VC pro Z Series Operating Manual

1.1   Technical Specification VC pro Z

The following diagram shows the maximum reachable (with the shortest shutter time) framerate according to the number of captured lines for the VC pro Z 0010, the VC pro Z 0011, the VC pro Z 0015 and the VC pro Z 0252:

Frames per second over number of lines

The following table gives some example values.

2.1   Power Connector J₀

2.1.1   J₀ Pin Assignment

Pin Assignment of J₀ Connector (M12 A-Coding Binder 09-3491-600-12 - male)

Camera Socket Rear View	Pin	Signal	Level	Cable Standard Color
	1	Main Power Supply	+24 V	brown
	2	Common Ground	GND	blue
	3	PLC In0	+24 V	white
	4	PLC Out0	+24 V	green
	5	PLC In1	+24 V	pink
	6	PLC Out1	+24 V	yellow
	7	PLC Out2	+24 V	black
	8	PLC In2	+24 V	grey
	9	PLC Out3	+24 V	red
	10	PLC In3	+24 V	purple
	11	FLASH0/TrigOut	+24 V	grey/pink
	12	FLASH1	+24 V	red/blue

Warning

Ensure, that the current is always limited in such a way that it cannot destroy the to the FLASH₀ and FLASH₁ pin connected hardware.

Note

• For a detailed description of the TrigOut connector see section Electrical Specification: Trigger I/O.
• For a detailed description of the FLASH₀ and FLASH₁ connector see section Electrical Specification: Flash LEDs.

2.1.3   Electrical Specification: Digital PLC I/O

Electrical Specifications

Separation of PLC/trigger output voltage	PLC outputs supply not separated from power supply
PLC Input Voltage	24V, threshold: 12V
Input Current (max)	1.5mA @ 24V
PLC Output Voltage	24V
PLC Output Current (max)	4 x 400 mA Max total of all outputs: 1A
Max Current for 1 Power / PLC connector pin	400 mA
Power failure detection	Yes, power failure detected if total PLC current > 1A

Warning

If power failure is detected, all PLC outputs may switch off regardless of their output state.

2.1.3.1   Connection of PLC inputs VC pro Z Series

Connection of PLC Inputs

2.1.3.2   Connection of PLC outputs VC pro Z Series

Connection of PLC Outputs

2.2   Option Connector J₁

It is not necessary for that socket to be connected for image acquisition.

2.2.1   J₁ Pin Assignment

Pin Assignment of J₁ Connector (M12 A-Coding Binder 09-3492-600-12 - female)

Camera Socket Rear View	Pin	Signal	Level	Cable Standard Color
	1	P5V_Out max 100mA, switched	5V	brown
	2	GND	GND	blue
	3	V24_TxD	±12V max. [1]	white
	4	TrigIn_P	5V	green
	5	TrigIn_M	GND	pink
	6	ENC /Z	5V	yellow
	7	ENC Z	5V	black
	8	ENC B	5V	grey
	9	ENC /A	5V	red
	10	ENC A	5V	purple
	11	V24_RxD	±12V max.	grey/pink
	12	ENC /B	5V	red/blue

[1]	Standard RS-232 voltage. Refer to the RS-232 specification for exact voltage and tolerance.

2.2.2   Electrical Specification: Trigger I/O

The TrigOut connector is available over the Power Connector J₀!

Electrical Specifications

Separation of trigger input	Yes, optically isolated, 8mA @ 5V
Separation of trigger output	No
Trigger output voltage	Identical with power supply voltage
Trigger output current (max)	400 mA (1500 mA pulse)

Note

For a connection example for the TrigOut, see Connection of Flash Outputs: External Flash, Connection of Flash Outputs: Direct High-Power-LEDs, Connection of Flash Outputs: PLC

2.2.2.1   Connection of Trigger Input

Connection of Trigger Input

2.2.3   Electrical Specification: Encoder

Optional.

Electrical Specifications

Separation of Encoder Signals	No
Encoder Input Voltage	5V, differential

Note

You can optionally use the encoder pins as 5V inputs.

2.2.3.1   Connection of Encoder inputs VC pro Z Series

Optional.

Timings for Encoder Pins

2.3   Ethernet Connector J_E

2.3.1   J_E Pin Assignment

Pin Assignment of J_E Connector (M12 X-Coding Binder 09-3782-91-08 - female)

Camera Socket Rear View	Pin	Signal
	1	ETH_A_p
	2	ETH_A_n
	3	ETH_B_p
	4	ETH_B_n
	5	ETH_D_p
	6	ETH_D_n
	7	ETH_C_n
	8	ETH_C_p

2.4   Connectors J_2A and J_2B

Connectors J_2A and J_2B

2.4.1   J_2A Pin Assignment

Pin Assignment of J_2A Connector

Camera Socket Top View	Pin	Signal
	1	GND
	2	GND switched, REF
	3	FLASH2
	4	FLASH3

LEDs at the connector J_2A must have an extra resistor attached whose resistance value encodes the allowed flash duration at specific current values. If the current value is set to 0.0 A, the circuit however provides the pins with a minimum current due to buffering purposes.

Warning

Ensure, that the current is always limited in such a way that it cannot destroy the to the FLASH₂ and FLASH₃ pin connected hardware.

Warning

Never dis-/connect something to the J_2A or J_2B connector without turning off the camera device.

J_2A Source Model Identifier Resistor

The formula used to calculate the current between maximum steady current and maximum flash current is based on durations at currents specified by the resistor ID of the LED ring, see the table named 'J_2A Connector Resistor Specification':

t_set = t_steady*(exp^{− (I_request − I_steady)*(ln(t_steady) − ln(t_highCurr)})/(I_highCurr − I_steady)

2.4.3   Available Ring Illuminator Options

Ring Illuminators

General Information				Maximum Flash Current		Maximum Steady Current
Spectrum	LED Count	Opening angle	Resistor [Ω]	IhighCurr [mA]	thighCurr [s]	Isteady [mA]	tsteady [s]
IR 850nm	× 32	±10°deg	220R	1500	1.0e-4	300	1.0e-2
White	× 12	±40°deg	2200R	1000	1.0e-3	500	1.0e-1
IR 850nm	× 12	±45°deg	2700R	1500	15.0e-3	500	1.0e-1

This specification is subject to change for the limiting values due to technical improvements without further notice. For this reason please try to avoid programming current values higher than reported as maximum by the program vcproz_flash_set.

2.4.3.1   Mounting The Ring Illuminator

How to mount the ring illuminator

Make sure to mount the ring illuminator as depicted at the figure 'How to mount the ring illuminator' so that the smaller vertical resistor is to the right, and the larger horizontal resistor is to the left. Also make sure to place all four pins of both connectors J_2A and J_2B properly, and to align the mounting holes with the corresponding threads. It may be necessary to apply a heat spreading pad between the camera and the illuminator ring. The illuminator ring must be fixed mechanically with two screws of type M2×4.

2.4.4   Electrical Specification: Flash LEDs

Note

Activation of flash output is done by assigning the right GPIO via the command line tool named vcio (and vcproz_flash_set), see GPIOs and Trigger Assignment for more information.

The FLASH₀ and FLASH₁ outputs are available over the Power Connector J₀.

The VC pro Z Hardware features four independently adjustable current sources for the connection of four LED light sources. Two of the current sources are designed for controlling the ring illuminators around the lens, connected to J_2A. The other two current sources are accessible over the connector J₀.

The default and system startup current at the FLASH₀, FLASH₁, FLASH₂ and FLASH₃ pins are 500 mA, limited to 1ms duration.

The controller covers a current range from 150 to 1500 mA. The controller provides a steady current in the range from 150 to 400 mA. Currents over 400 mA are available in flash mode saving LED lifetime.

The duty cycle is limited to 1:8, i.e. the off-state is eight times longer than the on-state for the output. Example: 1 ms flash duration, 8 ms cool down duration.

The flash duration depends on the real flash duration and not the maximum given flash duration.

Technical Data for each LED Controller

Iout	150-1500 mA, programmable
Uout	4-16 V (1-4 LEDs depending on the Vf)
Isteady	< 400 mA
IhighCurr	400-1500 mA
tpulse	> 20 µs

In the header file vcproz.h are the ranges available as defines.

Defines in Header File vcproz.h

Define Name	Meaning
VCPROZ_FLASH_MAXCURR_MA	Maximum current configurable for flash output pins.
VCPROZ_FLASH_MINCURR_MA	Minimum current configurable for flash output pins (0mA will be set if request is lower).
VCPROZ_FLASH01_MAXCURRSDY_MA	For FLASH 0 and FLASH 1 output pins, current above this level will limit the flash duration to @ref VCPROZ_FLASH01_DURTNLIMIT_US.
VCPROZ_FLASH01_DURTNLIMIT_US	Maximum Duration in microseconds

2.4.4.1   Connection of Flash Outputs: External Flash

Connection of Flash Outputs using an external Flash Current Source and Opto-Isolation

The figure shows how to connect an external flash illumination to FLASH₀/TrigOut signal by using an opto isolation. R _limit should be chosen to protect the opto isolator, e.g. 2K2/250mW for a current of 10mA. Remark: R _limit is not necessary for Vision Components' High Power IR Illumination VK XXXXXXXX. The current source should be set to 500 mA.

2.4.4.2   Connection of Flash Outputs: Direct High-Power-LEDs

Connection of Flash Outputs directly to High-Power LEDs

The figure shows how to connect an external flash illumination. The current source should be set to the required current setting between 200 and 1500 mA. The time limit must be set to an appropriate value for the protection of the external LEDs according to the data sheet of the manufacturer. Connectable are 1 to 6 High Power LEDs.

2.4.4.3   Connection of Flash Outputs: PLC

Connection of Flash Outputs to a PLC

The figure shows how to connect a PLC to the FLASH₀/TrigOut or FLASH₁ signal. The current source should be set to 500 mA.

Warning

Do not connect inductive loads to FLASH₀ or FLASH₁ outputs!

2.5   Built-in heater

The VC pro Z camera contains a built-in heater which is automatically activated when necessary. The following table and diagram show the behaviour of the heater. The heater is integrated in all VC pro Z cameras starting from S/N 4000673.

Behaviour of the built-in heater

3.1   GPIOs

They can be accessed over the linux standard way via /sys/class/gpio, see https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/gpio/sysfs.txt. The GPIO numbers are relative to the start number of the gpiochip labelled with '/amba@0/axi-gpio0@41200000', here: /sys/class/gpio/gpiochip224.

3.2   Trigger Assignment

To choose the sensor input/output trigger signals, the corresponding GPIO Nr. must be determined and assigned by the supporting program named vcio. More information can be found at the help of the program, if you run it with no command line parameter, it will show how to do it.

Sample usage instructions are provided here, but always refer to the instructions of your version, different camera models may have different vcio parameters:

VCIO v.1.2.3.- VCLinux Camera I/O Configuration and Connection Setup.

Usage: vcio [-s sen] [-i gpioNr] [-n] [-o gpioField] [-d gpioField] [-t time]

-s	Sensor to be configured, default value: 0.
-i	GPIO Nr. to be used as external sensor trigger input (TRGSRC_EXT)
-n	Negates trigger input signal
-o	Bitfield of GPIOs which are coupled with sensor trigger output signal. The bit of GPIO Nr. X is coupled, if Bit X is set to 1, for example, For coupling GPIO Nr. 0, 3 and 31 (TrigOut) provide the Bitfield as Decimal Value: 2^0+2^3+2^31=2147483657, as Hex Value: 0x80000009, or as Binary Value: 0b10000000000000000000000000001001.
-d	The direction of the GPIOs as bitfield (see -o switch); If the GPIO Nr. X should be configured as output, set bit X to 1, and if it should be an input, set bit X to 0.
-t	Time used to debounce all input sources, default value: 10000. Time Unit is in FPGA Cycles. The FPGA clock frequency can be acquired by reading out the value of capt->sen->d.fpgaClkHz, e.g. 153846161 Hz. The default debouncing time for that example is then given by 10000 cycles / 153846161 Hz = 0.000065 s = 65 us.

Settings done cannot be read out. Different camera models may have different vcio parameters.

One can further switch flash outputs for each capture (see the libvclinux documentation: VCFlashSelector); therefore the corresponding gpios must be set as output (-d), but they should not be coupled with the trigger signal (-o), since this given value would be ORed with the flash selector settings, and the flash would always trigger.

3.3   Status LEDs

The VC pro Z Smart Cameras feature 2 LEDs providing status information on power supply and ethernet connection, as well as 4 LEDs being free programmable by the developer.

They can be accessed over the linux standard way via /sys/class/leds, see https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/leds/leds-class.txt.

4.1   Camera order numbers

4.2   Order numbers of all available VC pro Z Series Accessories

If you plan to use the pro Z camera outdoors, we advise you to order protection caps for all unused connectors, so that the IP67 property is ensured.

Protection cap for VC pro Z camera connectors