy ISA' in the PCI/PNP menu.
• no overclocking in the system BIOS, please. PCI clock must be 33MHz.
• PCI Latency Timer = 32
in Windows:
• check the device manager for any conflicts.
• disable virus scanner, screen savers, power management, etc.
• no other programs while working with camware.
• Use newest driver available on internet, http://www.pco.de
in camware:
• Try using camware with allocating only 50% of available memory (for testing purposes only)
in general:
• if possible change to another computer (best would be a different type!)
• try to downsize the computer, that means, if possible, uninstall all additional cards like network cards, sound cards, tv cards, I/O cards, etc. for testing purposes only.
• On some AMD Athlon Systems with AMD Chipsets (750,761) there are startup problems resulting in not starting the whole computer and you have to press the reset button after switching the computer on.
• Check cables, if coaxial, then make sure that it is right poled, if fibre optics, make sure, that it is clean (see manual for cleaning instructions).
• Check IRQ list at startup of the computer
How can I find out whether a fast shutter or a double shutter camera is connected?
The following is a C-code example to show, how the camera type simply can be determined:
/* definition of additional variables */
int stat,t1,t2;
........own program...........
GET_STATUS(&stat,&t1,&t2);
/* preload decision variable */
double_shutter = 0;
if(((stat&0x0E00)>>9)>0x01)
if((stat&0x00C0)==0x00C0)
double_shutter=1;
/* if double_shutter equals "1", a double
shutter camera is connected */
......continuing own program.........
Can I reduce the enormous use of RAM under Windows9x/ME/XP?
Only to a very limited extent! There is the possibility to reduce the dynamic hard disk cache (in DOS this was Smartdrv). For this purpose, add two new parameters in the [vcach] section of your System.ini file:
MinFileCache = 1024
MaxFileCache = 4096
The values for the minimum and maximum cache size are given in kilobyte.
When starting the camware, the message appears ‘Not enough continuous memory’! ...’but I have no other programs running an enough memory (RAM) installed.
To run the camware you must be logged in at least as ‘Poweruser’. The rights of ‘User’ are not sufficient. Please ask your administrator to get the rights.
Can a too high light intensity (e.g. direct irradiation of a light source, sunlight) damage the camera?
Yes!!! The photocathode of the image intensifier is extremely light sensitive. You can damage it within a very short time. Be careful!!
Are there any general advices concerning the settings of the BIOS, when the pixelfly camera is used?
• in the PNP options should be an
option PNP OS. Set it to NO, although
you use an Plug&Play OS like
Windows2000! (Check whether you get
Ressources in the Device Properties)
• switch off all devices, that are not
needed, like USB, IDE2, etc.
• set all NonPNP device to 'Legacy ISA'
in the PCI/PNP menu.
• no overclocking in the system BIOS,
please. PCI clock has to be 33MHz.
• PCI Latency Timer to value "32"
• PCI Slot with 540 board has to be
master with highest priority (if
possible in your BIOS).
• make sure, that your configuration
assigns one IRQ only to the 540 board
and no other board or device (no IRQ
sharing).
• upgrade the System BIOS to the newest
version!
Do you have some tips or advices concerning the use of the pixelfly with Windows?
• check the device manager for any
conflicts.
• disable virus scanner, screen savers,
power management, etc.
• no other programs while working with
camware.
• use newest driver available on
internet: http://www.pco.de
Can you give some hints, if there is not enough memory when using the pixelfly and camware?
• try using camware with allocating
only 50% of available memory (for
testing purposes only). See the
view/memory settings dialogue!
• If the fps rate is too slow, switch
off all display windows.
General hints in case of problems with installing the pixelfly into a PC
• try to downsize the computer, that
means, if possible, uninstall all
additional cards like network cards,
sound cards, tv cards, I/O cards,
etc. for testing purposes only.
• There are known problems with all-in-
one SIS chipsets like SIS 5598 single
chipset (integrated VGA that uses
system RAM for graphic memory)! The
standard BIOSes reduce the pci
transfer rates on these chipsets to a
minimum.
• if possible change to another
computer (best would be a different
type)
Can you supply technical data or specifications of the pixelfly cover glasses (glass on the CCD image sensor and cover glass of the camera)?
The CCD image sensor cover glass has a thickness of d = 0.75 mm, and a refractive index of n = 1.5 (measured for Sony image sensors). The camera cover glass is made of fused silica (SuprasilTM of Heraeus) with a thickness of 1.05 mm (+/- 0.05 mm), a refractive index of n = 1.48 and a anti-reflective coating.
Can the pco.camera series be used with Windows 2000?
Yes, if Windows 2000 with service pack 4 (SP4) is installed. If you want to check, please open the cam.log text file (which is automatically generated, if the corresponding option has been activated in camware before, see camware manual p. 52, file - menu - options - misc) with your favorite text editor and search for the filename
ohci1934.sys. Here the version no. should be:
5.00.2195.6655 or above.
Which name is allocated to the PCI-Interface-Board in the Windows9x/ME/2000/XP device list?
After having installed the PCI-Interface-Board according to the manual, Windows9x/ME/2000/XP will notify you at first start that a new device "PCI Multimedia Device" has been detected and will ask you to insert the manufacturer disk. Insert the "Driver Disk" (hardware driver) of the SensiCam software into your floppy drive and confirm by clicking OK (you might have to specify drive A: in another window). After a successful installation, you have to reboot your computer in order to impose the changes. The device manager will now list the SensiCam PCI card as a ‘Audio, video and game controller’ with the device name ‘PCO PCI InterfaceBoard 525/520’. In case you ignore in the first step the installation of the driver software and click ‘install driver at some later point’ instead, the SensiCam PCI-Interface-Board will not be completely installed. The device manager will then list it as "PCI Multimedia" under "Other components". You can click this device and choose "Update driver" under "Driver" in order to install the driver disk a posteriori. After rebooting your computer, the card will be listed as "Audio, video and game controller" with device name ‘PCO PCI InterfaceBoard 525/520’.
