The Hitachi PIXCI SV5 by EPIX is a PCI board that captures high quality, uncompressed, scientific quality digital images from standard analog output video sources to a computer. With its standard BNC and S-Video inputs, this board is optimized for use with Hitachi industrial CCTV cameras having those types of outputs.
Video is captured at resolutions up to 754 x 480 for color images (NTSC/PAL) and up to 922 x 580 for B/W images (CCIR/RS-170). Analog image data is digitized and transferred to motherboard memory with less than one horizontal line time delay. Although computer driven, this PCI board as a PCI bus DMA master, handles the image transferring process on its own, leaving the host PC to do its part fast and efficiently.
Up to 8 PIXCI SV5 boards can be installed in one computer, allowing simultaneous capture from multiple video sources.
Acquisition
Programmable gain, hue, brightness, saturation, and contrast adjustments allow optimized control of the input video signal. A unique digital genlock circuit ensures precise synchronization of every image. The PIXCI SV5 can genlock to the video output of a VCR.
Digital Genlock Circuit
The unique digital genlock circuit ensures precise synchronization of every image. The PIXCI SV5 imaging board genlock subsystem accepts video timing from a VCR.
Scaling and Cropping
The captured image can be cropped in single pixel increments and then scaled down to as few as 4 pixels by one line. Horizontal and vertical scaling is performed in real-time by interpolation, providing a high quality representation of the original image.
I/O Control
Four TTL input/output ports are available for synchronizing image capture and controlling external devices. A TTL input signal from a part-in-place sensor can capture an image or an image sequence. A TTL output signal can trigger an alarm or control extended integration in a camera.
Capture FIELDs to Double the Capture Rate
If fast capture rate is more important than vertical resolution, then selecting the Field at Field mode doubles a field capture rate while cutting vertical resolution in half. Capture 50 FPS from a PAL or CCIR camera; capture 60 FPS from an NTSC or RS-170 camera.
Capture Frame at Frame
This is the default capture option offering maximum vertical resolution images at the camera's frame rate. Selected Capture from Three Video Sources using one PIXCI SV5(A): The PIXCI SV5 imaging board features a 3-input video multiplexer that allows signal selection from two BNC and one S-Video input. The PIXCI SV5A allows signal selection from three BNC inputs.
Capture from Multiple PIXCI SV5 Boards
As many as eight PIXCI SV5 boards can be installed in one computer allowing selected capture from multiple video sources controlled by a single program. Because the multiplexer on each board allows connection of up to 3 sources, a total of 24 sources can be connected. Simultaneous capture from up to eight sources is possible - subject to the bandwidth constraints of the PCI bus or buses on the selected motherboard. There are motherboards with multiple PCI buses. Each PCI bus has a bandwidth of approximately 110 Mbps. Capture Short Sequence with Selected Image Save: The XCAP-Lite imaging program, provided at no charge with the purchase of the PIXCI SV5 imaging board, allows sequence capture into as much as 64MB of computer memory. Individual images can be saved one at a time.
Bundled with XCAP-Lite Software
The PIXCI SV5 frame grabber is bundled with an imaging program that allows camera operation and frame grabber control without need to write software. Capture and save images after unpacking the board and loading the software. The XCAP-Lite imaging program, provided at no-charge with the PIXCI SV5 purchase, provides video format/mode selection, triggering, live display, and image/sequence capture to computer memory. Individual images can be saved in several industry-standard formats including TIF, BMP, and JPEG.
Optional XCAP Limited Software Available
The XCAP-Ltd (PL-XCAPLITE-WIN) program adds the ability to capture sequences (uncompressed full-motion video movie clips at 25 or 30 fps) to memory up to a maximum size of approximately 3.5 gigabytes (computer configuration dependent), and includes the ability to save sequences. XCAP-Ltd also provides annotation - the ability to write text on an image.
Optional XCAP Standard Software Available
For image processing and video to disk, purchase XCAP-Std (PL-XCAPSTD-WIN). In addition to all of the capabilities just described, the XCAP-Std program offers extensive processing, measurement and analysis capabilities including filters, mathematical operations, blob analysis, and particle tracking. The availability of scripts and the "blackboard" allow customization and automation of included operations. Sequence Capture options include the ability to capture video sequences to a hard drive. The PIXCI SV5 frame grabber, with XCAP-Std, can capture full-resolution video for 10 hours with a 750GB drive.