Harbortronics DigiSnap 3000 User Manual
DigiSnap 3000
Digital Camera Remote Controller
Rev B Copyright 9/25/2003
Gig Harbor, WA, 98335
Harbortronics LLC
PO Box 2663
USA
DigiSnap 3000
Digital Camera Remote Controller
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 3
Features of the DigiSnap 3000 ....................................................................................................................... 4
Interfaces .................................................................................................................................................... 4
Camera Control........................................................................................................................................... 4
Operating Mode.......................................................................................................................................... 4
Power Management....................................................................................................................................5
Other Features............................................................................................................................................. 5
DC Power ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Video Output .......................................................................................................................................... 5
High Speed Image Download................................................................................................................. 5
High Capacity Lighting .......................................................................................................................... 5
Auxiliary Power...................................................................................................................................... 6
External Strobe.......................................................................................................................................6
Temperature Monitoring......................................................................................................................... 6
Real Time Clock..................................................................................................................................... 6
Board Edge Connections ................................................................................................................................ 7
DC Power : J6........................................................................................................................................ 7
Manual Control : J2............................................................................................................................... 7
Remote I/O: J5....................................................................................................................................... 7
Camera Connections : J3.......................................................................................................................8
Other Connections.......................................................................................................................................... 8
Programming Port : J1........................................................................................................................... 8
Expansion Port : J7................................................................................................................................ 8
Serial Port Configuration : J4................................................................................................................8
Strobe Buffer Input : P1......................................................................................................................... 8
Appendix A .................................................................................................................................................... 9
Terminal Interface Menu Structure............................................................................................................. 9
Main Menu ................................................................................................................................................. 9
Main Menu ............................................................................................................................................... 10
O - Toggle Half-Press........................................................................................................................... 10
X - Take Picture.................................................................................................................................... 10
T - Zoom Tele....................................................................................................................................... 10
W - Zoom Wide.................................................................................................................................... 10
R - Image Review................................................................................................................................. 10
S - Start/Stop Simple Time-Lapse ........................................................................................................ 10
A - Start/Stop Advanced Time-Lapse................................................................................................... 10
C - Configuration Menus...................................................................................................................... 10
Playback Menu.........................................................................................................................................11
T - Show Next Image............................................................................................................................ 11
W - Show Previous Image.................................................................................................................... 11
N - Select Image...................................................................................................................................11
O - Delete Image................................................................................................................................... 11
E - Erase All Images............................................................................................................................. 11
F - Reformat Memory........................................................................................................................... 11
Q - Quit to Main Menu......................................................................................................................... 11
Configuration Menu ................................................................................................................................. 11
C - Camera Menu ................................................................................................................................. 11
D - DigiSnap Operation Menu.............................................................................................................. 11
T - Time-Lapse Menu........................................................................................................................... 11
P - Power Control Menu....................................................................................................................... 12
L - Set Clock: 2001/12/29 23:59:20 ..................................................................................................... 12
F - Temperature Monitor......................................................................................................................12
S - Set Start-Up Mode (Attended)........................................................................................................12
R - Remember Changes / Reset DigiSnap............................................................................................ 12
Q - Quit to Main Menu......................................................................................................................... 12
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Camera Configuration Menu.................................................................................................................... 12
C - Set Camera Parameters................................................................................................................... 12
D - Display Camera Parameters............................................................................................................12
F - Set Parameters to Default................................................................................................................12
Z - Camera Zoom Step size .................................................................................................................. 13
S - Serial Control of Camera ................................................................................................................ 13
P - Toggle Protocol............................................................................................................................... 13
Q - Quit to Configuration Menu...........................................................................................................13
DigiSnap Operation Menu........................................................................................................................ 13
B - Terminal Baud Rate :...................................................................................................................... 13
G - CommGap Delay :.......................................................................................................................... 13
D - Display Current Settings................................................................................................................. 13
I - Display Device ID............................................................................................................................ 13
V - Display Firmware Version.............................................................................................................. 14
F - Reset All to Factory Defaults.......................................................................................................... 14
Q - Quit to Configuration Menu...........................................................................................................14
Time-Lapse Configuration Menu ............................................................................................................. 14
S - Simple Time-Lapse settings............................................................................................................ 14
1..8 - Advanced Time-Lapse Period.....................................................................................................14
T - Display Time Lapse Settings .......................................................................................................... 14
Q - Quit to Configuration Menu...........................................................................................................14
Power Control Menu ................................................................................................................................ 14
V - Toggle Video Driver / LCD............................................................................................................14
E - Toggle High Power Switch............................................................................................................. 15
I - Toggle Low Power Switch............................................................................................................... 15
C - Toggle Camera Power .................................................................................................................... 15
T - Set Auto Power Control.................................................................................................................. 15
S - Set Startup Power............................................................................................................................15
D - Display Power Settings................................................................................................................... 15
Q - Quit to Configuration Menu...........................................................................................................15
Appendix B................................................................................................................................................... 16
Configurable Camera Parameters............................................................................................................. 16
Resolution.............................................................................................................................................16
Flash Mode........................................................................................................................................... 17
Focal Length......................................................................................................................................... 17
White Balance....................................................................................................................................... 17
Focus Mode .......................................................................................................................................... 17
Exposure Compensation....................................................................................................................... 18
Metering Mode.....................................................................................................................................18
Image Adjustment................................................................................................................................. 18
Focus Distance...................................................................................................................................... 18
Shutter Speed........................................................................................................................................ 18
Shutter Aperture (F-Stop)..................................................................................................................... 18
Introduction
The DigiSnap 3000 provides remote control of an inaccessible digital camera, and associated equipment.
Harbortronics, the developer and manufacturer of the DigiSnap line of products, is the world leader in
electronic remote controls for digital cameras, and has detailed protocol descriptions under NDA from
several camera manufacturers.
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Features of the DigiSnap 3000
Interfaces
The DigiSnap 3000 provides a communication interface to the operator via a standard asynchronous
interface. This interface is field selectable for full duplex RS232 (short range) or half-duplex RS485 (long
distance). Two protocols are offered.
1) Terminal Interface.
Control is via a ‘dumb’ terminal, such as a terminal emulator program running on any type of computer
equipment (i.e. laptop, palmtop). All commands are very simple menu based interactions with typically
single key stroke entry. All operations to the remote camera system are accessible through this terminal
interface, including camera control and lighting.
2) Program Interface (Not Yet Implemented)
All functions are also available through a multi-character protocol, intended for use with a dedicated GUI
program. This program will be initially developed for PC / Windows, but may be ported to other equipment
if required. This program will also support the image download option.
The DigiSnap 3000 firmware may be upgraded at any time in the field via the program interface, possibly
even in-situ! It is conceivable to have an issue in the field, contact Harbortronics, and have new firmware
emailed directly to the site, and uploaded to the DigiSnap 3000 to provide a solution to a particular issue
with absolutely minimum downtime.
Camera Control
The DigiSnap 3000 controls the operation of a wide range of digital cameras via serial port commands.
Compatible cameras include those from Nikon, Olympus, Sanyo, Toshiba, and Epson. The Nikon Coolpix
990 / 995 / 5000 are often considered for remote applications given their feature set, and acclaimed quality.
The DigiSnap 3000 can support all of the remote control functions permitted by each camera model.
The base firmware of the DigiSnap 3000 includes the fundamentals of camera control (camera parameters,
picture acquisition, focal length (zoom), and image review). More advanced features, such as image
download, are additional options will be offered subsequent to the initial release. Other camera control
features may be added upon request to support various mission profiles.
Operating Mode
As with the other DigiSnap product offerings, the DigiSnap 3000 provides the ability to operate in attended
or non-attended modes. Two different time-lapse modes are available to the user for non-attended
operation. When configured to operate in either Time-Lapse mode, the DigiSnap 3000 automatically
configures the camera per the parameters saved within the DigiSnap 3000, and begins the time-lapse
operation upon power-up.
1) Attended Operation
In Attended operation, the user may manually control the camera, auxiliary lighting, and all other
features of the system. Note that STL and ATL operations (describe below) are also available
within the attended operation.
2) Simple Time-Lapse (STL)
There are three configurable STL parameters: Interval, Number of Images, Initial Delay.
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?? The interval is programmable from 0 seconds (takes pictures as fast as the camera can cycle), to
255 Hrs, 59 Mins, 59 Seconds (over 10 days).
?? The number of images can be set from 0 to 65535, where 0 indicates Infinity (takes pictures
forever).
?? The initial delay can be set from 0 to 65535 minutes, allowing a delay between power-up and the
beginning of the time-lapse sequence.
3) Advanced Time-Lapse (ATL)
ATL allows for time-of-day triggering of time-lapse sequences, unrelated to when the system is
powered on. Up to eight sequences may be enabled, with start time (per 24 hr clock), interval, and
number of pictures all configurable.
Power Management
The DigiSnap 3000 is designed for minimum power drain, and can control the timing of external lighting
and camera power maximum battery life. The DigiSnap 3000 controls the power to the camera, external
lighting, and auxiliary internal power, timing each to come on as required to support image acquisition.
As an example, consider a battery powered, un-attended ATL application, where 10 images are to be
acquired at each of four times per day, with an interval of 5 minutes. The camera, and external lighting
would be configured to power on just before each image is acquired, and turned off after it is stored on the
camera’s internal memory card. The DigiSnap 3000 would operate full-time, but is itself designed for low
power.
Other Features
The DigiSnap 3000 manages the electrical signal flow for all of the equipment associated with the camera
assembly and housing. Many of these signals are controllable via the terminal interface. All electrical
connections are made to this circuit board through connectors designed to be polarized and unique to each
function. Replacement of a camera assembly, housing swaps, etc. may be readily accomplished with
minimum potential for miss-connection.
DC Power
The DigiSnap 3000 incorporates an isolated switching power supply to convert the applied DC power to
the bias levels required for all internal functions, including the camera. The acceptable DC power input
range is 9-36 VDC.
Video Output
The video output of the camera is buffered by the DigiSnap 3000 for driving long cables.
High Speed Image Download
The USB port of the camera is routed through the DigiSnap 3000 as well, however USB is not suited for
long distance operation.
High Capacity Lighting
The DigiSnap 3000 has an on-board isolated switch for controlling local lighting for the camera, having a
switching capacity of 10 amps for short periods (i.e. 30 seconds, 10% duty cycle). The long term current
capacity is 5 amps, due to thermal dissipation on the circuit board. The voltage is the same as that supplied
to the housing, so at 36 volts, the total external switched power can be as high as 360 watts.
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Auxiliary Power
A separate switched power output is available for other devices, for example, lower power lighting at the
camera such as an LED ring light for extreme macro applications. The voltage is approximately 8.25 volts,
with a current capacity of about 750 mA.
External Strobe
The DigiSnap 3000 also incorporates a strobe trigger output, to accommodate an external strobe. In many
cases the camera itself will have a strobe output connector.
This buffer is intended for those applications where the camera is disassembled and re-configured. The
trigger output is simply a buffered extension of the camera’s internal strobe signal, and will not
accommodate strobe quench for ‘TTL’ operation.
Temperature Monitoring
The DigiSnap 3000 includes an on-board temperature monitor, having an accuracy of about 1/3 deg C., and
a displayed precision of 1/10 deg C. The DigiSnap 3000 can be configured via the interface to read and
display the temperature on a predefined periodic interval. Note that the thermal sensor is located on the
DigiSnap 3000 circuit board, so the temperature may not perfectly reflect the ambient temperature, due to
the localized heating on the circuit board itself from the switching regulator and the power switch.
Real Time Clock
The DigiSnap 3000 includes an on-board clock, with a battery backup. The accuracy of this clock is not
calibrated, so long term drift is a possibility. The time and date may be configured via the interface.
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