Sony DXC 9000 Documentation

Features

The DXC 9000 is a color video camera with an 1/2-inch, three-chip Progressive Scan CCD. The CCD uses an "all pixels read-out" method, which enables the CCD to output all pixel signals in 1/60 sec. This allows the unit to capture blur-free, clear images of fast-moving objects without a mechanical shutter.

Square Pixels

The unit uses pixels which have the same pitch horinzontally and vertically, namely 9.9um, to make a sqaure pixel.

VGA compatible

The unit supports VGA(640*480) displays used by computers. An output of 60 frames of non-interlaced signals per seconds allows you to connect the unit to a monitor or a projector.

Capturing Video Sequence

Location

The camera is in the black room in the GRAIL. It is not locked and should be located easily. Please do NOT to take it out. We have two DXC9000 actually. One ( with lens ) is borrowed from CSE dept and the other ( body only ) is ordered by Steve Seitz. The lens for the second one is on the way. All the related cable are currently in the box labeled as "SONY DXC 9000".

Mounting the Lens

The lens should be mounted all the time. In case the lens is not mounted, please follow the following steps:

  • Turn the mount lever counterclockwise as far as it goes.(If the lens mount cap is in place, remove it.)
  • Align the positioning pin on the lens with the matching hole in the lens mount and attach the lens.
  • Turn the mount lever clockwise as far as it goes to lock the lens in the lens mount.

    • Mounting on a Tripod

    To mount the camera on a tripod, use screw hole in the bottom of camera body.

    Basic System Connection

    You first locate two connectors, "DC IN/VBS" and "RGB/SYNC", at the rear of DXC9000 camera. You need two cables to do the following connnection:
  • DC IN/VBS <==== Power supply on the wall
  • RGB/SYNC ====> Matrox Frame Grabber in PC

    • Currently, we have two Matrox Cards installed in the Win2K box "button". You can see them in the second and the sixth slot (from top to bottom> at the back of "button". The top one is "Device 0". The bottom one is "Device 1". Choose either one you want.

    You should find four and ONLY four cables in the box labled "SONY DXC 9000" on the floor, two for each " Power ====> Camera ====> Matrox Card " connection. Please put the cables in the box they belong to, because we have so many cables there!

    Testing

  • Login "button", run "Programs=>Matrox Imaging Products=>Intellicam=>Intellicam".
  • Choose "Options=>System Selection" menu, Allocate and Make Active either "Meteor_II Device 0" or "Meteor_II Device 1", depending on which card you connect to the camera. Remember, we have two cards installed on "button".
  • Choose "File=>Open" menu, open the Digitizer Config File "C:\DXC9000\dcf\cdxc900c.dcf" and you will see a dialog box.
  • Choose the "Digitizer=>Single Grab" menu, you will grab a still image; Choose the "Digitizer=>Continuous Grab" menu, you will grab a continuous sequence; Choose the "Digitizer=>Halt Grab" menu, you will stop grabbing. If you can do these operations, you are in good shape!
  • You can save the currently grabbed frame by choosing "File=>Save As". Make sure the Image window, instead of Digitizer Config Dialog Box, is in focus before you save the grabbed frame. Otherwise, you will overwrite the .dcf file, which is a bad idea. You may not be able to run the digitizer correctly later on if you accidentally changed the .dcf file and saved it. If that happens, don't panic. I have a backup version at "C:\LiZHANG\dcf\cdxc900c.dcf".
  • The IntelliCam program only grabs the image/sequence to RAM and can NOT save the grabbed frames to hard disk automatically. I have codes to do this right now and I will make it easy to use very soon and share with you if you like.

    • More Reference

  • SONY 3CCD Color Video Camera - DXC9000 Operating Instructions, in box labeled "SONY DXC9000"
  • "Programs=>Matrox Imaging Products=>", online documentation installed in "button"