Moravian Instruments Gx Camera User manual

Gx Camera
Ethernet Adapter
User's Guide

Version 1.3
Modified on December 7th, 2016
All information furnished by Moravian nstruments is believed to be accurate.
Moravian nstruments reserves the right to change any information contained
herein without notice.
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is not authorized for and should not be used
within Life Support Systems without the specific written consent of the
Moravian nstruments. Product warranty is limited to repair or replacement of
defective components and does not cover injury or property or other
consequential damages.
Copyright © 2000-2016, Moravian nstruments
Moravian nstruments
Masarykova 1148
763 02 Zlín
Czech Republic
tel./fax: [phone]
www: http://www.gxccd.com/
e-mail: [email protected]

Table of Contents
ntroduction....................................................................................................4
Handling of the device...................................................................................7
Standard variant........................................................................................7
Mini variant............................................................................................10
Micro variant..........................................................................................13
Device configuration....................................................................................15
Using of WiFi connection............................................................................17
Camera connection.......................................................................................22
Firmware update...........................................................................................24
Manual update from the PC....................................................................24
Automatic update....................................................................................25

Introduction
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter allows connection of Gx series cameras (models
G0 to G4) to the control computer using Ethernet interface and TCP/ P protocol
stack (this means over Local or Wide Area Networks).
Gx series of CCD cameras are equipped with USB 2.0 interface with 480 Mbps
transfer speed. USB interface brings numerous advantages beside the very high
transfer speed. For instance USB connectors and cables contain also lines
dedicated to provide power to attached devices, so the G0 and G1 cameras are
connected to the host computer only by single cable (power requirement
of the cooled CCD cameras of G2, G3 and G4 series is significantly greater
than the USB line can provide and these cameras use their own power supply).
USB cables are standardized, which is why they cannot be confused and
plugged the wrong way etc. Also software support of USB devices is designed
from the ground up to provide “Plug-and-Play” experience. Users need not
to perform any device configuration, assign unique addresses etc.
A disadvantage of USB connection is the limited distance between a host PC
and USB device. The maximum length of single USB cable is limited
to 5 meters. This distance can be prolonged to 10 or 15 meters with the help
of so-called Active USB Extenders, but a cable connection and active USB
repeater (hub) must be placed every 5 meters. Very long USB connections can
be also power-limited. The energy, provided by the host PC, is consumed
by active repeaters and also long power lines with non-zero electrical resistance
cause drop of supply voltage.
The problem of connection of Gx CCD cameras over a long distance is solved
by Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter, offering remote camera connection over
Ethernet interface. The core of the adapter is an embedded computer with a
software on the local Flash drive.
Three models of Gx Camera Ethernet Adapters are available:
•The largest “standard” variant uses a PC-compatible motherboard
equipped with the ntel Atom processor. No moving parts are present
in the device, the processor needs no fan and is cooled only passively.
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This variant is powered by single 12 V DC line, the same like the G2,
G3 an G4 cameras. Also power line connectors are the same, so the
device can be powered like the rest of the setup.
•Medium variant of the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter called “mini” is
also based on the PC-compatible motherboard, but a smaller one
called NUC (an abbreviation from Next Unit of Computing). These
motherboards can have higher computational power and thus also
higher TDP, so they can be equipped with a small cooling fan. Mini-
variant of the adapter if powered from 19 V DC adapter (similarly to
many laptop and notebook computers), supplied with the device.
•The smallest “micro” variant of the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is
based on the ARM architecture. t is powered from a single 12 V DC
line, like the standard variant (and like all G2, G3 and G4 cameras).
Illustration 1: Micro (left), Mini (center) and Standard (right) variants of the Gx
Camera Ethernet Ada ter devices
All three variants variants use Ethernet interface supporting both 1 Gbps and
slower 10/100 Mbps transfer speeds and can be connected to all common local
area networks.
Single Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter contains four USB 2.0 ports and allows
connection of up to four Gx cameras at the same time (regardless of the specific
series, cameras can be freely combined). Of course if more digital cameras
share single Ethernet interface, number of transferred frames per second is
lower. Real transfer speed depends also on other factors, like Ethernet interface
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transfer speed (1 Gbps or 100 Mbps) and network infrastructure (switches,
routers etc.). f the 1 Gbps interface is used, the difference between download
time of directly connected camera and camera connected over the Gx Camera
Ethernet Adapter is negligible.
Illustration 2: Des ite differences in mechanical construction, function and usage of all
variants are identical
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Handling of the device
Standard variant
The standard Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is based on the Mini- TX standard
PC motherboard. t employs low-power ntel Atom processors, so the cooling is
only passive.
The device can be powered from direct current power supply 8 to 19 V DC.
Power connector is located on the left side of the unit back panel. The
connector is standard ∅ 5,5/2,5 mm. Plus pole is on the inner pin, neutral
(ground) pole on the connector outer jacket.
Illustration 3: Gx Camera Ethernet Ada ter back anel
Universal 12 V DC AC/DC power supply is supplied with the Gx Camera
Ethernet Adapter. The supply input voltage is 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz.
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Gx Ethernet Adapter power 8 to 19 V DC
Power consumption 8 W without attached cameras
16 W with four G1cameras
Power supply input voltage 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz
Power supply output voltage 12 V DC/5 A
Power supply power 60 W
Notes:
G2, G3 and G4 cameras use own power supply, so they do not increase
Gx Ethernet Adapter power consumption.
The power consumption is measured on the 12 V DC output voltage.
The AC/DC power supply itself consumes around 9 W. The consumption
on the AC side varies between 17 and 25 W.
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is configured to start immediately after power line
is connected. However, it can be switched off and on when powered
with the ON/OFF button on the device front panel.
Illustration 4: Gx Camera Ethernet Ada ter front anel
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Two more buttons RESET and FACTORY SETT NGS are also on the front
panel. RESET reboots the device and FACTORY SETT NGS restores
the default parameters (device configuration is described thoroughly
in the following chapters).
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter Standard unit mechanical properties are:
Dimensions 188 × 184 × 40 mm
eight 0.7 kg
Notes:
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is shipped in variant intended for laying
of the device on any flat surface. There is also variant intended for hanging
of the device on the standard D N-rail, if the device has to be located inside
some distribution box.
The stated height does not include plastic legs or D N-rail clip.
9

Mini variant
The mini-variant of the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is based on the NUC
(Next Unit of Computing) PC-compatible motherboard. Due to higher
computational power, the processor may require active cooling.
The device is powered from 19 V DC power supply. Power connector is
located on the side of the unit. The connector is standard ∅ 5,5/2,5 mm. Plus
pole is on the inner pin, neutral (ground) pole on the connector outer jacket.
Illustration 5: Gx Camera Ethernet Ada ter mini-variant side connectors
Universal 19 V DC/65 W power supply is supplied with the Gx Camera
Ethernet Adapter. The supply input voltage is 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz.
Gx Ethernet Adapter mini power 19 V DC
Power consumption 7 W without attached cameras
15 W with four G1cameras
Power supply input voltage 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz
Power supply output voltage 19 V DC/3.4 A
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Power supply power 65 W
Notes:
G2, G3 and G4 cameras use own power supply, so they do not increase
Gx Ethernet Adapter power consumption.
The power consumption is measured on the 19 V DC output voltage.
The AC/DC power supply itself consumes around 9 W. The consumption
on the AC side varies between 16 and 24 W.
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is configured to start immediately after power line
is connected. However, it can be switched off and on when powered
with the ON/OFF button on the device top panel.
Illustration 6: Buttons on the to side of Gx Camera Ethernet Ada ter
mini-variant
Two more buttons RESET and FACTORY SETT NGS are also on the top of
the device. RESET reboots the device and FACTORY SETT NGS restores
the default parameters (device configuration is described thoroughly
in the following chapters).
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Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter Mini unit mechanical properties are:
Dimensions 128 × 111 × 50 mm
eight 0.6 kg
Notes:
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is shipped in variant intended for laying
of the device on any flat surface or to be attached using four bolts. There is also
variant intended for hanging of the device on the standard D N-rail, if the
device has to be located inside some distribution box.
The stated height does not include plastic legs or D N-rail clip.
12

Micro variant
The micro variant of the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter uses ultra-low-power
embedded computer with ARM compatible multi-core processor.
The device can be powered from direct current power supply 10 to 30 V DC.
Power connector is located on the side of the unit case. The connector is
standard ∅ 5,5/2,5 mm. Plus pole is on the inner pin, neutral (ground) pole on
the connector outer jacket.
Illustration 7: Gx Camera Ethernet Ada ter Micro side anel
Universal 12 V DC AC/DC power supply is supplied with the Gx Camera
Ethernet Adapter Micro. The supply input voltage is 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz.
Gx Ethernet Adapter power 10 to 30 V DC
Power consumption 2 W without attached cameras
10 W with four G1cameras
Power supply input voltage 100-240 V AC/50-60 Hz
Power supply output voltage 12 V DC/5 A
Power supply power 60 W
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Notes:
G2, G3 and G4 cameras use own power supply, so they do not increase
Gx Ethernet Adapter power consumption.
The power consumption is measured on the 12 V DC output voltage.
The AC/DC power supply itself consumes around 9 W. The consumption
on the AC side varies between 11 and 19 W.
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is configured to start immediately after power line
is connected.
Illustration 8: Gx Camera Ethernet Ada ter Micro to side with buttons
Two buttons RESET and FACTORY SETT NGS are on the top panel. RESET
reboots the device and FACTORY SETT NGS restores the default parameters
(device configuration is described thoroughly in the following chapters).
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter Micro unit mechanical properties are:
Dimensions 95 × 83 × 39 mm
eight 0.3 kg
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Device configuration
All Gx Camera Ethernet Adapters are identical from the configuration and
usage point of view.
Every device providing services to clients over TCP/ P network must have
a fixed P address assigned to be continuously accessible. Configuration
of the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter network interface (assigning of the P
address, definition of the network mask and default gateway etc.) is performed
using WWW interface. When the device is powered for the first time,
the following parameters are preset:
IP Address 192.168.0.5
Network mask 255.255.255.0
Gateway 192.168.0.1
DNS server 192.168.0.1
Port 48899
To be able to connect to the device for the first time, it is necessary to attach it
to the network with above defined parameters (it is enough to connect
the device directly to the computer with properly set network parameters
with an Ethernet cable). Then it is possible to connect the device to the desired
network after the configuration is updated.
Configuration is performed through WWW interface and any web browser can
be used to access it. The WWW configuration interface is not available all
the time the device is running, but it is stopped after two minutes from the time
the device is powered up from the security reasons. This measure prohibits
unwanted configuration changes when the device is accessible from many
different computers.
To access Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter configuration, type its P address
into “address” line of the web browser (e.g. http://192.168.0.5/). The following
page is then displayed:
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Illustration 9: Web-based configuration interface
Then it is possible to change the device settings. Updated parameters must be
confirmed by clicking the „Submit“ button.
f from various reasons the current configuration of the device is not known,
it is possible to restore default factory settings. To do this, power up the device
while pressing the FACTORY SETT NGS button on the device front panel.
t is necessary to keep the button pressed for at least 15 seconds from the time
of power on. Then it is possible to configure again the device the same way like
upon the first power up (device P address is set to 192.168.0.5).
16

Using of WiFi connection
The Ethernet port of the adapter device can be attached to arbitrary WiFi bridge
device to access attached cameras wirelessly. However, such solution needs
another box (the Ethernet/WiFi bridge device) with another power supply etc.
This is why the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter firmware was extended with
support for USB/WiFi interfaces.
Note:
The USB/WiFi are supported in device firmware version 28 or higher.
The WiFi adapter can be plugged into any USB port. The Gx Camera Ethernet
Adapter then can be added to any existing WiFi network.
Note:
Such adapter occupies one USB port, so using it limits number of connected Gx
cameras typically from 4 to 3. This should be still enough for all applications.
Illustration 10: The USB/WiFi ada ter is lugged into one USB
ort
17

Because the WiFi adapter antenna is located outside of the device metal case,
the signal reception is better compared to devices employing WiFi adapter with
antenna soldered on the electronics circuits board. The USB 2.0 HiSpeed
transfer rate 480 Mbps typically do not bottleneck the WiFi transfers, which are
usually slower.
Device with attached USB/WiFi adapter has to be configured over a wired
Ethernet connection exactly like the standard Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter.
However, the configuration page offers the WiFi adapter configuration section.
Illustration 11: USB/WiFi ada ter configured to obtain IP address dynamically through
DHCP
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There are two possibilities how to assign the WiFi adapter P address. The first
possibility is to let the DHCP server assign it. Because the Gx Camera Ethernet
Adapter is accessed as a server, it is necessary to assign a fixed address to it, so
the clients always know the address to which they should connect. t is usually
a task of the DHCP server configuration, which allows assigning a particular P
address to the device with defined MAC address.
Illustration 12: USB/WiFi ada ter with manually configured IP address
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Another possibility is to configure the P address of the Gx Camera Ethernet
Adapter manually.
The properly configured USB/WiFi interface can then be connect to WiFi
network. The configuration page indicates successful connection.
Note:
When the Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter is reset to initial state, the WiFi
network has to be configured again using the wired Ethernet connection.
20