PHOTONIS NOCTURN XS MONO User manual
NOCTURN XS MONO USER GUIDE
PHOTONISUSAProprietaryandConfidentialInformation
6170ResearchRoad|Suite208,Frisco,Texas75033i
NOCTURNXSMonochrome
EngineeringUserGuide
September2014
Doc.No.:200‐LC‐4020
VersionB.01
PHOTONISUSA,Inc.
6170ResearchRoad|Suite208
Frisco,TXUSA75033
T:+1(469)713‐6108
F:+1(469)713‐2880
W:www.photonis.com
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©2013PHOTONISUSAPennsylvania,Inc.
AllRightsReserved
THISDOCUMENTMAYNOTBEREPRODUCED,INWHOLEORINPART,WITHOUTPRIOR
WRITTENCONSENTOFPHOTONISPENNSYLVANIA,INC.THEINFORMATIONFURNISHEDIN
THISDOCUMENTISBELIEVEDTOBECORRECTATTHETIMEOFPUBLICATIONBUTISNOT
GUARANTEEDANDISSUBJECTTOCHANGEWITHOUTPRIORNOTICE.NOLIABILITYIS
ASSUMEDBYPHOTONISFORITSUSE.NOCLAIMSORWARRANTIESAREMADEASTOTHE
APPLICATIONOFPHOTONISPRODUCTS.CUSTOMERSSHOULDVERIFYTHEYHAVETHE
CORRECTDOCUMENTATIONBEFOREUSE.
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DocumentRevisions
Date Version
Number Document Changes
Dec.12,2013 A‐1 InitialDraft
Jan.17,2014 A‐2 InitialRelease
Sept.13,2014 B‐1 Updateforsoftwareversion610
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TableofContents
1 Introduction................................................................................................................................................................6
1.1....ScopeandPurpose.............................................................................................................................................................6
1.2....ProductConfiguration.....................................................................................................................................................6
1.3....ProductSpecifications.....................................................................................................................................................7
1.4....QuantumEfficiency...........................................................................................................................................................9
2 GettingStartedwiththeCamera.....................................................................................................................10
2.1....UnpackingInstructions................................................................................................................................................10
3 CameraControls.....................................................................................................................................................12
3.1.1BasicCommunicationSettings...........................................................................................................................................12
3.1.2CommunicationProtocol......................................................................................................................................................12
3.1.3CameraSerialCommands....................................................................................................................................................15
4 Maintenance.............................................................................................................................................................41
5 Storage.......................................................................................................................................................................42
6 Quality........................................................................................................................................................................42
6.1....AcceptanceTestProtocol............................................................................................................................................42
6.2....Warranty.............................................................................................................................................................................43
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SAFETY SUMMARY
WARNING and CAUTION statements have been strategically placed throughout the text
priortooperatingormaintenanceprocedures,practices,orconditionsconsideredessential
totheprotectionofpersonnel(WARNING)orequipmentandproperty(CAUTION).NOTES
emphasizenecessaryandimportantdata.CAUTIONSandNOTESappear in the text as
applicable.DefinitionsforWARNINGS,CAUTIONSandNOTESareasfollows:
WARNING
Awarningindicatesanoperation,condition,orstatement,etc.,
which,ifnotstrictlyobserved,couldresultininjurytoordeath
ofpersonnel.
CAUTION
Acautionindicatesanoperation,maintenanceprocedure,or
condition,etc.,which,ifnotstrictlyobserved,couldresultin
damageto,ordestructionof,equipmentorlossofhardware
performanceorfunction.
NOTE
Anoteindicatesanessentialoperatingormaintenance
procedure,conditionorstatementorexplanatorytext.
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1Introduction
1.1 ScopeandPurpose
TheNOCTURNXSmonochrome(seeFigure1)isaruggedlowlightcamera module that
featureshigh‐definitionresolution,highsensitivityandhighdynamicrangewithlowpower
consumption.PoweredbyPHOTONIS’1inchopticalformat1280×1024pixel(SXGA)Lynx
CMOSsensor,theNOCTURNprovidesreal‐timeimagingcapabilities(fromdaylighttoone
quartermoonsceneillumination)inthevisibleandnearinfraredspectrum.Itssmallsize,
weightandpower(SWaP)makethiscameramoduleidealforintegrationintoaerial,mobile
andhand‐heldsurveillancesystems.
Withits9.7µm×9.7µmpixelpitchand4e‐medianreadnoise,theNOCTURNprovides
unsurpassed signal to noise at low light with video rates up to100framespersecond.
Leveraging PHOTONIS expertise innightvisionimaging,theNOCTURN electronics
incorporatesamultitudeoffunctionstoenhancethelowlightlevel performance. This
camera features automatic gain control (AGC), automatic exposure control (AEC), high
dynamicrange(HDR),non‐uniformitycorrection(NUC)andadvancedimageenhancement,
allowingtheNOCTURNtoprovidecontinuoussituationalawarenesswithoutcompromising
mobilityandSWaP.The“XS”versionoftheNOCTURNspecificallydesignedfor integrator
andoriginalequipmentmanufacturerandoffersa+3.3Vparalleloutput.
Figure1FrontViewoftheNOCTURNXSCamera
This user guide provides a detailed overview of the functionality, operation and
communicationinterfacewiththecameraaccessiblebyauser.Thehardwareinterfacefor
thecameraareonlybrieflydiscussedinthisguide,theusershould referred to the
NOCTURNXSElectro‐Mechanical ICD for a detailed description.Please contactPHOTONIS
USAtechnicalsupportfordetailsthatarenotcoveredinthisguide.
1.2 ProductConfiguration
The“XS”modelindicatesthattheNOCTURNcamerahasasingleboardtoboardconnector
for power input I/O and video output. The back panel of this NOCTURN configuration is
showninFigure2.
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Figure2BackSideViewoftheNOCTURNXSCamera
Forfullpin‐outoftheNOCTURNXScamerapleaserefertotheNOCTURN XS Electro‐
MechanicalICD.
The NOCTURN XS input power specifications are provided in Table1.Eventhoughthe
cameracanbeoperateddownat2.5Vifspecified,itisrecommendedtoprovidearegulated
inputbetween4.3‐4.7foroptimumperformance.
Table1NOCTURNXSInputPowerSpecifications
ParameterDescriptionMin Typ MaxUnits
VinInputVoltage 2.5
1
4.5 5.5 V
IccInputCurrent
2
‐‐330
3
‐‐ mA
1.3 ProductSpecifications
DetailedspecificationsfortheNOCTURNXScameraaregiveninTable2.
Table2NOCTURNXSSpecifications
ParameterSpecification
SensorResolution1280×1024Pixels
SensorPixelPitch 9.7µm×9.7µm
1
Voltage option must be specified when order is placed with factory
2
Digital video output only without image processing enabled
3
Measured with 5VDC input
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ParameterSpecification
SensorWellCapacity>25000e‐
SensorDynamicRange>60dB
SensorReadNoise<4 e‐ med.(60fpsMode)
SensorQuantumEfficiency >60%at600nm
FrameRate450, 60 or 100Hz with full field resolution (user
adjustable)
SensorImageLag <0.1%
SensorShutterModeRolling
Dimensions(W×H×D) 34.1mm×36.6mm×18 mm
Weight<45grams
DigitalVideoOutput10bit3.3VCMOSparalleloutputon2taps
CommunicationLogiclevelserial interface
ImageCorrectionBadpixelreplacementand2points nonuniformity
correction
ContrastEnhancementContrast stretching, equalization and adaptive
equalization
GainControl Automaticgainandexposurecontrolormanual
DigitalZoom 8X(0.001incrementresolution)5
Synchronization Framestarttrigger(+3.3
V
)
Analogoutputstrobereference(+3.3V)
Windowing6Fullfieldofviewdownto2linesverticalresolution
OSDFullonscreendisplaycapabilitywithtext,standard
geometricalshapeandgraphics
4By default the camera is optimized only for 60 and 100fps mode. Please contact PHOTONIS if you need
the camera optimized for 50fps.
5Digital zoom only available in the 60 and 50fps modes
6Feature only available on the digital video output interface with OSD disabled
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ParameterSpecification
SnapshotsOnboardcaptureof*.JPG(8b)or*.PGM(8/10b)
Camera/ImagingStartUpTime <5seconds
OperatingTemperature‐40°to+60°C
StorageTemperature ‐50°to+80°C
InputVoltage+2.5 to +5.5 VDC or regulated +4.57VDC (factory
configurable)
Power(Typical) 60/50Hzmode<1.6W(typ.)
1.4 QuantumEfficiency
ThetypicalquantumefficiencyasafunctionofwavelengthfortheLYNXCMOSforversions
withandwithoutmicro‐lensesisshowninFigure3.
Figure3LYNXCMOSQuantumEfficiencyCurve
7Improves noise performance
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2GettingStartedwiththeCamera
Thissectionprovidessomekeyinformationonhowtounpackthecamera.
WARNING
TheNOCTURNXScamerascontainelectrostaticsensitiveparts
andassembliesandshouldbehandledwithinprotectedareas
andinaccordancewithindustrystandardelectrostatic
discharge(ESD)protectivehandlingprocedures.Underno
circumstances,shouldthecamerabedisassembledunless
directedtodosobyPHOTONISpersonnel.Disassemblyofthe
cameraanddamagetotheanti‐tamperstickeronthesideof
thecamerawillvoidthewarranty.
2.1 UnpackingInstructions
Table3UnpackingInstructionsfortheNOCTURNXSCamera
DescriptionImage
Inspectshippingcontainerand
notifyPHOTONISpersonnelofany
damagethatmayhaveoccurred
duringshipping.
Recordthecameraserialnumber
locatedonthesideoftheshipping
containerforyourrecords.This
numberisalsoengravedonthe
bottomofthecamera.Youwillneed
thatnumbertobeabletoreceive
technicalsupportwithyourproduct.
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DescriptionImage
Openshippingcontainerbybreaking
thePHOTONISsealandliftingthe
cardboardlid.
Removetheantistaticbagcontaining
thecameramodulefromthe
suspendedclearplasticclamshell.
Unsealantistaticbagandremove
cameramoduleusingproperESD
procedures.
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DescriptionImage
Inspectcameramoduleforproper
configurationandpotentialshipping
damage.Immediatelyreportany
problemtoPHOTONISpersonnel.
3CameraControls
TheNOCTURNXSiscontrolledbyaserialcommunicationprotocol.Thissectionoftheuser
guideprovidesanoverviewofthecommandandassociatedsyntaxtocontrolthecameraas
wellastheserialportsettingsneeded.
3.1.1 BasicCommunicationSettings
Theserialcommunicationshouldbesetwiththefollowingconfigurationforboththemain
andtheauxserialinterface:
Numberofbits:8
Baudrate:115200bps
Parity:none
Numberofstopbits:1bit
Flowcontrol:none.
NOTE
TheNOCTURNXScamerasareshippedwithadefault
baudrateof115200bps.Thelattercanbechangedbytheuser
byusingthe“baudrate”commanddescribedinthissection.
3.1.2 CommunicationProtocol
TheprotocoltocommunicatewiththeNOCTURNXSisbasedonASCIIprintablemessages.
Acarriagereturnandlinefeedmustbesentfollowingacommand.Afterpowerisinitially
applied to the camera will send “{BOOT_DONE}” indicating that thecameraisreadyto
receivecommands.Onceaninitialmessagehasbeensenttothecamera,a“>”willappearat
the console when the camera is ready to accept new messages. The camera will answer
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“>OK”toallusercommandthatareacceptedand“>Error<errormessage>”whenanerror
occur.
Astandardmessagetothecamerashouldhavethefollowingarchitecture:
<Command><OptionalPayload><CR>8<LF>9.
NOTE
Withthiscurrentfirmware/softwarerelease,thecamerano
longerechoscommandbydefault.Theechocanbere‐enabled
byusingthe“echo”command.ToenabletheechoontheUSB
port,type“echousb1<CR><LF>”attheserialinterface.This
canbesavedaspowerondefaultstateforthecameraby
savingtheflashconfiguration(type“saveflash<CR><LF>”).
The following examples demonstrate the communication protocol (please refer to the
followingsectionsforcamerasyntaxdetails)andassumesthat:
Example1:displayingthehelpmenuafterinitialbootup
{BOOT_DONE}<CR><LF> //camerabootcomplete
?<CR><LF>//serialmessagesentbyusertodisplayhelpmenu
//responsefromthecamera
==============================================================<CR><LF>
?/help Displaythisconsolehelpmenu<CR><LF>
baudrate Setserialportbaudrate<CR><LF>
log Printsystembootlog<CR><LF>
status Reprintsignoninformation<CR><LF>
update[user|factory|help] Printflashupdatemenu(default=user)<CR><LF>
PIC PrintPicturemenu<CR><LF>
CL PrintCameraLinkmenu<CR><LF>
TEMP Printthetemperaturesensormenu<CR><LF>
8Carriage return
9Line feed
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XFER PrintfiletransferI/Omenu<CR><LF>
DR PrintOSDmenu<CR><LF>
==============================================================<CR><LF>
>//camerareadyfornextcommand
Example2:requestingcontrastfunctionhelp
>//camerareadyforcommand
videocontrast?<CR><LF> //serialmessagesentbyusertogetcontrasthelp
//responsefromcamera
VIDEOcontrastSelectscontrastenhancement:<CR><LF>
0‐Noenhancement<CR><LF>
1‐histogramstretching<CR><LF>
2‐histogramequalization<CR><LF>
3‐limitedequalization<CR><LF>
4‐histogramunroundedequalization<CR><LF>
99‐autocontrast(tabledriven)<CR><LF>
>//camerareadyfornextcommand
Example3:changingthecontrast
>//camerareadyforcommand
videocontrast1<CR><LF> //serialmessagesentbyusertoenablehist.stretching
OK<CR><LF>//replyfromcamerathatcommandwasaccepted
>//camerareadyfornextcommand
Example4:querycontrastsetting
>//camerareadyforcommand
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videocontrast<CR><LF> //serialmessagesentbyusertogetcontraststatus
CONTRAST=1<CR><LF> //replythatcontrastissettohist.stretching
OK<CR><LF>//replyfromcamerathatcommandwasaccepted
>//camerareadyfornextcommand
Example5:invalidparameterresultinginanerror
>//camerareadyforcommand
videocontrast500<CR><LF>//messagesentbyuserwithinvalidcontrastsetting
//errorresponsefromthecamera
Error6012,VideoPipeline:Invalidcontrastparameter<CR><LF>
<CR><LF>//blanklinesentbycamera
>//camerareadyfornextcommand
3.1.3 CameraSerialCommands
ThefollowingsectioncontainsalloftheserialcommandavailableontheNOCTURNXS.
3.1.3.1 TopLevelCommands
Table4TopLevelCommands
CommandOptionalPayload Description
help Displayconsolehelpmenu
? Displayconsolehelpmenu
baudrate(see3.1.3.2) Setserialportbaudrate
echo(see3.1.3.3) Settheserialportechostate
logPrintsystembootlog,usedfordebugging
user/cameraproblems
save?/help
flash
user
factorykeyword
Displayhelpforcommand
Savecurrentflashsettings(baudrateetc)
Savechangestousersettings.inifile
Savechangestofactorysettings.inifile
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CommandOptionalPayload Description
statusReprintsignoninformation
update?/help
user
factory
Flashupdatemenuhelp
Updateuserflash
Updatefactoryflash
CS?
(see3.1.3.4)
(For factory use only) Camera sensor
commandmenu. Type“?”togetembedded
helpmenu
VIDEO(see3.1.3.4) Videopipelinecommandmenu
PIC(see3.1.3.6) Picturecommandmenu
CL(see3.1.3.7) Digitalvideooutpu
t
commandmenu
NUC(see3.1.3.9) Nonuniformitycorrectioncommandmenu
TEMP(see3.1.3.10) Printthetemperaturesensormenu
XFER(see3.1.3.11) PrintfiletransferI/OmenuType“?”toget
embeddedhelpmenu
D
R
(see3.1.3.12) DrawOSDmenu
AGCSTATUS(see3.1.3.13) Prints AGC settings and available
commands
3.1.3.2 BaudrateCommands
BydefaulttheNOCTURNXScameraisshippedwithapresetbaudrateof115200bps(main
COMinterfaceiscalledUSBinthecommandmenutomaintaincompatibility with the
NOCTURNXLfirmware).Thebaudratecommandallowsyoutobothquery the current
baudratesettingbutalsochangeit.
AllvalidserialcommandshowninTable5shouldbesentas:
baudrate<Command><OptionalPayload><CR><LF>
Table5BaudrateCommands
CommandOptionalPayload Description
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CommandOptionalPayload Description
USB? Display baudrate help and current setting
fortheUSBport(mainexternalserialport)
USB921600
460800
230400
115200
57600
38400
28800
19200
9600
SettheUSBbaudrateto921600bps
SettheUSBbaudrateto460800bps
SettheUSBbaudrateto230400bps
SettheUSBbaudrateto115200bps
SettheUSBbaudrateto57600bps
SettheUSBbaudrateto38400bps
SettheUSBbaudrateto28800bp
SettheUSBbaudrateto19200bps
SettheUSBbaudrateto9600bps
AUX? Display baudrate help and current setting
fortheAUXport
AUX921600
460800
230400
115200
57600
38400
28800
19200
9600
SettheAUX baudrateto921600bps
SettheAUXbaudrateto460800bps
SettheAUXbaudrateto230400bps
SettheAUXbaudrateto115200bps
SettheAUXbaudrateto57600bps
SettheAUXbaudrateto38400bps
SettheAUXbaudrateto28800bp
SettheAUXbaudrateto19200bps
SettheAUXbaudrateto9600bps
3.1.3.3 EchoCommands
BydefaulttheNOCTURNcameraisshippedwiththeechoturnedoffonallserialinterface
port.Theechocommandcanbeusedtoturnedtheechoonoroffonanyserialofthe
communicationports
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AllvalidserialcommandshowninTable6shouldbesentas:
echo<Port><OptionalPayload><CR><LF>
Table6Echocommands
CommandOptionalPayload Description
?Echohelpmenu
USB0
1
USBportechoof
f
USBportechoon
AUX0
1
AUXportechoof
f
AUXportechoon
3.1.3.4 CSCommands
CAUTION
AdjustingthedefaultCMOSsettingscouldaffectthelowlight
levelperformanceofthecameraandthedefaultnon‐
uniformitycorrectiontables
AllvalidserialcommandshowninTable7shouldbesentas:
CS<Command><OptionalPayload><CR><LF>
Table7CSCommands
CommandOptionalPayload Description
?CScommandhelpmenu
cslnf0
2
4
8
Disablesthelinenoisefilter
Setthelinenoisefiltertouse2columns
Setthelinenoisefiltertouse4columns
Setthelinenoisefiltertouse8columns
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CommandOptionalPayload Description
16 Setthelinenoisefiltertouse16columns
csvbo[0‐255] Setsthevideoblackoffsetwhentheline
noisefilterisenabled
csactive0
1
ClearsthesensoractivesignaltotheCMOS
imagesensor
Set the sensor active signal to the CMOS
imagesensor
csdumptblDisplays camera sensor register default
tabledatatoconsole(storeincamera)
csdumpDisplays current sensor register settings
readfromsensorontheconsole
csrdxx Reads camera sensor register address xx
anddisplayvalueontheconsole
cswrxxdd Write camera sensor register address xx
withvaluedd
cssaveuser Savecurrentsensorregistersettingsas
powerondefault(thegainandexposure
settingswillbeignoredandthevalue
enteredinundertheagcsetupwillbeused)
A list of all possible registers for the “cs wr” and “cs rd” isgiveninTable8.Itis
recommended to refer to the LYNX CMOS datasheet for further explanationofthesensor
registersettings.Typicalusageofthe“cswr”and“csrd”commandshouldbeasfollows:
Writingregister:
CSwr<Address><Value><CR><LF>
Readingregister
CSrd<Address><CR><LF>
Table8CMOSSensorRegisters
NameAddressSize Description
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NameAddressSize Description
SENSOR_ACTIVE 0 1Disable/Enablecontinuousgrabbingof
images;
externalSENSOR_ACTIVEpulsesareignored
60FPS 1 1 Use2or4outputchannels,resultingin60fpsor
100
fpsoperation
ADDR_
Y
2‐3 11 Thestartaddressofthereadoutwindow.
Validrangeforthisregisteris0to1044‐SIZE_Y.
SIZE_
Y
4‐5 11 Thenumberofrowsinthereadoutwindow.
Validrangeforthisregisteris1to1044
NROF_SLOPES 6 2Thenumberofslopesis1,2or3.
‘0’isaninvalidsettingforthisregister.
INTE_FIRST 7‐9 24 Thenumberofslotslightintegratesonthepixels
forthe1stfirstslopeoftheresponsecurve.
Thedefaultvalueyieldsthemaximumintegration
timeavailablewhilemaintainingthedesired
maximum frame rates of 60fps and 100fps. A
longer integration time will decrease the frame
rate.
‘0’isaninvalidsettingforthisregister.
INTE_SECOND 10‐12 24 Thenumberofslotslightintegratesonthepixels
forthe2ndslopeoftheresponsecurve.
Bydefault,thesecondslopeisnotused,so
thedefaultvalueis0.
INTE_THIRD 13‐15 24 Thenumberofslotslightintegratesonthepixels
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