e-con Systems See3CAM CU51 User manual

QtCAM See3CAM_CU51 User Manual 12-Nov-15
www.e-consystems.com |Subject to change without notice Page 1 of 24
e-con Systems India Pvt Ltd
RR Tower-IV, 7th Floor,
T.V.K. Industrial Estate, Guindy,
Chennai-600032
www.e-consystems.com
QtCAM
See3CAM_CU51 - Linux User Manual
Revision 1.4
Nov 04, 2015

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Contents
Contents......................................................................................................................................2
1 Revision History.................................................................................................................3
2 Introduction........................................................................................................................ 4
3 Scope.................................................................................................................................. 4
4 Product Description............................................................................................................4
5 QtCAM Application Description....................................................................................... 5
6 Pre-Requisites.................................................................................................................... 5
6.1 Installation of the See3CAM_CU51and Drivers....................................................... 6
6.2 Installing and Launching QtCAM application........................................................... 6
6.2.1 Ubuntu Launchpad – Online................................................................................ 6
7 Application Features.......................................................................................................... 7
7.1 Enumeration and Selection of camera device............................................................ 7
7.2 Still capture................................................................................................................ 7
7.3 Video recording..........................................................................................................8
7.4 Camera Settings......................................................................................................... 9
7.4.1 Image Quality Settings.........................................................................................9
7.4.2 Still Capture Settings..........................................................................................11
7.4.3 Video Capture Settings.......................................................................................14
7.5 Display Current frame rate achieved........................................................................18
7.6 Extension Settings....................................................................................................18
7.6.1 Master Mode...................................................................................................... 18
7.6.2 Trigger Mode......................................................................................................19
7.6.3 Exposure control................................................................................................ 20
7.6.4 Flash Controls.................................................................................................... 21
7.6.5 Other Options..................................................................................................... 21
8 About................................................................................................................................22
9 Exit................................................................................................................................... 23
10 Known issues and Limitation...........................................................................................23
11 Conclusion........................................................................................................................24
12 Appendix -1......................................................................................................................24
12.1 Keyboard Shortcuts..................................................................................................24

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1 Revision History
Rev No Date Major Changes Edited By
1.4 04 Nov 2015
Added QtCAM installation procedure
from Ubuntu Launchpad - Ubuntu
12.04
Business
Development
Team
1.3 19 Oct 2015 Minor edits and Review
Business
Development
Team
1.2 15 Oct 2015
Added QtCAM installation procedure
from Ubuntu Launchpad - Ubuntu
14.04
QT Application
Team
1.1 07 Oct 2015 Added help information in screenshots QT Application
Team
1.0 23 July 2015 Initial Version QT Application
Team

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2 Introduction
The See3CAM_CU51 is a 5.0 Mega pixel, monochrome, UVC Compliant, USB3.0 Super
Speed camera from e-con Systems, a leading embedded Product Design Services
Company which specializes in advanced camera solutions. The See3CAM_CU51 is the
latest member of the See3CAM family of USB3.0 Super Speed camera products launched
by e-con.
The See3CAM_CU51 is a 5.0 MP monochrome camera with S-mount (also known as
M12 board lens) lens holder. The S-mount is one of the most commonly used small form-
factor lens mounts for board cameras. The See3CAM_CU51 is based on the 1/2.5”
MT9P031, monochrome CMOS image sensor from Aptina.
This See3CAM_CU51 is a UVC-compliant USB3.0 Super Speed Camera that is also
backward compatible with USB2.0 host ports and does not require any special camera
drivers to be installed in the host PC.
The See3CAM_CU51 is also backward compatible with the USB2.0 High Speed interface,
albeit at lower frame rates. The CMOS sensor is operated in 12bits per pixel mode and the
application will receive the 12bits of greyscale information for every pixel. The
application developer gets the very high resolution 12bpp data for every pixel for
performing accurate image processing functions.
The See3CAM_CU51 is UVC-compliant camera and it does not require any additional
drivers to be installed on the PC. The native UVC drivers of Windows and Linux
Operating Systems shall be compatible with this camera. e-con also provides the sample
application (QtCAM) that demonstrates some of the features of this camera. However, this
camera can be utilized by any V4L2 application such as Skype etc.
3 Scope
e-con provides a sample V4L2 application called QtCAM, along with the
See3CAM_CU51 camera. QtCAM is a V4L2 video viewer and capture software for the
linux UVC driver, but customized to demonstrate some of the features of
See3CAM_CU51.
This document describes about the usage of the QtCAM application on Ubuntu [>=12.04
(LTS)] 32- and 64-bit Linux operating systems. This document also describes about the
special features of QtCAM camera application when it is used with See3CAM_CU51.
4 Product Description
The See3CAM_CU51 is a USB 3.0 camera capable of streaming at following resolutions.
It is capable of supporting still capture of Global shutter images with the required
exposure level and the camera can synchronize the exposure of all the pixels on receiving
an external trigger. It currently supports format Y16 in all the resolutions and in both USB
3.0 and USB 2.0.

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USB mode Resolution Frame rates [Y16
format ]
USB 3.0 640 x 480
1280 x 720
1920 x 1080
2592x1944
120
60
30
14
USB 2.0 640 x 480
1280x720
1920 x 1080
2592x1944
30
12
5
2
The See3CAM_CU51 has two major camera controls namely:
1. Brightness
2.
Exposure
There are two operating modes for See3CAM_CU51 they are:
1.
Master
Mode
2.
Trigger
Mode
5 QtCAM Application Description
The QtCAM application is a simple interface for capturing and viewing video from the
devices supported by the Linux UVC driver. This tool also supports extension unit control
of e-con’s See3CAM USB 3.0 webcam products. The features provided in the application
are as follows:
1.
Enumerating
and
listing
all
USB
video
devices
connected.
2.
Changing
resolution
and
color
space/compression
for
video
stream
(if
different
resolutions are supported by the device)
3.
Currently
configured
values
of
preview
which
is
being
shown.
4.
User
can
capture
still
images
and
set
the
path
where
still
images
will
be
saved.
5.
Configure
UVC
Extension
Control
(if
supported
by
device)
6.
Displaying
the
current
frame
rate
per
second.
All the above listed properties can be configured by attractive and easy to use Graphical
User Interface. The application is tested in Ubuntu [>=12.04 (LTS)] 32-bit and 64-bit
Linux Distributions.
e-con provides QtCAM application for the following Linux Distributions:
Ubuntu 12.04 (LTS) 32- and 64-bit
Ubuntu 14.04 (LTS) 32- and 64-bit
6 Pre-Requisites
This section describes the high level instructions to install the See3CAM_CU51 on a
PC.

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6.1 Installation of the See3CAM_CU51and Drivers
Follow the below steps to initialize the device with the host computer.
1.
Connect
one
end
of
the
USB3.0
cable
to
the
USB3.0
connector
provided
at
the
back
of the See3CAM_CU51, and connect other end to the USB 3.0 host controller on the
computer.
2.
Once
connected,
the
LED
light
on
the
device
will
glow
indicating
that
See3CAM_CU51 is powered up and ready to use.
As See3CAM_CU51 is a generic USB video class device, Linux will automatically detect
all the drivers and it will be installed.
6.2 Installing and Launching QtCAM application
6.2.1 Ubuntu Launchpad – Online
To install in Ubuntu 14.04 from Ubuntu Launchpad, we have to run following commands
in terminal.
$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:qtcam/trusty
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install qtcam
To launch QtCAM application, we have to run following command from the terminal.
$ sudo qtcam
To install in Ubuntu 12.04 from Ubuntu Launchpad, we have to run following commands
in terminal
$ sudo apt-add-repository ppa:qtcam/precise
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install qtcam
To launch QtCAM application, we have to run following command from the terminal.
$ sudo qtcam
When application is launched, home screen will look like the image below:

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7 Application Features
The features that are supported in the current version of QtCAM are briefly described
below:
1.
Enumeration
and
Selection
of
camera
device
2.
Still
capture
3.
Video
recording
4.
Camera
Settings
a)
Image
Quality
Settings
b)
Still
Capture
Settings
c)
Video
Capture
Settings
5. Extension settings
7.1 Enumeration and Selection of camera device
Application will emulate usb video devices connected to the system. The device name is
displayed in the device connected combo box. User can select any one of the camera from
the combo box and the corresponding preview is displayed in the right hand side of the
side bar.
Note: Preview will not be displayed for the device if the camera is busy. i.e., camera is
opened by another application like Skype etc. Also, if there are two instances of QtCAM
application and both have the same camera selected then there will be no preview
displayed in the second instance of the QtCAM application.
7.2 Still capture
Application by default will start in still capture mode, if the application is in video mode
click the camera icon to switch back to still capture mode, the user can capture the still
image by clicking capture image icon available side bar or by clicking the preview.
The image will be saved in the directory path, selected in the image location available
under the still capture settings menu. The file name for captured image file is “QtCAM-
YY_MM_dd:hh_mm_ss-x”, plus the image extension format selected. If the extension
format is “jpg”, the filename will be “QtCAM-YY_MM_dd:hh_mm_ss-x.jpg”.
[Where YY-Year, MM-Month, dd-day, hh- hour, mm-min, ss-x denotes image number
updated when multiple images are taken within a second].

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7.3 Video recording
To record a video, user has to switch the application from capture mode to video mode by
clicking the video icon. Then the user can record a video by selecting record icon
available in the sidebar.
The video will be saved in the directory path, selected in the video location path. The
default name for recorded video file is “QtCAM-YY_MM_dd:hh_mm_ss”, plus the video
record extension format. If the extension format is “avi”, the filename will be “QtCAM-
YY_MM_dd:hh_mm_ss.avi”.
For more details like video record format, video encoder format in video recording please
refer the section 7.4.3Video Capture Settings.

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Once user clicks video stop icon while recording, recording will be stopped and video file
will be saved in the path specified in “Video Location” in Video Capture Settings.
7.4 Camera Settings
7.4.1 Image Quality Settings
On selecting Image quality settings, a control menu will display camera control settings.
The user can adjust the video preview settings in the Menu tab. Only sliders whose labels
are not greyed out could be configured.
The user can move the slider and configure the preview settings according to their needs.

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The value being set will be displayed in the text box based on the position of the slider
marker. As soon as the slider is moved to configure the values the preview’s property will
change at that instance.
7.4.1.1 Brightness Control
The Brightness values can be changed from a minimum value of 1 to 128 by moving the
slider, and the exact changes will be reflected immediately in the preview. This brightness
control increases the brightness of See3CAM_CU51. The Default value is 15.
7.4.1.2 Hardware Default
This button is helpful to reset the Image Quality Settings menu values to the hardware
default state. Once the user clicks the hardware default button, all the control values and
preview is set to the default mode.
Controls
Slider
Minim
um
Value
Slider
Maxim
um
Value
Slider
Defaul
t Value
Manua
l
Contro
l
Auto
Contro
l
Brightness 1 128 15 YES NO

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7.4.2 Still Capture Settings
On selecting Still Capture Settings, the user can select color space, resolution size for
capturing the images, capture image location path and image save format type.
7.4.2.1 Color space/compression
Currently See3CAM_CU51 supports Y16 monochrome format.

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7.4.2.2 Output Size
Four output resolution sizes are available as follows:
1.
2592x1944
2.
1920x1080
3.
1280x720
4.
640x480
7.4.2.3 Image Location
The image location can be changed by clicking the folder icon or the text box. A file
dialog will open for the user to select the new location. User has to click the open button
in the file dialog to change the path. The default path is “System picture path”
(/home/@user/Pictures).

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7.4.2.4 Image Format
Four image formats are available in this version as follows:
1.
jpg
2.
bmp
3.
raw
4.
png
The captured images are saved as per the selected image format. The default format is
“jpg”.

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7.4.3 Video Capture Settings
On selecting the Video Capture Settings, the user can select frame rate, color space, video
output size, video encoder format, video container (Extension) and the video location to
save.
7.4.3.1 Frame Rate
Frame rate displayed is the maximum expected fps for the current resolution (output size).
7.4.3.2 Color space/compression
Currently See3CAM_CU51 supports only Y16 monochrome format.

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7.4.3.3 Output size
Four output resolution sizes are available as follows:
1.
2592x1944
2.
1920x1080
3.
1280x720
4.
640x480
By default (while camera is selected), the preview output size will be selected, but the user
can change this at any point of time. The preview will be updated as per the selected
output size.
USB mode Resolution Frame rates at Y16
format
USB 3.0 2592x1944
1920x1080
1280x720
640x480
14
30
60
120
USB 2.0 2592x1944
1920x1080
1280x720
640x480
2
5
12
30
If the user switches the resolution from 640x480 to 1920x1080, then the preview will be
updated as shown below:

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7.4.3.4 Video record format
Two video formats are available in this version:
1.
avi
2.
mkv
7.4.3.5 Video encoder format
There are four video encoder formats available in this version:
1.
YUY
(Raw)
2.
MJPEG

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3.
H264
4.
VP8
The video will be recorded in any one of the selected encoder format.
7.4.3.6 Video Location
The video location can be changed by clicking the folder icon or the text box. A file dialog
will open for the user to select the new location. User has to click the open button in the
file dialog to change the path. The default path is “System video path”
(/home/@user/Videos).

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7.5 Display Current frame rate achieved
Current frame rate achieved per second: - Frame rate will be affected by various
environmental parameters. It is displayed all the time [Just above “About” option].
7.6 Extension Settings
On selecting the Extension settings tab, the extension control will appear, if the device
supports extension unit. The See3CAM_CU51 camera has some additional controls and
features and these are not quite common controls and hence they are not included in the
standard UVC controls, but listed as Extension controls.
The Extension Unit Menu is used to select these extended HID controls of
See3CAM_CU51. It can be used to control master mode, trigger mode, manual exposure,
exposed image capture and select the torch modes. This can be done by clicking the
appropriate controls of the Extension Settings.
7.6.1 Master Mode
The Master Mode of operation can be considered as a free-running mode of the camera.
The camera is configured for a preview resolution and still resolution. The application is
started and the Master mode is chosen and the application starts streaming the video. This
is a simple mode of operation for the camera without any external trigger capability.
In master mode of See3CAM_CU51 in Linux, there are two methods of still image capture.
They are:
1. Software Still Capture
2.
Hardware
Still
Capture
e-con systems has found an intelligent method to facilitate still image capture by using the
sample application QtCAM. In Master Mode still image can be taken by using any of the
methods, and also in all available resolutions using any brightness value.
If the user wants to take an image in the preview resolution the user should first select the
path of image storage and then click on capture image icon or give a trigger input through
the DIN connector to get the image in the same resolution. If the user wants to take an
image in another resolution, the user must first switch to that resolution and then take the
image.
Both Software and Hardware still capture methods are supported in the Master mode of
See3CAM_CU51.

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7.6.2 Trigger Mode
In Trigger mode, See3CAM_CU51 camera is capable of synchronizing the exposure (or
integration) of the pixels of the camera to an external trigger pulse that can be given
through the connector of the camera. Also the duration of the exposure depends on the
pulse duration of the trigger pulse. Since this is a global shutter camera, all the pixels start
and stop integrating at the same time, avoiding rolling skew during the capture of fast
moving scenes. In addition to this, the start of integration of pixels can be synchronized to
an external event in Trigger mode.
In Trigger mode of See3CAM_CU51, the preview will not be available and the camera
will be kept in standby waiting for a trigger pulse to start the integration of pixels and
provide a global shutter image. The user can switch to trigger mode by clicking on the
Trigger Mode button in the Extension Settings tab of the QtCAM application.
The user can configure the camera settings such as exposure, still image resolution, still
image storage location etc., in Master mode and then enter the Trigger mode. In the
Trigger mode, the camera settings will be retained, but preview will not be available. The
camera shall be waiting for an external event on the connector and the camera will start
exposing on the trigger signal. The external trigger pulse on the connector must have a
pulse duration equal to that of the required exposure, so the camera will expose for this
duration and immediately readout the image.
In Trigger mode, only external Trigger event is supported and no software still image
capture is possible.

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7.6.3 Exposure control
The exposure control for See3CAM_CU51 is provided in the extension menu. The
required exposure value can be entered into the text box and this exposure value will be
applied during exposed image capture.
See3CAM_CU51 supports exposure levels ranging from 1 milli second to 30 seconds.
This can be input through the exposure text box, i.e. for 1 milli second the value of 1
should be entered in the text box, for 1 second the value of 1000 should be set, as 1 second
= 1000 milli seconds. Similarly for 30 seconds the value of 30000 should be set, as 30
seconds = 30000 milli seconds.