Polycom 3725-24004-001-A User Manual
User’s Guide for the Polycom
PowerCam Presenter
November 2006 Edition
3725-24004-001/A
VideoVoiceDataWeb
Trademark Information
Polycom® and the Polycom logo design are registered trademarks of Polycom, Inc. Polycom PowerCam Presenter™
and VSX™ are trademarks of Polycom, Inc. in the United States and various other countries.
All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.
Patent Information
The accompanying product is protected by one or more U.S. and foreign patents and/or pending patent applications
held by Polycom, Inc.
Disclaimer
This software is provided 'as is' with no explicit or implied warranties in respect of its properties, including, but not limited
to, correctness and fitness for purpose.
Copyright Information
© 2006 Polycom, Inc. All rights reserved.
Polycom Inc.
4750 Willow Road
Pleasanton, CA 94588-2708
USA
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, for
any purpose, without the express written permission of Polycom, Inc. Under the law, reproducing includes translating
into another language or format.
As between the parties, Polycom, Inc. retains title to, and ownership of, all proprietary rights with respect to the software
contained within its products. The software is protected by United States copyright laws and international treaty
provision. Therefore, you must treat the software like any other copyrighted material (e.g. a book or sound recording).
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate. Polycom, Inc. is not responsible
for printing or clerical errors. Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Portions of the VSX software are copyright © 2001 by Dr. Brian Gladman. The following terms and
disclaimer apply only to Dr. Gladman's AES encryption implementation:
Copyright © 2001, Dr. Brian Gladman <brg@gladman.me.uk>, Worcester, UK. All rights reserved.
License Terms
The free distribution and use of this software in both source and binary form is allowed (with or without
changes) provided that:
1. distributions of this source code include the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the
following disclaimer;
2. distributions in binary form include the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following
disclaimer in the documentation and/or other associated materials;
3. the copyright holder's name is not used to endorse products built using this software without specific
written permission.
About this Guide
This guide introduces you to the Polycom® PowerCam Presenter™, explains
how to configure the system, describes how to use automatic camera tracking
and other functions, and provides maintenance and troubleshooting
information. This guide is intended for all users of the Polycom PowerCam
Presenter.
For additional information about the Polycom PowerCam Presenter, refer to
these other documents:
• Setting up the Polycom PowerCam Presenter, which illustrates how to set up
the controller with and without a Polycom VSX™ video conferencing
system, how to set up the locator pack assembly, and how to set up the
camera. This document is shipped in hardcopy format with the
PowerCam Presenter.
• Polycom PowerCam Presenter Release Notes, which describes PowerCam
Presenter features and lists feature limitations and usage notes. This
document is available through the documentation CD that is shipped with
the PowerCam Presenter.
You can also find these documents, as well as additional Polycom
documentation, at the Polycom web site, www.polycom.com/
videodocumentation.
For support or service, please contact your Polycom distributor or go to
Polycom Support at www.polycom.com/support.
iii
User’s Guide for the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
iv
Contents
1 Introducing the Polycom PowerCam Presenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
2 Using the Polycom PowerCam Presenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
System Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
Key Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Ease of Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
State-of-the-Art Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Setting up the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
Using the Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Configuring User Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Configuring Camera Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Configuring Input Signal, Camera Direction, and Backlight
Compensation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3
Configuring the Camera Tracking Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-4
Calibrating the Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Calibrating for Pointing Accuracy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Calibrating for Background Noise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-7
Configuring LAN Properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-8
Configuring Video Output Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-9
Using Automatic Camera Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-10
Enabling and Disabling Automatic Camera Tracking . . . . . . . . . . . 2-11
Setting and Using Presenter Views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-12
Enabling and Disabling Automatic Zooming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-14
Controlling the Camera Manually . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Setting and Using Camera Presets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-15
Obtaining System Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
Tips on Using the Polycom PowerCam Presenter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-16
v
User’s Guide for the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
3 Maintenance and Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Maintaining the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Charging the Locator Pack Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
Upgrading the Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Automatic Camera Tracking Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
Troubleshooting the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Power and Hardware Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4
Camera Movement Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-6
Contacting Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-9
Safety and Regulatory Notices . . . .Safety and Regulatory Notices-1
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index-1
vi
1
Introducing the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
The Polycom PowerCam Presenter is an automatic camera tracking device. Its
primary components include a camera, a locator pack assembly, a controller,
and a remote control.
When you have set up the PowerCam Presenter and are ready to use the
automatic camera tracking functionality, simply attach the locator pack
assembly to yourself using the provided belt clip or lanyard. You can then
freely move about the room, and the camera will automatically point at you.
Because you no longer need to confine yourself to a single spot in the room or
worry about adjusting the camera manually, you’ll be free to focus on the more
important tasks at hand — whether that’s teaching a class, making a
presentation, or delivering a speech.
The PowerCam Presenter also enables you to manually adjust the camera. You
can pan, tilt, and zoom the camera as well as set up one or two camera preset
positions.
1 - 1
User’s Guide for the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
System Components
These standard components come with the Polycom PowerCam Presenter:
Name Component Description
Controller The controller receives ultrasound signals from the
camera. The software in the controller processes
these signals to locate the person wearing the
locator pack assembly, and it then commands the
camera to follow that person.
Locator pack
assembly (includes
locator pack and
locator)
Locator pack AC
power charger and
cord
Battery pack The battery pack provides power to the locator
Lanyard The lanyard, like the belt clip, enables you to keep
The locator pack assembly generates ultrasound
signals. The camera receives these signals, which
enables it to track you as you move. You clip the
locator and locator pack to the front of your
clothing, or you can wear the locator pack around
your neck using the provided lanyard.
The locator pack AC power charger and cord
enable you to charge the battery pack inside the
locator pack.
Connect the power charger and cord to each other
before connecting them to the locator pack or to the
wall.
NOTE: For important information about charging
the locator batteries, refer to Charging the Locator
Pack Batteries on page 3-1.
pack.
NOTE: For important information about charging
the locator batteries, refer to Charging the Locator
Pack Batteries on page 3-1.
the locator pack assembly with you at all times
without having to carry it in your hands. The
lanyard goes around your neck.
Belt clip The belt clip, like the lanyard, enables you to keep
the locator pack assembly with you at all times
without having to carry it in your hands. The belt
clip clips to your belt or to the waistband of your
clothing.
1 - 2
Name Component Description
Introducing the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
Camera
(NTSC or PAL
version)
The camera has several main functions:
• Provides an S-video (PAL or NTSC) or composite
video signal.
• Points the camera head in response to
commands from the controller to change the pan,
tilt, or zoom.
• Provides a microphone array, which sends the
ultrasound signals received from the locator pack
assembly to the controller box.
• Provides an IR receiver, which sends the IR
signals received from the remote control to the
controller.
Camera cables In a configuration where you are not using a VSX
video conferencing system, the camera cable
connects to the camera. In a configuration where
you are using a VSX video conferencing system,
one camera cable connects to the camera and the
other connects to the VSX system. In either
configuration, you can use the 10-foot or 100-foot
cable interchangeably.
Camera adapter
cable
In a configuration where you are using a VSX video
conferencing system, the camera adapter cable
enables you to connect both the camera and the
VSX system to the controller.
Camera power
supply and power
The camera power supply and power cable
connect power to the camera.
cable
Controller power
cable
The controller power cable connects power to the
controller. Your PowerCam Presenter shipping
boxes contain power cables for various countries;
use the cable that’s appropriate for your country.
LAN cable The LAN cable enables you to connect your
PowerCam Presenter to an IP network. The LAN
connection is not for making video calls.
1 - 3
User’s Guide for the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
Name Component Description
S-video cables In a configuration where you are not using a VSX
video conferencing system, the 25-foot S-video
cable enables you to connect optional S-video
devices, such as a VCR, DVD recorder, or a video
conferencing system other than a Polycom VSX
system. In a configuration where you are using a
VSX video conferencing system, the 25-foot
S-video cable enables you to connect the camera
to the controller. In either configuration, the 8-foot
S-video cable enables you to connect a display so
you can see Presenter icons and messages.
S-video to RCA
adapter
If you are using your own RCA cable to connect to
a display, the S-video to RCA adapter connects
your RCA cable to the controller so you can see
PowerCam Presenter icons and messages on the
screen.
Male RCA to
female S-video
adapter
In a configuration where you are not using a VSX
video conferencing system, the male RCA to
female S-video adapter connects the camera cable
to the camera. In a configuration where you are
using a VSX video conferencing system, the male
RCA to female S-video adapter connects the
S-video cable to the camera.
S-video gender
changer adapter
In a configuration where you are using a VSX video
conferencing system, the S-video gender changer
adapter connects the two camera cables.
Rack mount ears
and screws
The rack mount ears and screws enable you to
mount the controller in a rack. For information on
how to do this, refer to the Administrator’s Guide for
the VSX Series, available at
www.polycom.com/videodocumentation.
Rubber feet The rubber feet insert into the holes in the bottom
of the controller. Use the rubber feet only if you
choose to place the controller on a desk or table
rather than to rack mount it.
1 - 4
Name Component Description
Introducing the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
Remote control
and batteries
Menu
Select
Zoom In
Preset 1
Auto Zoom
Preset 2
Zoom Out
Presenter View
Tight
Wide Off
Right
Left
The remote control sends IR signals to the camera,
which enable you to operate the system.
Color-coded buttons correspond to common tasks.
Insert the batteries in the remote control as
instructed on the remote control battery
compartment.
Documentation • Setting up the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
• Polycom PowerCam Presenter documentation
CD
You may also add optional components to your PowerCam Presenter. For
example, you can add:
• A Polycom VSX video conferencing system
• A (non-VSX) video conferencing system
• A VCR or DVD player
• A display
If you connect the PowerCam Presenter to a Polycom VSX system, the
PowerCam Presenter camera can be the main or auxiliary camera, and you can
continue to use the automatic camera tracking functionality. The PowerCam
camera will also work with any other video conferencing equipment that
accepts a standard NTSC or PAL video signal as input; however, it cannot be
controlled from that other equipment (for example, you will not be able to pan,
tilt, or zoom the camera).
For information about purchasing optional equipment, please contact your
Polycom distributor.
1 - 5
User’s Guide for the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
Key Features
This section lists the key features of the Polycom PowerCam Presenter.
Ease of Use
• Fluid camera movement that follows the presenter's walking speed and
smoothly stops moving when the presenter stops walking.
• The presenter can be spontaneous and focus on the task at hand instead of
focusing on how to manually control the camera.
• The remote control enables the presenter to quickly and efficiently use
camera tracking without having to learn new user interfaces.
• Automatically zooms in and out as the presenter walks close to or away
from the camera.
• Customizable automatic camera tracking views (for example, track to the
left or right of the presenter to leave space for a whiteboard).
• Stores up to two camera presets.
• The locator can be clipped onto a shirt or pocket or can be used with the
provided lanyard.
• Ideal for all school levels, corporate and government training, lectures,
boardrooms, legal environments, and medical education.
State-of-the-Art Technology
• Works with any video conferencing system or video capture device that
has an S-video or composite input.
• Creates perfect line-of-sight and eye contact with the presenter and
audience.
• Eight-hour battery usage and three-hour battery charge time (your results
may vary).
• Fast and quiet camera movement.
• Does not require microphone cables, mats, or wired detection devices.
• No interference with radio frequency devices or signals.
1 - 6
Using the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
This chapter provides guidelines for setting up the hardware, describes the
remote control, and explains how to configure the Polycom PowerCam
Presenter. Information about how to use automatic camera tracking, control
the camera manually, set camera presets, and obtain system information is
also included. Tips on how to get the best results when using the Polycom
PowerCam Presenter are provided at the end of this chapter.
2
Setting up the Hardware
To properly set up the PowerCam Presenter hardware, refer to the Setting up
the Polycom PowerCam Presenter document, which you received with your
system. This document is also available at www.polycom.com/
videodocumentation.
Keep the following guidelines in mind when setting up the hardware:
• Connect the cables precisely as shown on the Setting up the Polycom
PowerCam Presenter document. If you change the way the system is cabled
or use different cables, adapters, or connectors, you may experience video
delay and lip synchronization issues.
• As shown on the Setting up the Polycom PowerCam Presenter document, you
cable the system differently depending on whether or not you have a
Polycom VSX video conferencing system connected to the PowerCam
Presenter. Be sure to follow the cabling diagram that pertains to your
particular system configuration.
• The video used for presentations, video conferencing, and recording
comes directly from the camera, whereas the video used for the user
interface and system feedback appears on a separate display connected to
the controller.
Therefore, if you want to view the user settings screens and see icons and
messages from the system, you must connect a separate display to
connector on the controller.
2 - 1
User’s Guide for the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
• You can connect a display to connector on the controller using S-video
or composite; however, be sure to use whichever matches the display’s
video input.
• Polycom recommends that you do not use audio with the display
connected to connector on the controller. If you do so, you will
experience video delay and lip synchronization issues.
Using the Remote Control
The IR remote control enables you to control the PowerCam Presenter. You
can use it to enable and disable automatic camera tracking, adjust the camera,
and navigate the screens.
Select an item from the
user settings screens
Adjust the Presenter View
(when automatic camera
tracking is enabled);
manually pan and tilt the
camera (when automatic
camera tracking is disabled);
navigate through menus
(when viewing the user
settings screens)
Zoom the Presenter View
in or out (when automatic
camera tracking is enabled);
manually zoom the camera
in or out (when automatic
camera tracking is disabled)
Zoom in more closely on
the presenter (and enable
automatic camera tracking,
if it’s currently disabled)
Move the camera to the
left of the presenter (and
enable automatic camera
tracking, if it’s currently
disabled)
Menu
Zoom In
Zoom Out
Auto Zoom
Presenter View
Tight
Left
Select
Wide Off
Right
Preset 1
Preset 2
Access the user settings
screens or return to showing
video
Enable or disable automatic
zooming for the Presenter
View
Store or recall a camera
position (and disable
automatic camera tracking,
if it’s currently enabled)
Disable automatic camera
tracking
Zoom out further away from
the presenter (and enable
automatic camera tracking,
if it’s currently disabled)
Move the camera to the
right of the presenter (and
enable automatic camera
tracking, if it’s currently
disabled)
2 - 2
Using the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
Wide
Keep in mind that the Tight, Wide, Left, and Right button
settings described here are merely guidelines, and that you can set and change
the settings to best suit your needs. For more information, refer to Setting and
Using Presenter Views on page 2-12.
When the message
need to replace the batteries.
Configuring User Settings
The Menu button on the remote control gives you access to the user
settings. These settings enable you to configure and calibrate the camera, set
LAN properties, and specify video output settings.
Configuring Camera Settings
The Camera Settings screen lets you specify the settings for the input signal,
backlight compensation, camera direction, and the camera tracking area.
Configuring Input Signal, Camera Direction, and Backlight Compensation
Tight
Remote control batteries are low appears on the screen, you
Left
Right
You may need to set or change these camera settings depending on your
preferences and on the environment in which you use your PowerCam
Presenter.
To configure the settings for input signal, camera direction, and backlight
compensation:
1. Press Menu on the remote control.
2. Select Camera Settings from the PowerCam Presenter screen.
3. Configure these settings:
Setting Description
Input Signal Specifies your camera’s input signal:
• Select S-Video if you connect your camera to the
PowerCam Presenter controller using the
S-video connector on the camera.
• Select Composite if you connect your camera to
the PowerCam Presenter controller using the
composite connector on the camera.
2 - 3
User’s Guide for the Polycom PowerCam Presenter
Setting Description
Camera Direction Specifies the direction the camera moves when
Backlight Compensation Specifies whether to have the camera
Configuring the Camera Tracking Area
The camera tracking area is the area within which automatic camera tracking
will follow the locator. How you choose to set the tracking area depends on a
number of factors including the size of your room, whether your room
contains many, few, or no reflective surfaces (such as windows, large plasma
screens, or shiny walls), whether you plan on remaining in a certain part of the
room or you need to walk to all parts of the room, and so forth.
For example, suppose you are presenting in a classroom that has many
windows, a few large, shiny tables, and a big plasma screen. Because of the
many reflective surfaces, the camera may inadvertently point at these
reflective surfaces instead of pointing at you, the presenter. If you know that
you will be standing at the front of the classroom throughout the presentation,
then you could set the tracking area so that it is limited to the front of the
classroom. In this way, you can eliminate the windows, tables, and screen
from the tracking area and know that the camera will never inadvertently
point to them, but will always point to you instead.
using the arrow buttons on the remote control.
automatically adjust for a light background.
Backlight compensation is best used in situations
where the subject appears darker than the
background.
2 - 4
Note
If your room has many reflective surfaces that the camera tends to point to,
consider reducing the reflections. You could, for example, cover the windows with
drapes, cover the tables with tablecloths, or treat the side walls to avoid acoustic
echoes. You may also want to try moving the camera to another location in the
room, or simply try to avoid the part of the room where the camera has difficulty
locating you.
To configure the camera tracking area:
1. Press Menu on the remote control.
2. Select Camera Settings from the PowerCam Presenter screen.
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