4
Introduction
Document No.: 04646-01
PixeLINK PL-A780
MACHINE VISION CAMERA
SYSTEM GUIDE
Copyright © 2004 PixeLINK
All Rights Reserved
2.2 Topics Covered in this Guide
This Guide provides a reference for the PL-A780 specifications, operation, hardware and
connectors. It provides detailed information for developers who will be incorporating the
camera into a larger machine vision application or using the camera with IIDC drivers.
Users should consult this Guide …
•
to understand the features of the PL-A780 camera
•
when mounting the PL-A780 within a system or enclosure
•
when planning to use an external trigger or GPO device (e.g., strobe) with the
PL-A780
•
when developing IIDC drivers or software for the PL-A780
References in the PDF version of this Guide are hyperlinked for easy navigation and access.
For information on programming with the PixeLINK Application Programming Interface,
please refer to the
PixeLINK API Reference Manual
, Part Number 04326.
For information on the use of the PL-A780 with the PixeLINK Developer’s Application, please
consult the
PixeLINK Developer’s Application User’s Manual
, Part Number 04328.
2.3 Firmware and Hardware Versions & Variants
This guide refers to the following variants of the PL-A780.
Table 1 PL-A780 Variants
Product
Number
Description Released
PL-A781
Monochrome camera in enclosure.
PL-A781-BL
Monochrome board level OEM module with remote head.
PL-A782
Color camera in enclosure.
PL-A782-BL
Color board level OEM module with remote head.
The specifications of the PL-A780 cameras may change without notice. Generally,
customers will not notice these changes. From time to time, PixeLINK may introduce new
features or upgrades to the cameras. Upgrades to the camera firmware (the internal
software that controls the camera) or the Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA – the
programmable hardware that determines the camera’s features and processing) will be made
available to all PL-A780 customers on the PixeLINK web site. These updates can be
programmed into older cameras in the field.
The following tables list the version histories of the PL-A780 camera hardware, firmware and
Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).
Table 2 Hardware Version History
Hardware
Version
Date Notes
129
July 04
Initial release with pre-production cameras.
