Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
2-2
ni.com
Camera Link and the NI 1429
The NI 1429 supports Camera Link Base, Medium, and Full
configurations.
The Camera Link specifications include up to 64 data bits, enable signals,
and asynchronous serial transmission, as well as four digital camera control
lines for controlling exposure time, frame rates, and other camera control
signals. The four control lines are configured in the camera file to generate
precise timing signals for controlling digital camera acquisition.
The Camera Link standard defines physical connections between image
acquisition devices and Camera Link cameras, and it allows for flexibility
of image format and data transfer protocols. The camera manufacturer
defines image parameters, such as image resolution and the number of bits
per pixel, and camera control parameters, such as frame-on-demand and
exposure control signals.
These variable parameters are defined on a per-camera basis in a camera
file (
camera_model.icd
) supplied by National Instruments. NI-IMAQ
uses the information in this camera file to program the NI 1429 to acquire
images from a specific camera. Without this camera file, the driver does not
have the information necessary to configure the NI 1429 to recognize the
image format of the particular camera you are using.
The three Camera Link configurations have the following bit allocations
and number of taps:
Table 2-1.
Camera Link Bit Allocations and Taps
Base
Configuration
Medium
Configuration
Full
Configuration
Bit Allocation
and Taps
8-bit × 1, 2, or 3 taps
(pixels)
10-bit × 1 or 2 taps
12-bit × 1 or 2 taps
14-bit × 1 tap
16-bit × 1 tap
24-bit RGB
8-bit × 4 taps
10-bit × 3 or 4 taps
12-bit × 3 or 4 taps
30-bit RGB
36-bit RGB
8-bit × 8 taps
