DE19507707A1 - High speed CCD camera connected with computer for adjusting all main functions - Google Patents

Abstract

The main functions are automatically stored in the non-transient storage of the camera. The camera contains a computer interface (e.g. parallel I/O interface RS232) or centronics (RTM) (6,7), so that the camera also can be changed according to configuration, also from a greater distance. The images are automatically stored with the camera in low speed shutter mode, external shutter mode and ''digital video'' mode. The images are available as a still film image at the video output (2,3). The transmission of the digital images are in the computer in BMP format.

Description

For photographic registration of fast moving objects or visible made operations, especially one-off or non-periodic operations, is a High speed camera needed.

The object of the invention was to develop a high-speed camera that wears out works freely and in their optoelectronic recording system without any change in both Transmitted light and incident light can be used and their video images are preferably immediately available stand (e.g. screen, printer) and are suitable as computer files for direct image evaluation.

According to the invention, the HG CCD camera with a solution to the stated tasks Recording system (equipped with one or a plurality of separate CCD sensors) assigned cameras are connected, and one shows the image of the object on the CCD sensors. The charge image is read into a digital image memory in the camera and is stored in this way available for various functions. So z. B. with short exposures one image with full Number of lines read in and displayed as a still image on a monitor using a repeat function will.

Long exposures are also possible - the result is an accumulated image signal with strong reduced noise through time averaging. The picture synchronization is exact on the respective Speed set. The stored digital image also enables a number image-enhancing operations.

All main functions of the camera can be set by software (amplification, AGC, shutter times, Black level, white level, frame accumulation, non-interlace, high and low speed shutter). Special software routine enables dynamic integration time programming, i. H. one can implement a new integration time for each full screen (25 times per second).

The corresponding values can e.g. B. calculated by the computer and immediately in the camera set effectively and precisely digitally. This makes a "real time" computer controlled and digital Controlled camera sensitivity realizable.  

This property of the camera enables "digital" controlled stable sensitivity control (312 levels). The effective integration time can be in the range of 35.6 µsec. up to 20,000 µsec. with a resolution of 64 µsec. Set (CCIR).

The same effect can be achieved by using the special HSS-INT pulse (high speed Shutter input), the integration time directly through the added signal (TTL level) can determine.

The property of the camera enables the integration time (1-512 fields) both via software and can also be extended by hardware impulses (LSS-IN, low speed shutter input).

The camera has reset / restart input (TTL level) for hardware control of the image on catch. A logical link between reset / restart and trig input enables asynchronous dynamic control of the integration time.

The special logic (KSDRGEN) allows pixel-precise automatic synchronization of up to 8 cameras and simultaneous programming of each of the 8 cameras. Every camera contains runtime-adapted hardware (TTL level) to support pixel-synchronous scanning in frame grabbers of image processing systems. The entire electronic signal processing is dimensioned so that a flexible adjustment on image processing systems with high and stable signal quality is guaranteed.

In the invention, it is an HG CCD camera, the specifically rewritable tax has building blocks and non-volatile components, and therefore the most important parameters and properties makes programmable. The interface built into the camera enables programming with a microcomputer or IBM compatible computer, with menu controlled special software, which the HG CCD camera reconfigured to make it usable for different and special purposes.  

This results in the following cameras

* KAMA10 monochrome camera with standard interface, serial and parallel control for high and low speed shutter (synchronous mode), field / frame accumulation mode, genlock, HF clock, synchronisa tion, control software and standard CCD sensor ICX 039 BLA or ICX 039 BLB with robust, vibration-resistant aluminum CNC housing.  

* KAMA10 / AS like KAMA10 but with insertable 4-layer board and with control for everyone Functions (asynchronous high speed shutter (from 0.6 µs) with hardware, software programming and non-volatile memory for integration time).

* KAMA10AS / RS like KAMA10 / AS but with additional "Remote Sensor", offset head and 10-90 cm standard connecting cable between camera head and electronic control unit.

* KAMA10 AS / FM like KAMA 10 / AS but with insertable 4-layer board, field memory (1/2 frame) and especially I / O driver software, automatic storage of the field in high / low speed shutter Mode and transmission of the digital image in PC in BMP format.

* KAMA10 AS / FR like KAMA10 AS / FM but with (1 frame) frame memory and especially I / O driver Software, automatic storage of the full image in high / low speed shutter mode and transmission the digital image in PC in BMP format with full resolution (all pixels).

* KAMA20 color camera with standard interface, serial and parallel control for high and low speed shutter (synchronous mode), field / frame accumulation mode, genlock, HF clock, synchronisa tion, control with software and standard CCD sensor ICX 039 BNA or ICX 039 BNB with robust, vibration-proof aluminum CNC housing.

* KAMA20 / AS like KAMA20 but with an insertable 4-layer board and with control for everyone Functions (asynchronous high speed shutter (from 0.6 µs) with hardware, software programming and non-volatile memory for integration time).

* KAMA20AS / RS like KAMA20 / AS but with additional "Remote Sensor", offset head and 10-90 cm standard connecting cable between camera head and electronic control unit.

* KAMA20 AS / FM like KAMA 20 / AS but with insertable 4-layer board, field memory (1/2 frame) and especially I / O driver software, automatic storage of the field in high / low speed shutter Mode and transmission of the digital image in PC in BMP format.

* KAMA20 AS / FR like KAMA20 AS / FM but with (1 frame) frame memory and especially I / O driver  Software. automatic storage of the full screen in high / low speed shutter mode and transmission the digital image in PC in BMP format with full resolution (all pixels).

* KAMA30S: 3-chip color camera (high-resolution asynchronous / 1/2 frame field memory / or full frame Storage 3 cameras KAMA10 Series).

* KAMA40S: Long exposure CCD camera with cooled CCD sensor (synchronous / asynchronous / full frame memory).

Since the dark current in a CCD camera leads to annoying exposure at longer exposure times Effects in the image occur, the CCD is cooled by a Peltier element in this camera. With space temperature of 20 ° C, the CCD image sensor is at a temperature of below -25 ° C. This means that images can be exposed over a longer period of time and therefore on the border of the Perceptibility of the human eye are still in color / black and white television pictures can be implemented.

* KAMA80S: 8 KAMA 10 AS / FR or 8 KAMA 20 AS / FR CCD, camera systems for fast image acquisition drawing and transmission of digital images on the computer.

The invention is further illustrated and described with reference to the following drawings.

Fig. 1 This drawing demonstrates the possibility of connecting the HG-CCD camera both to a computer, a screen (usable for control purposes) and to a printer.

Fig. 2 A schematic representation of the HG-CCD camera, with all your hardware and software units.

Fig. 3 This diagram shows the HG-CCD camera in the transmitted light as well as in the reflected light system. In this way, the speed of moving particles can be measured when combining two HG-CCD cameras.

Fig. 4 Here, too, the camera is shown in the incident and transmitted light system, but an asynchronous full frame image is now generated with the help of a prism and special electronics.

Claims (13)

1. The HG CCD camera is characterized in that all the main functions of the camera can be set with the connected computer (amplification, AGC, shutter times, black level, white level, field or frame accumulation, non-interlace, high and low speed shutter) and are automatically stored in the nonvolatile memory of the camera (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). 2. The HG CCD camera according to claim 1: The camera contains a computer interface (z. B. Parallel I / O interface, RS232) or Centronics ( Fig. 1) ( 6 , 7 ), so that the camera from a great distance is reconfigurable. 3. The HG CCD camera according to claim 1 and 2: the camera in the low speed shutter mode, external shutter mode and "digital video" mode ( 1 ) ( Fig. 2), the images are automatically saved (11) ( Fig. 2 ) and available as a "still picture" at the video output ( 2, 3 ) ( Fig. 1). The transmission of the digital images are in the computer ( 13 ) ( Fig. 2) in BMP format. 4. The HG CCD camera according to claim 1, 2 and 3: It automatically ( 1, 4 ) ( Fig. 2) electronically controls the integration time of the charges in the sensor and provides an undistorted video image at different illuminance levels. 5. The HG CCD camera according to claim 1, 2, 3 and 4: The camera contains an electronic ( 8 ) ( Fig. 2) sequencer that generates pulse sequences that cause the charge transport in the CCD sensor, an electronic switch ( 7 ) ( Fig. 2), which connects either video signals from the standard pulse generator or sequencer with sensor driver ( 4 , 6 , 7 ) ( Fig. 2). The electronic switch is controlled by event triggers. This device is characterized in that the state of the electronic switch does not affect the synchronization of the camera and the generator constantly generates synchronization signals. 6. The HG CCD camera according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5: The camera can be activated via a telephone line, take pictures or send them independently and send the pictures directly ( 6, 7 ) ( Fig. 1) to one output connected printer (video printer or normal printer). 7. HG CCD camera is equipped with an optoelectronic recording system (with one or a plurality of separate CCD sensors), ( 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 ) ( Fig. 3) which are connected to assigned cameras, and one of the image of the Shows object on the CCD sensors. The recording system, ( 3 , 6 ) ( Fig. 3) is equipped with a common for the connected CCD sensors camera lens and a prism ( 4 , 5 , 6 ) ( Fig. 3). 8. HG CCD camera according to claim 1 to 7: This camera is a transmitted light camera, in front of the lens of which a transmitted light system ( 3 , 6 ) ( Fig. 3) is connected. In this way, the objects are correctly arranged in the beam path and exposed to the light of an LED ( 1 ) ( FIG. 3). Thus, the video signal can be imaged on the prism via the optical transmitted light system and the camera lens, the shutter direction being synchronized with an LED / flash ( 1 , 11 ) ( FIG. 3). 9. HG CCD camera according to claim 1 to 8: The camera, supported by a prism, ( 4 , 5 , 6 ) measures the speed and acceleration of the moving particles in a liquid ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 11 , 9 , 10 ) ( Fig. 3). 10. HG CCD camera according to claim 1 to 9: The camera can with the help of a prism ( 6 ) ( Fig. 4), supported by a special electronics circuit ( 7 , 9 ) ( Fig. 4), an asynchronous full generate frame image that meets the above requirements ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 11 , 13 ) ( Fig. 4). 11. HG CCD camera according to claim 1 to 10: The camera enables dynamic ( 1, 4 ) ( Fig. 2) integration time programming, ie you can for each frame (25 times per second) a new ( 3 , 6 , 7 ) ( Fig. 1) realize integration time. 12. The HG CCD camera according to claim 1 to 11: The camera occupies a DMA ( 7 ) ( Fig. 1) computer interface for AT bus, ISA bus, EISA bus, VESA local bus, PCI local Bus and VME bus for the transmission of digital images in real time in the computer ( 13 ) ( Fig. 2). 13. The HG CCD camera series (black and white) can be replaced by exchanging the CCD sensors sensors can easily be converted to the HG CCD camera color camera series. The above But requirements are also met here.