AVT News Page
Mar
2009 AVT 1394 software
driver over comes speed limits
July 2008 Stringray Firewire camera
Jun 2008 Extended Firewire cables
May 2008 5MP Firewire
July 2007 200fps Firewire camera
AVT 1394 software driver over comes speed limits
Allied Vision Technologies recently released the AVT 1394 Bus Driver package for Windows. The AVT 1394 Bus Driver eliminates the existing speed limitations of the original Windows driver with 1394b.
The AVT 1394 Bus Driver Package
contains an alternative 1394 bus driver that is compliant to
the native OHCI 1394 bus driver provided with Microsoft Windows.
This means unlike other proprietary 1394 bus drivers that are
incompatible to the one provided with Microsoft Windows, existing
custom 1394 device drivers (e.g. for hard disks) will continue
to work with the AVT Bus Driver.
Additionally, in combination with AVT cameras the AVT 1394 bus
driver can be used with 1394 camera drivers provided by 3rd-party
solutions like Cognex’s Vision Pro, or MATROX’s MIL,
as well as the CMU ( Carnegie Mellon University) 1394 camera
driver.
AVT 1394b cameras will therefore run at full S800 data rate (800Mbps)
under Windows Vista and XP (SP2/SP3) while also supporting other
non camera Firewire devices. This is only possible because the
AVT 1394 bus driver eliminates the existing speed limitations
of the original Windows driver.
When installed the driver replaces the existing 1394 card driver. The installation and de-installation of the driver can be performed via an easy to use driver install tool that is part of the package.
Supported Operating Systems
- Windows Vista SP1
- Windows XP SP2/SP3
- Windows 2000 SP4
Key features of the AVT 1394
bus driver:
- Optimized for high-throughput, low CPU load and fault-tolerant
operation
- Can be used with 32-bit Windows operating systems Vista, XP,
and 2000 only
- Supports all AVT 1394 cameras
- Supports all current IEEE 1394 standards (1394a and 1394b)
- Supports OHCI-compliant host controllers
- Implementation conforms to the PCI driver model defined by
the Windows Driver Model
- No licensing fee when used with AVT 1394 cameras
Stringray Firewire camera
The AVT Stingray series of IEEE 1394b CCD cameras offer excellent price-to-performance value and loads of functionality. AVT have modelled the new Stingray series on their very successful world popular Marlin series, used the same sensors, improved their performance while reducing their cost and released them with 1394b.
Extended Firewire cables
The Firewire standard specifies the maximum cable length for 1394a as 4.5m. 10m cable however have been available for some time and have been used with quite reliable results. Now AVT introduces two longer FireWire cables which can give a combined maximum length of 35 meters (114 feet) enabling the use of Firewire for applications that were previously unsuitable.
The two 1394a cables are 12.5m and 17.5m in length, have latched connectors and can be independently used without any other accessories such as repeaters. However they can also be joined with the use of an AVT repeater to give a 35m total cable length. This has been thoroughly tested and proven reliable by AVT.
Both new cables appear as standard Firewire cables but are able to support lossless data transfer for much longer distances thanks to their innovative design, high quality components and special production methods used in construction. These cables like all of AVT's Firewire cables feature heavy shielding to minimise EMC susceptibility. These high-quality cables have been assembled with MOLEX latch connectors to ensure trouble-free connections even under moving or vibrating conditions.
The cables carry power over the firewire connection. If the repeater is used to create a 35m cable it does not require external power. It uses the power carried over the firewire connection.
These cables are designed specifically to be used with any of the AVT IEEE 1394a camera families of MARLIN, OSCAR or GUPPY but can also be used with any of the AVT 1394b cameras as they are backwardly compatible with 1394a.
5MP Firewire
The AVT PIKE F-505B (mono) and AVT PIKE F-505C (color) are smart and fast C-mount cameras, equipped with a highly-sensitive 5MP (2452x2054) SONY Type 2/3" progressive scan CCD sensor. These cameras operating in 14-bit mode, impress in almost any situation by their ability to produce high fidelity images.
The camera offers 2 data ports (Daisy Chain), an external asynchronous trigger shutter and operates in 14-bit mode. At full image resolution the AVT PIKE F-505 produces images at up to 15 fps and is particularly suited for high resolution, fast industrial image processing and factory automation applications. The extensive built-in image processing capabilities (image pre-processing) result in outstanding image quality, reduced computer processing, less load on the system and higher performance overall.
Due to its IEEE1394b interface, the PIKE supports up to 62.5MB/s, a far greater bandwidth compared to the IEEE1394a interface. Combined with a number of smart features the PIKE guarantees high performance in PC-based image processing. The integrated image pre-processing features of the PIKE not only reduce demands on PC computer power, but also cut system costs by eliminating the need for frame grabbers.
To meet the highest requirements in the industry, the PIKE comes optionally in a version with 1x GOF (Fibre). This not only saves costs in multi-camera operations but also makes it possible to transmit images up to 500 meters over fibre cable without the need of a fibre transmitter. The direct fiber technology of the PIKE in the GOF version also provides protection against electromagnetic interference in noisy environments. The other advantage of the GOF Fibre Pike is that it provides perfect electrical insulation. There is no need for any complicated potential reconciliation.
AVT's Pike family
of Firewire IEEE 1394b cameras presents a formidable option for
cameras
200fps Firewire camera
Pike F-032B/C fiber S800 Camera
IEEE1394
The AVT PIKE F-032B (b/w) and AVT PIKE F-032C (color) are smart
and fast IEEE 1394b (S800) C-mount cameras, equipped with a highly-sensitive
KODAK Tpye 1/3 progressive scan CCD sensor.
The camera offers 2 data ports (Daisy Chain), an external asynchronous trigger shutter and operates in 14-bit mode. At full image resolution, the AVT PIKE F-032B/C offers up to 202 fps and is thus particularly suited for fast applications in industrial image processing and product automation. The extensive built-in image processing possibilities (image pre-processing) result in outstanding image quality, reduced retouching, less load on the system and higher performance overall.
© MasTec Ltd