National Instruments NI PCI-8254R User Manual

NI Vision

NI PCI-8254R User Manual

IEEE 1394a Interface Device with Reconfigurable I/O

NI PCI-8254R User Manual

February 2007
371578D-01

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and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.

* The CE marking Declaration of Conformity contains important supplementary information and instructions for the user or

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ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,

Conventions

The following conventions are used in this manual:

» The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options

to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.

This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.

This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.

bold Bold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such

as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
names.

italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction

to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.

monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the

keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames, and extensions.

NI 8254R NI 8254R refers to the NI PCI-8254R interface device.

Contents

Chapter 1
Introduction

Software Overview ........................................................................................................1-1

Vision Builder for Automated Inspection .......................................................1-2

Vision Development Module ..........................................................................1-2

IEEE 1394 and NI 8254R ..............................................................................................1-3

Functional Overview......................................................................................................1-3

Start Conditions .............................................................................................................1-4

Acquisition Window Control.........................................................................................1-4

Chapter 2
Hardware Overview

Digital I/O ......................................................................................................................2-1

RIO and The LabVIEW FPGA Module ........................................................................2-1

TTL Inputs and Outputs.................................................................................................2-2

Isolated Inputs and Outputs ...........................................................................................2-3

I/O for Normal Operation ..............................................................................................2-4

Trigger Inputs ..................................................................................................2-5

Timed Pulse Output.........................................................................................2-5

Trigger Change Detectors................................................................................2-8

Quadrature Encoder.........................................................................................2-8

Product Selection Port ..................................................................................... 2-8

General-Purpose I/O........................................................................................2-9

I/O for Fault Conditions ..................................................................................2-10

Initiating a Timed Pulse ....................................................................2-5

Pulse Modes ......................................................................................2-6

Pulse Delay ....................................................................................... 2-6

Pulse Width .......................................................................................2-7

Trigger Polarity .................................................................................2-7

Using ISO Input 5 as a Latch............................................................ 2-9

General-Purpose Inputs..................................................................... 2-10

General-Purpose Outputs ..................................................................2-10

Shutdown .......................................................................................... 2-11

Watchdog Timer ...............................................................................2-11

© National Instruments Corporation vii NI PCI-8254R User Manual

Contents

Considerations When Connecting the Digital I/O......................................................... 2-12

Wiring an Isolated Input to a Sourcing Output Device................................... 2-12

Wiring an Isolated Output to an External Load .............................................. 2-13

Protecting Inductive Loads .............................................................................2-14

Transmission Line Effects .............................................................................. 2-15

Chapter 3
Signal Connections

Connectors..................................................................................................................... 3-2

2-Position Isolated Outputs Power Connector ................................................ 3-2

IEEE 1394a Connector.................................................................................... 3-3

General-Purpose Digital I/O ...........................................................................3-3

Cabling .......................................................................................................................... 3-8

IEEE 1394 Camera Cables.............................................................................. 3-8

I/O Terminal Block ......................................................................................... 3-8

NI Vision I/O Terminal Block and Prototyping Accessory............................ 3-9

Power Requirements...................................................................................................... 3-9

Isolated Outputs Power Connector ................................................................. 3-9

Appendix A
Technical Support and Professional Services

Glossary

Index

NI PCI-8254R User Manual viii ni.com

Introduction

The NI PCI-8254R is a OHCI compliant IEEE 1394a interface device with
reconfigurable I/O (RIO).

The NI 8254R device ships with NI Vision Acquisition Software, which
contains all of the drivers in the NI Vision product line. With NI Vision
Acquisition Software, you can quickly and easily start your applications
without having to program the device at the register level.

The NI 8254R includes TTL inputs and outputs for triggering, and isolated
inputs and outputs for connecting to external devices, such as lighting
controllers, proximity sensors, and quadrature encoders.

Behind the digital I/O of the NI 8254R is an FPGA which has been
preconfigured with the functionality required for most common machine
vision tasks. However, if the factory configured functionality does not
fulfill your requirements, the FPGA is user-configurable using the
LabVIEW FPGA Module. The NI 8254R provides a convenient 44-pin
D-SUB connector on its front panel to access the digital I/O.

1

For detailed specifications of the NI 8254R, refer to the Specifications
section of Getting Started with the NI PCI-8254R.

Software Overview

Programming the NI 8254R requires two drivers to control the hardware:
NI-IMAQdx and NI-IMAQ I/O. Both drivers are included with the
NI Vision Acquisition Software.

NI-IMAQdx has an extensive library of functions you can call and handles
communication between the computer and the image acquisition device,
such as programming interrupts and camera control. NI-IMAQ I/O
provides functions to control the I/O on the NI 8254R.

National Instruments also offers the following application software
packages for analyzing and processing your acquired images. For detailed
information about individual software packages, refer to the documentation
specific to each package.

© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 NI PCI-8254R User Manual

Chapter 1 Introduction

Vision Builder for Automated Inspection

NI Vision Builder for Automated Inspection (Vision Builder AI) is
configurable machine vision software that you can use to prototype,
benchmark, and deploy applications. Vision Builder AI does not require
programming, but is scalable to powerful programming environments.

Vision Builder AI allows you to easily configure and benchmark a
sequence of visual inspection steps, as well as deploy the visual inspection
system for automated inspection. With Vision Builder AI, you can perform
powerful visual inspection tasks and make decisions based on the results
of individual tasks. You also can migrate the configured inspection to
LabVIEW, extending the capabilities of the applications if necessary.

Vision Development Module

The NI Vision Development Module, which consists of NI Vision and
NI Vision Assistant, is an image acquisition, processing, and analysis
library of more than 270 functions for the following common machine
vision tasks:

• Pattern matching

• Particle analysis

•Gauging

• Taking measurements

• Grayscale, color, and binary image display

You can use the Vision Development Module functions individually or
in combination. With the Vision Development Module, you can acquire,
display, and store images, as well as perform image analysis and
processing. Using the Vision Development Module, imaging novices and
experts can program the most basic or complicated image applications
without knowledge of particular algorithm implementations.

As a part of the Vision Development Module, NI Vision Assistant is an
interactive prototyping tool for machine vision and scientific imaging
developers. With Vision Assistant, you can prototype vision applications
quickly and test how various image processing functions work.

Vision Assistant generates a Builder file, which is a text description
containing a recipe of the machine vision and image processing functions.
This Builder file provides a guide you can use for developing applications
in any ADE, such as LabWindows
Vision Assistant machine vision and image processing libraries. Using the

NI PCI-8254R User Manual 1-2 ni.com

™

/CVI™ or Visual Basic, using the

LabVIEW VI creation wizard, Vision Assistant can create LabVIEW VI
diagrams that perform the prototype you created in Vision Assistant.
You can then use LabVIEW to add functionality to the generated VI.

IEEE 1394 and NI 8254R

The NI 8254R uses FireWire® (IEEE 1394) technology. FireWire is a
cross-platform implementation of the high-speed serial data bus—defined
by the IEEE 1394-1995 and IEEE 1394a-2000 standards—that can move
large amounts of data between computers and peripheral devices. It
features simplified cabling using twisted pairs, hot swapping, and transfer
speeds of up to 400 megabits per second. You can support up to 63 devices
on the high-speed bus with IEEE 1394.

The IEEE 1394a standard offers up to 400 Mb/s bandwidth. The NI 8254R
provides two direct-connect IEEE 1394a ports, but more IEEE 1394
devices can be added using IEEE 1394 hubs. The NI 8254R can acquire
images from IEEE 1394 cameras conforming to the IIDC 1394-based
Digital Camera Specification, Version 1.30 and later.

The IEEE 1394 bus provides a fixed amount of bandwidth that is shared
between the two IEEE 1394a ports on the NI 8254R. These ports provide
direct connection for up to two DCAM-compliant IEEE 1394 cameras,
depending on the amount of bandwidth each camera requires. Higher frame
rates and larger image sizes require a higher data transfer rate and use more
bandwidth.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Functional Overview

The NI 8254R features a high-speed data path optimized for receiving and
formatting video data from IEEE 1394 cameras.

Figure 1-1 illustrates the key functional components of the NI 8254R.

© National Instruments Corporation 1-3 NI PCI-8254R User Manual

Chapter 1 Introduction

PCI

CONN

PCI

Bridge

Start Conditions

The NI 8254R can start acquisitions in the following ways:

• Software control—The NI 8254R supports software control of

• Trigger control—You can start an acquisition by enabling external

ISO In

TTL In

TTL OutCPLD

ISO Out

ISO Power

Connection

Powe r

Supply

+5 V, +1.5 V

DSUB

Dust
MITE

1394A

Controller

V2 FPGA

Config ROM

1394

Conns

1394

Power Conn

Figure 1-1. NI 8254R Block Diagram

acquisition start. You can configure the NI 8254R to capture a fixed
number of frames. Use this configuration for capturing a single frame
or a sequence of frames.

trigger lines. Each of these inputs can start a video acquisition on a
rising or falling edge.

Acquisition Window Control

You can configure the following parameter on the NI 8254R to control the
video acquisition window:

• Acquisition window—The NI 8254R and the IIDC 1394-based

Digital Camera Specification allow you to specify a particular region
of active pixels and lines on a camera to acquire. In many cases,
specifying a smaller acquisition window will increase the maximum
frame rate of the camera. Valid acquisition windows, and their
corresponding frame rates, are defined by the camera.

NI PCI-8254R User Manual 1-4 ni.com

Hardware Overview

Digital I/O

The digital I/O functions on the NI 8254R are accessible through 2 TTL
inputs, 10 TTL outputs, 13 isolated inputs, and 4 isolated outputs.

You can use input signals as triggers, product selection ports, change
detectors, or to read quadrature encoders. Uses for output signals include
controlling camera reset and exposure, controlling strobe lighting,
outputting inspection results, or communicating with PLCs. You can also
define the functions of digital input and output signals.

For information about how to use LabVIEW to implement specific digital
I/O functions, refer to the examples at

IMAQ IO.llb

installed. For information about how to use C or Visual Basic to implement
specific digital I/O functions, refer to the examples at

<National Instruments>\NI-IMAQ IO\Examples\.

, where <LabVIEW> is the location in which LabVIEW is

2

<LabVIEW>\examples\IMAQ\

For more information about using the LabVIEW FPGA Module to
implement custom FPGA logic, refer to the examples at

examples\IMAQ\IMAQ IO FPGA.llb

to which you installed LabVIEW.

, where <LabVIEW> is the location

<LabVIEW>\

RIO and The LabVIEW FPGA Module

Behind the digital I/O of the NI 8254R is an FPGA which has been
preconfigured with the functionality required for most common machine
vision tasks. If the factory configured functionality does not fulfill your
requirements, the FPGA is user-configurable with the LabVIEW FPGA
Module. RIO allows you to develop custom FPGA logic to add triggering,
pulse-width modulation signals, or custom communications protocols to
your machine vision application.

© National Instruments Corporation 2-1 NI PCI-8254R User Manual

Chapter 2 Hardware Overview

Using National Instruments RIO hardware and the LabVIEW FPGA
Module, you can define your hardware without in-depth knowledge of
hardware design tools or hardware description languages (HDL). When the
signal requirements change, the LabVIEW code can be modified and
downloaded to the FPGA to change the I/O mix or type. This flexibility
allows you to reuse the same hardware and software at no extra expense.

NI-IMAQ I/O devices such as the such as the NI 8254R, the NI 8255R, and
the NI CVS-1450 Series have 29 digital I/O lines with built-in functionality
for communicating with external devices, such as reading quadrature
encoder inputs, generating strobe pulses, and writing to or reading from
digital lines.

NI-IMAQ I/O devices have 15 digital input lines—13 isolated 24 V lines
and two dedicated TTL lines. There are 14 digital output lines—four
isolated 24 V lines and 10 dedicated TTL lines. Using these signals, you
can dynamically control your lighting or cameras, synchronize with a
conveyor belt, or communicate with relays that control solenoids and other
actuators.

TTL Inputs and Outputs

TTL is a fast-switching 5 V digital signaling standard commonly used for
applications that require high precision, such as camera triggering. TTL
inputs and outputs do not require a separate power supply.

Caution Do not connect voltage or current sources to TTL outputs. Doing so could

damage the NI 8254R.

NI PCI-8254R User Manual 2-2 ni.com