VRmagic C-Series User Manual

VRmagic

USB Cameras

User Guide

Issued August 2013

USB Cameras – User Guide

Document version: 1.1
Date of issue: August 6, 2013
Applicable to: all USB cameras, SDK release ≥ 4.0

Subject to change without notice. Errors excepted.

This document is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this
document may be reproduced or transmitted for any purpose in any form
or by any means, electronically or mechanically, without expressly written
permission by VRmagic.

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www.vrmagic-imaging.com

Table of Contents

1 General Information ..........................................................6

2 Overview .............................................................................7

2.1 Camera Models ...........................................................................................7

2.2 Connectors and Interfaces ........................................................................ 10

2.3 Accessories ............................................................................................... 13

3 Software Installation ......................................................14

3.1 Downloading the SDK ............................................................................... 14

3.2 Installing the SDK ...................................................................................... 14

3.3 Contents of the SDK .................................................................................. 15

3.3.1 Windows ....................................................................................... 15

3.3.2 Linux ..............................................................................................16

4 Hardware Installation ......................................................17

4.1 Connecting External Sensor Boards ......................................................... 17

4.2 Connecting the Interface Cables ............................................................... 19

4.2.1 Cameras with Hirose DF14-15P Connector .................................. 19

4.2.2 Cameras with MPE Garry Micro-T Connector .............................. 21

4.2.3 Compact Single-Sensor Cameras ................................................22

4.3 Connecting to Power .................................................................................22

4.3.1 Power Supply via USB ..................................................................23

4.3.2 External Power Supply .................................................................23

5 First Steps ....................................................................... 25

5.1 Auto-Detection of the Camera .................................................................. 25

5.2 Starting CamLab ........................................................................................ 25

5.3 Accessing the Demo Applications ............................................................27

5.4 Using Trigger and Strobe ........................................................................... 28

5.4.1 Trigger Input ..................................................................................29

5.4.2 Strobe Output ...............................................................................30

USB Cameras – User Guide4

USB Components

Table of Contents

6 Firmware Update .............................................................31

7 Appendix ...........................................................................33

7.1 Cable Plan VRmC-X OEM Interface Cable ................................................ 33

7.2 Cable Plan VRmDC/FC-X-DF14-Open.......................................................34

7.3 Cable Plan VRmC-X PRO Interface Cable .................................................35

7.4 Pinout 4-pin Header VRmC-X+ OEM/COB ............................................... 36

7.5 Status LED Indications .............................................................................. 37

8 Index ..................................................................................38

5USB Cameras – User Guide

Table of Contents

USB Components

1 General Information

This guide applies to all USB cameras from VRmagic. Follow this guide chapter by
chapter to set up and understand your device. If a section of this document only applies
to certain camera models, this is indicated at the beginning of the respective section.

Symbols Used

This guide makes use of a few symbols and conventions:

Warning!

Indicates a situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury
and/or property damage or damage to the device.

Caution

Indicates a situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor damage to the
device, in malfunction of the device or in data loss.

Note

Notes provide information on special issues related to the device or provide infor­mation that will make operation of the device easier.

This headline indicates the beginning of a procedure:

1. This number indicates the first step of a certain procedure you are expected to

follow. Following steps are numbered accordingly.

f This arrow indicates an expected result of your action.

 This symbol indicates a reference to a different part of this manual or to external

documents.

USB Cameras – User Guide6

USB Components

General Information

2 Overview

2.1 Camera Models

Single-Sensor Cameras VRm(F)C-X

Single-sensor cameras are equipped with one image sensor. The sensor board is
mounted directly to the camera base unit, forming one compact unit. They are avail­able as board-level cameras (OEM versions), board-level cameras with optics (COB
versions) and as cameras with aluminium housing (PRO versions).

All cameras are equipped with a sensor board and an interface board. Depending on
the image sensor, the camera may be equipped with an additional FPGA board (VRm­FC-X models).

Front View Side View Back View

Sensor

Fig. 1: USB single-sensor camera (OEM) with FPGA board

1 Sensor board with image sensor

2 FPGA board (VRmFC-X cameras only)

3 Interface board

7USB Cameras – User Guide

Overview

USB Components

Compact Single-Sensor Cameras VRmC-X+

Compact single -sensor cameras consist of one single board only, making them very
small. They are equipped with one image sensor and are available as board-level cam­eras (OEM versions), board-level cameras with optics (COB versions) and as cameras
with aluminium housing (PRO versions).

Front View Side View

USB

Sensor

T
G
G
S

Fig. 2: Compact USB single-sensor camera (OEM)

Remote-Sensor Cameras VRmC-X-E

Remote-sensor cameras consist of a base unit and an external sensor board connected
to the base unit by flex-foil cable. Remote-sensor cameras are available as board-level
cameras (OEM versions) and board-level cameras with optics (COB versions).

The base unit consists of a sensor connection board and an interface board.

Back ViewFront View Side View

Fig. 3: Base unit of USB remote -sensor camera

1 Sensor connection board (external sensor board is connected via flex-foil cable)

2 Interface board

USB Cameras – User Guide8

USB Components

Overview

Multi-Sensor Cameras VRmMFC

Multi-sensor cameras consist of a base unit and up to four external sensor boards con­nected to the base unit by flex-foil cables. They are available as board-level cameras
(OEM versions) and board-level cameras with optics (COB versions).

The base unit consists of a sensor connection board, an FPGA board, and an interface
board.

Front View Side View Back View

Fig. 4: Base unit of USB multi-sensor camera with standard interface board

1 Sensor connection board (external sensor boards are connected via flex-foil

cables)

2 FPGA board

3 Interface board

9USB Cameras – User Guide

Overview

USB Components

2.2 Connectors and Interfaces

Depending on your camera model, the available interfaces vary in type and position.
There are basically three different interface configurations, which are described in the
following.

Single-/Remote-/Multi-Sensor Cameras OEM and COB

Single-sensor cameras, remote-sensor cameras, and multi-sensor cameras in OEM
and COB versions are equipped with a USB connector, a Hirose DF14-15P connector
for trigger/strobe and external power supply, and a status LED ( Fig. 5 on page10).

Back View Top View

Fig. 5: Interfaces of a single-sensor camera VRmFC-X OEM

1 USB Mini-B port

2 Status LED

3 DF14-15P connector for trigger, strobe, and external power supply

USB Cameras – User Guide10

USB Components

Overview

Single-Sensor Cameras PRO

Single-sensor cameras in PRO version are equipped with a USB connector, an MPE
Garry Micro-T connector for trigger/strobe and external power supply, and a status LED
( Fig. 6 on page11).

Side View Back View

Fig. 6: Interfaces of a single-sensor camera VRmC-X PRO

1 MPE Garry Micro-T 386-2- 021-ZS0 connector for trigger, strobe, and external

power supply

2 USB Mini-B port

3 Status LED

11USB Cameras – User Guide

Overview

USB Components

Compact Single-Sensor Cameras

Compact single -sensor cameras: PRO variants are equipped with a USB connector
(Fig. 7 on page 12). OEM and COB variants also feature an additional 4 -pin header
for trigger/strobe and a status LED ( Fig. 7 on page12).

Front View Top View

Fig. 7: Interfaces of a compact single-sensor camera VRmC-X+ PRO

1 USB Mini-B port

Side View Back View

USB

Sensor

T
G
G
S

Fig. 8: Interfaces of a compact single-sensor camera VRmC-X+ OEM

1 USB Mini-B port

2 4-pin header for trigger and strobe

3 Status LED

USB Cameras – User Guide12

USB Components

Overview