This question applies to the legacy Photon camera models. The
Photon product line and its accessories have been discontinued. The
information here is provided for historical reference.
Currently there are three possible ways to acquire digital data using a
legacy FLIR Photon camera:
1) LVDS. Legacy Photon outputs digital data
in a serial low-voltage differential signal (LVDS) format. This data is
available at the 30-pin SAMTEC connector on the camera core. In
addition, serial LVDS is available at the 15-pin wearsaver connector of
the legacy Photon 320 camera (26-pin connector for the legacy Photon
640 camera) as well as the digital data port on the I/O module. The
wearsaver connector and I/O module are accessory kit items. The
Photon
User`s Guide provides the necessary pinouts and timing
diagrams for
interfacing directly to the legacy Photon camera core electrical
functions, including digital data.
2) Ethernet. FLIR’s Ethernet Module
for legacy Photon provides camera control functions, and converts
serial LVDS into real-time streaming uncompressed video data. The
Module interfaces into a standard RJ-45 Ethernet network and runs at
standard 100 megabit or full gigabit Ethernet speed. The Module
includes the Ethernet interface adapter, camera cabling, and power
supply. The Module allows acquisition of both 8-bit digital data and
the full 14-bit digital data. Analog video is also output via separate
BNC connector. The legacy Photon control software (GUI) provides
Ethernet Module support to allow camera control and video display in a
host computer window. The Photon SDK, a separate optional accessory,
also provides this functionality. The legacy Photon 320 Ethernet Module
part number is 421-0025-00. The legacy Photon 640 Ethernet Module part
number is 421-0031-00. Ethernet Modules require the camera to have
either the 15-pin wearsaver connector installed on a legacy Photon 320
camera, or the 26-pin connector (part of the EMI rear cover assembly)
installed on a legacy Photon 640 camera.
3) Frame grab board. FLIR’s
optional serial-in, parallel-out (SIPO) module (part number
333-0017-00) converts the serial LVDS into a parallel data format that
can be accessed via a frame grabber. The SIPO mates directly to the I/O
module’s digital data port, and furnishes a 68-pin connector that can
be attached to a frame grabber via a digital interface cable. One frame
grabber possibility is the National Instruments IMAQ PCI-1422 (LVDS)
board using digital interface cable part number 308-0013-00. Another
frame grabber option is the Bit Flow RoadRunner Model 14-M board using
digital interface cable part number 308-0016-00-03. Both of these
computer-based frame grabber boards require third-party software not
offered or supported by FLIR.
FLIR supplies camera setup files for both the IMAQ and Bit
Flow frame grabber boards, but FLIR does not formally support their
use, nor do we claim or guarantee that these setup files will be
suitable for any particular use or application. Refer to Software
Updates.