Microscan NL-200 User manual

NL-200, NL-220, NL-220F, NL-820F
LED Lighting Controller
User’s Manual
P/N 83-100022 Rev A

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 1-1
1 Disclaimer
Except as prohibited by law:
• Allhardware,softwareanddocumentationisprovidedonan“asis”basis.
• Itisessentialthattheuserensuresthattheoperationoftheproductissuitablefortheirapplication.
• Theusermustensurethatincorrectfunctioningofthisequipmentcannotcauseanydangerous
situationorsignicantnanciallosstooccur.
• GardasoftVisionLtdandGardasoftProductsLtdwillnotacceptanyliabilityforconsequentialloss
ofanykind.
Alltrademarksacknowledged.Hardware,softwareanddocumentationareCopyright2002-2009GardasoftProductsLtd.
HardwaremanufacturedbyGardasoftVisionLtdunderlicence.
Latest Manual Version
Forthelatestversionofthismanual,seetheDownloadCenteronourwebsiteat:
www.microscan.com.
Technical Support
Fortechnicalsupport,email:[email protected].
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Tel:425.226.5700/800.251.7711
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NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 2-1
2 Getting Started
• Thecurrentratingisenteredinadifferentway
• Lightingmustnotbeconnectedtoanythingelseandmustnothaveacommonconnectiontoother
lights
• TheNLserieshasSafePowerTMlowheattechnologysothatinmostcasesheatsinkingisnot
required.SafePoweralsoautomatically“steps-up”theoutputvoltage,sothatfroma24Vsupplya
highervoltage(eg36V)canbeoutput.
ReadthesectionsonSafety(Section3)andSpecications(AppendixA)andchecktheNL-200fulls
yourrequirements.SeethebackcoverforotherGardasoftVisionlightingcontrollers.
MounttheNL-200asdescribedinSection4.
ConnecttheNL-200uptoasupplyasdescribedinConnections(Section5).Whenthefrontpanel
ispresent,theNL-200shouldshowtwoalternatinglinesonthedisplaytoindicatethatitisoperating
properly.
ReadLightingSetup(Section7)andthenenterthecurrentorvoltageratingsforthelightsyouneed
toconnect.Thenconnectthelights.
SetuptheNL-200forthedesiredoperationasdescribedintheConguration(Section8,10or11)
sections.
Visitwww.microscan.comforMicroscanapplicationnotesonthisproduct.ThereisalsoaSupport
pagewhichhasinformationontroubleshootingproblems.

2-2 NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual
Getting Started
2.1 Summary of Features
Throughoutthismanual,referencestotheNL-200refertoallvariantsintheNLrangeunlessother-
wisestated.
Theconventionforthepartnumberis:
 NL-cd0-vv
 NL-cd0F-vv
where:
 NL productrangename
 c Numberofchannels:2,8.
 d Congurationoption:0=frontpanel,2=Ethernet
 F Optionforfastpulsing
 vv Maximumcurrentratinginamps:2,20
Thefollowingtableliststhefeaturesoneachmodel.
Feature NL200 NL220 NL220F NL820F
Number of channels 2 2 2 8
Front panel
conguration Yes No No No
Ethernet
conguration No Yes Yes Yes
Fast pulsing No No Yes Yes

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 3-1
3 Safety
ReadthisbeforeusingtheNL-2XX.Alwaysobservethefollowingsafetyprecautions.Ifindoubt,
contactyourdistributororMicroscanSystems.Thefollowingsymbolsmean:
Warning:readinstructionstounderstandpossiblehazard
Warning:Possiblehazardousvoltage
Warning.Surfacemaygethot
ReadthisbeforeusingtheNL200.Alwaysobservethefollowingsafetyprecautions.Ifindoubt,
contactyourdistributororGardasoftVision.
Wherethesesymbolsappearinthemanual,refertothetextforprecautionstobetaken.
3.1 Heat
TheNL-200candissipateupto10Wandsocangethot.Itshouldbepositionedwherepersonnel
cannotaccidentallytouchitandawayfromammablematerials.
ReadtheMounting(Section4).Donotexceedthepowerratingsgiveninthemanual.Notethatatthe
maximumratingsthecasetemperaturecanreach65°C.
Ensurethatanyventilationholesarenotblocked.Allowfreeowofairaroundtheunit.
3.2 Electrical
The lighting connections can exceed 46.7V but should not exceed 70V. Pulse peak voltages
above 46.7V are considered hazardous. The lighting connections must be shielded from being
touched along the whole length of the cable and in the light.
Theusermustensurethatthepotentialdifferencebetweenanycombinationofinputsignalsdoesnot
exceed46.7V.WARNING:Highervoltagesmaycauseadangertopersonalhealth.
TheNL-200doesnothavecompletetrackingisolationofinputsandoutputs.
TransientscausedbyinductiveloadsmustbesuppressedexternaltotheNL200.
TheNL-200outputshighenergypulses.Caremustbetakentoconnecttheoutputscorrectlyandpro-
tecttheoutputwiringandloadfrominadvertentshort-circuits.Whenswitchedoff,thereisstillenergy
storedintheNL-200forabout15seconds.
3.3 General
TheNL-200mustnotbeusedinanapplicationwhereitsfailurecouldcauseadangertopersonal
healthordamagetootherequipment.
Iftheequipmentisusedinamannernotspeciedbythemanufacturer,theprotectionprovidedbythe
equipmentmaybeimpaired.

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 4-1
4 Mounting
InordertoprovidexingpointstomounttheunitontoaatsurfaceorbracketM3nutsmustbe
insertedintooneormoreoftheslotsinthebase,seeillustrationbelow.Thequantityandposition
ofthesenutsisdependantupontheusersrequirements.Totanutremoveoneoftheendcovers.
Thenutscanthenbeslidintotheslotsandthecoverreplaced.Ensurethatthexingscrewsuseddo
notextendpastthelowerbasesurfacebymorethan5.5mm.
SeeAddendum.
4.1 Environmental considerations
TheNL-200enclosureisareenclosureaslongasitismountedsothatnoneoftheconnectorsare
facingdownwards.
Ifareenclosureisused,theenclosureshouldbemetalorplastic(withaammabilityratingofUL94
V1orbetter);withnoholesbelowortothesidesoftheNL-200whenmounted.Cableentriesbelow
theNL-200shouldbeviaglandsthathaveaammabilityratingasbefore.TheNL-200shouldbeat
least10mmfromanyotherpartorsideoftheenclosure.
TheNL-200doesnothaveanIPratingandshouldbemountedsothatmoistureanddirtcannotenter
theunit.

4-2 NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual
Mounting

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 5-1
5 Connections
SeetheSpecication(AppendixA)forinformationonconnectionratings.
5.1 Power Supply
ToavoidarehazardfromtheNL-200orthepowersupplyconsidertheimplica-
tionsofoverheatingintheunlikelyeventofafaultintheNL200.Thepowerdissipa-
tionintheNL-200inafaultconditioncanbeupto:
<Powersupplyvoltage>*<maxcurrentdeliveredbypowersupply>
Eitherlimitthepowersupplyoutputcurrentsothatnotmorethan30Wcanbedissipatedinthe
NL200,ormounttheunitinareenclosure.
ChooseaPSUthatlimitsitsoutputcurrentbydesign,bysettingthecurrentlimitonthesupply(if
thisfeatureexists)orusefuses.Remembertoderatethefuse,ifmountedinanenclosure,asthe
temperaturewillbehigherthanambient.Theexternalpowersupplywillneedtobeabletosupplyat
leasttheaverageoutputpowerforallactivechannels.
Theuseofaregulatedpowersupplywith100%shortcircuitprotectionisrecommended.Ifhowevera
non-regulatedpowersupplyisused,thenthemaximumripplevoltageofthispowersupplymustnot
exceed10%oftheactualDCvalue.
Routelowvoltageandmainswiringseparately.Iftheymustbeloomedtogetherensurethatlowvolt-
ageinsulationratingissufcientorthatsupplementaryinsulationisused.
 Pin PowerInputConnector
 1 +24Vto+48V
 2 GND
5.2 Lighting Output
The lighting connections can exceed 46.7V but should not exceed 70V DC.
Pulse peak voltages above 46.7V are considered hazardous. The lighting
connections must be shielded from being touched along the whole length of
the cable and in the light.
Make sure you set the current or voltage rating for a light before connecting it. See the Light-
ing Setup (Section 7) for details on this.
Lightoutputison4-waypluggablescrewterminalsockets.Itispossibletousetwo2-wayconnectors
ina4-waysocket.ConnectorsLED34,LED56,LED78areonlyttedontheNL8xxmodels.
Thelightingoutputconnectionsmustnotbecommonedorgroundedinanyway.

5-2 NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual
Connections
 Pin LED12 LED34 LED56 LED78
 1 CH1lighting CH3lighting CH5lighting CH7lighting
  out+ve out+ve out+ve out+ve
 2 CH1lighting CH3lighting CH5lighting CH7lighting
  out-ve out-ve out-ve out-ve
 3 CH2lighting CH4lighting CH6lighting CH8lighting
  out+ve out+ve out+ve out+ve
 4 CH2lighting CH4lighting CH6lighting CH8lighting
  out-ve out-ve out-ve out-ve
5.3 Trigger Inputs
Thereisonetriggerinputperchannel.ConnectorsET34,ET56,ET78areonlyttedontheNL8xx
models.
Thetriggerinputsareopto-isolated3Vto24Vinput,drawingaminimumof3mA.
 Pin ET12connector ET34connector ET56connector ET78connector
 1 TRIG1-ve TRIG3-ve TRIG5-ve TRIG7-ve
 2 TRIG1+ve TRIG3+ve TRIG5+ve TRIG7+ve
 3 TRIG2-ve TRIG4-ve TRIG6-ve TRIG8-ve
 4 TRIG2+ve TRIG4+ve TRIG6+ve TRIG8+ve
5.4 12V Power Output
Oneortwo12Vpowersupplyoutputsmaybepresent.Thesecansupplyupto1Aat12Vforpower-
ingexternalcamerasandotherdevices.Donotconnectinductiveloadsordevicesthattakelarge
peakcurrents.Donotexceedthecurrentratingastheseoutputsarenotfused.
 Pin PW1connector PW2connector
 1 GND GND
 2 +12V +12V
5.4.1 Ethernet Connection (NL220, NL820F, NL-220F)
TheRJ45Ethernetconnectorrequiresastraightthroughcabletoconnectintoanetworkswitch,hub
orrouter.Itrunsat10Mbitspersecond.

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 5-3
Connections
5.4.2 Connectors
TheNLpackagingincludesmatingconnectorsforthepowersupplyinput,triggerinputs,12Vpower
outputandLightingoutput.
Shouldsparepartsberequiredthesecanbeobtainedasfollows:
 Connector Description Wuerthpart Farnellpart
   number number
   www.we-online.com www.farnell.com
 Power Wuerth351series 691-351-
 Input 2Wscrewterminalfreeskt 500-002 164-1952
 Trigger Wuerth361series 691-361- 1642-001
 Input 4Wscrewterminalfreesocket 100-004
 12V Wuerth348series 691-348- N/A
 Output 2Wscrewterminalfreeplug 500-002
 Lighting Wuerth348series 691-348- N/A
 Output 4Wscrewterminalfreeplug 500-004

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 6-1
6 General Description
TheNL-200currentcontrollerprovidesrepeatableintensitycontrolofLEDlightingformachinevision
applications.Itincludestheintensitycontrol,timingandtriggeringfunctionsrequiredformachinevi-
sionsystems.
LEDlightingneedsaconstantcurrentsupplyassmallvariationsinvoltagecancauselargevariations
inlightoutput.TheNL-200cansetcurrentsinstepsof0.1%(withalowerlimitof2.5mAsteps)togive
verynecontrolofintensity.
Fourmodesofoperationareprovidedseparatelyforeachchannel:
• Continuous(“SCo”):
 Incontinuousmodetheoutputisacontinuousbrightness.
• Pulse(Strobe)(SPu”):
 Inpulsemodeoutputispulsedoncepertrigger.Onetriggerinputisusedasatrigger.Thedelay
fromtriggertopulse,thepulsedurationandthebrightnesscanbeset.
• Switched(“SOn”):
 Inswitchedmodeatriggerinputcanbeusedtoswitchtheoutputcurrentonandoff.Theoutput
isonlyenabledwhenthetriggerinputhasavoltageonit.
• Selected(“SSe”):
 Inselectedmodeatriggerinputcanbeusedtoselectbetweentwodifferentintensities..
TheNL-200issetupusingthepushbuttonsanddisplayonthefrontoftheunit.Thesetupisnon-
volatile,sotheNL-200willresumethesameoperationafterapowercycle.
6.1 Output Modes
Thetriggerinputsareusedasfollows:
 Mode TriggerInput Output
 Continuous Unused Outputison.
 Switched Trigger=off Outputisoff
  Trigger=on Outputison
 Selected Trigger=off Outputiscontinuousbrightness2
  Trigger=on Outputiscontinuousbrightness1
 Pulsed Triggerrisingedge PulseistriggeredifPag=1
  Triggerfallingedge PulseistriggeredifPag=0
NotethatthePaginvertsthesenseofthetriggerinput.

6.1.1 Continuous Output, Switched Output, Selected Output
IncontinuousmodetheoutputcurrentIsxedandcontinuous.Switchedmodeusesatriggerinputtoswitch
theoutputonoroff.Selectedmodeusesatriggerinputtoselectbetweentwodifferentbrightnesses.
Theoutputcurrentcanbevariedfrom0%to100%offullbrightness.
6.1.2 Pulsed Output
Theoutputisoffbydefault.WhentheNL-200istriggereditwillwaitforadelayandthenpulsethe
output.Thedelay,pulsewidth,retriggerdelayandpulseintensityareallcongurable.
Retriggerdelayistheminimumallowedtimefromonetriggertothenext.Anytriggersthathappentoo
soonaftertheprevioustriggerareignored.Theretriggerdelayissetinmultiplesof100us.
Inpulsedmode,thebrightnesscanbesetupto1000%ofitsrating,butonlyforshort
periodsandatlowdutycycles,sothatthelightingdoesnotoverheatandgetdamaged.
Thedutycycleislimitedbyignoringtriggerswhicharetoosoonaftertheprevioustrigger.
 OutputBrightness AllowedPulseWidth AllowedDutyCycle
 0to100% 999ms 100%
 101%to200% 30ms 30%
 201%to300% 10ms 20%
 301%to500% 2ms 10%
 501%to1000% 1ms 5%
Soforexample,ifthebrightnessissetto250%,thentheNL-200willnotallowpulsesgreaterthan
10mslong.With10mspulses,ifatriggeroccurswithin50msofaprevioustrigger(sothattheduty
cyclewouldbegreaterthan20%)thetriggerisignored.
IfnecessarytheNL-200willlimitthedutycyclebyincreasingtheretriggerdelay.
WARNING: To prevent possible overcurrent condition when operating NERLITE Strobe models, initiate the
brightness setting to 10%, then increase current appropriately.
6.1.3 Fault Detection
TheNL-200detectsthefollowingerrors.Whentheoutputcurrentislessthan100mA,somefault
detectionisturnedoff.
 Error Reason
 PO Internalpowerdissipationistoohigh.Outputturnedoff.
 OP Outputcurrenttolightingistoolow.Thelightisopencircuitorthereisnot
  enoughsupplyvoltagefortherequestedoutputcurrent.
 SH Iftheoutputvoltageistoolow,thecontrollerdetectsthattheoutputisshortcircuited.
 HI Thevoltagerequiredforthelightinghasincreasedtoomuch.Checkforageingofthe
  lightingorafailedLED.
 LO Thevoltagerequiredforthelightinghasdecreasedtoomuch.Checkforageingofthe
  lightingorafailedLED.
TheusermustpressSELtocanceltheerrorandtheNL-200willthenre-sensethelight.
6-2 NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual
General Description

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 6-3
General Description
6.2 Cold Start
TheNL-200congurationcanbeclearedtothedefaultsettings,whichclearsthelightingratingsand
setsallchannelsto50%brightnesscontinuousoperation.Thiscanbedonefromthefrontpanelorby
sendingtheCLcommandusingEthernet.
Toclearthecongurationfromthefrontpanel,turnontheNL-200whileholdingtheSELandDOWN
buttons,forabout5seconds,until‘COL’isdisplayed..Thecontrollercanbecoldbootedevenwhen
thekeypadislocked.Thelockisremovedbythecoldboot.

NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual 7-1
7 Lighting Setup
Lightingislabelledwitheitheravoltageorcurrentrating.Thisratingisthesupplytothelightingthat
shouldbeusedtoget100%continuousbrightnessfromthelight.
TheNL-200iscompatiblewithbothcurrentandvoltageratedlighting.
Beforeconnectingalighttheratingofthelightmustbeentered.Ifalightisreplacedwithadifferent
typeoflight,thentheratingmustbesetrst.Ifalightisreplacedwiththesametypeoflightthenthe
previousratingwillstillapply.
Consultthespecicationorlabellingforthelight.Forcommerciallyavailablelightingmodules,ifa
voltageandcurrentratingisgiven,itisusuallycorrecttousethevoltagerating.Ifavoltageandwatt-
ageratingisgiven,usethevoltagerating.Otherwiseusethecurrentrating.Inallcasesthelightisstill
drivenwithaconstantcurrent.For“homemade”lightsusingsingleLEDsorarraysofLEDsusethe
currentratingfromtheLEDdatasheet.
Thecurrentratingcanbesetfrom0.01Ato4Ainstepsof0.01A.Thevoltageratingcanbesetfrom
12Vto36Vinstepsof1V.
Whenavoltageratedlightisconnected,theNL-200automaticallysensesthecurrentratingofthe
light.
Voltageandcurrentratedlightsarebothdrivenwithaconstantcurrent.Thisgivesbetterbrightness
stabilityandallowstheNL-200topreventthelightbeingdrivenwithtoomuchpower.
7.1 Setting the Rating for a Light
TosettheratingofalightontheEthernetversionsoftheNL200,usetheVLcommandortheinternal
webpages.
Tosettheratingofalightfromthefrontpanel,pressandholdtheSELbuttonfor1second.Thedis-
playwillshow“CH1”.PressDOWNtoshow“rAt”thenpressSEL.UseUPandDOWNtoselectthe
channeltobesetup.ThenpressSELandselect“Cur”forcurrentratedlightsand“Uol”forvoltage
ratedlights.ThenpressSELandsetthecurrent.PressSELtosavetherating.

7-2 NL-200 Series Controller User’s Manual
Lighting Setup
7.2 Light Auto-Sensing
Whenachanneldoesnothavealightconnected,theNL-200continuallytriestoputoutaverysmall
current.
Whenalightisconnected,itwillashforashorttime(thelightwillnotbedamagedbythis)untilthe
NL-200detectsthatitisconnected.Forvoltageratedlightsthelightisbrieydrivenatanincreasing
currentuntil100%outputisachievedinordertosensethecurrentratingofthelight.