qinematiq SMART RANGER 2 User manual

1
V2 | 2020
All content © 2019, qinematiq GmbH.
http://www.qinematiq.com
SMART RANGER 2
MANUAL

Disclaimer
1
SMART RANGER 2 MANUAL v2
2017/08
1DISCLAIMER
Thank you for purchasing a product of qinematiq GmbH.
Please make sure to read and understand this manual before using the products
carefully and keep the manual at hand for future reference.
qinematiq products are produced in the highest possible quality and tested for
customers use precisely. However, qinematiq products are technical gods and therefore
must be handled with care.
qinematiq assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
The information is subject to change without notice.
This manual is to be read as a recommendation and qinematiq is not actionable for any
damages or losses. No responsibility can be taken for any situations.
1.1 Scope
This manual is written according to the following hardware and software version and is
only reliable for the specific version.
SW version 1.2.0
Date: 9th of October 2020
© 2019, 2020 qinematiq. All rights reserved.

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2INTRODUCTION TO SMART RANGER 2
2.1 Mounting of the base station
SMART RANGER 2 is a tiny ultrasonic and radio distance measurement tool for filmsets.
The measurement system consist of a BASE UNIT and up to 2 radio TAGs. The ultrasonic
sensor and the transmitter for the radio TAGs are part of the BASE UNIT. The distance
between BASE UNIT and radio TAG is measured automatically. 2 TAGs can be used
simultaneously with one BASE UNIT.
The ultrasonic sensor consists of 2 funnel-shaped apertures which have to be aligned at
the desired motive when the BASE UNIT is mounted.
For fixing at the camera or at the matte box the SMART RANGER 2 BASE UNIT has 3x
1/4-20 UNC threads. With these the unit can be fixed to camera or matte box with
common fixing tools.

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By default the SMART RANGER 2 display is situated at the right side of the camera but
it is also possible to operate it on the left side of the camera.
The BASE UNIT has 3 electric interfaces
1x LEMO 1B 6p (power, RS232)
2x LEMO 0B 4p (power, CAN bus)
on the back of the device.
The LEMO 1B 6p is equal to the standard “cinetape” connector. Any cable can be used
between a Lens Control System LCS and the “cinetape” measurement device for
supplying electricity to SMART RANGER 2 and transfer the data to the LCS.
When the LCS can’t supply electricity via the 6p cable the BASE UNIT can be also supplied
with the 4p connector.
After installation and plugging in of a cinetape cable SMART RANGER 2 is switched on
at the back side of the BASE UNIT.

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Immediately after activation the ultrasound measurement value is displayed at the
display.
If one or both TAGS are also switched on the measurements can be seen directly on the
display. There is a separate power switch for the TAGs.
The reference mark for the distance „0m” is situated at the front of the BASE UNIT
where the apertures for the ultrasound sensor are visible. The reference mark for the
radio TAG is beside the qinematiq icon, also at the front of the device.

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2.2 Display of distance values and general settings
At the BASE UNIT there are 5 buttons for the settings:
Left: UP, MENU (M), DOWN
Below: SET A, SET B, SET C
SMART RANGER 2 has two different display indications:
Triple distance readout
The status line is always in the upper row of the display:
US Range & Sensitivity: The ultrasonic measurement range and sensitivity are
displayed
Offset: The distance of the BASE UNIT to the film plane
Limit: Limit Near und Limit Far are displayed
Lens: The chosen lens table is displayed
Below the status line 3 distance measurement values are visible:
Above: Distance measurement value of the ultrasound sensors
status line
ultrasonic distance
value
TAG 1 distance value
TAG 2 distance value
US Range & Sensitivity Limits
Offset Lens table

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Middle: Icon TAG1, battery status and distance measurement value
Below: Icon TAG2, battery status and distance measurement value
Single distance readout with merging distance value:
The merging distance value is in capital letters is in the middle of the display.
This merging distance value is calculated from the ultrasound measurement and
the distance of TAG 1. See chapter 2.4 for more details.
Lower row:
oLeft: Ultrasonic distance measurement value
oMiddle: Handover distance value
This value determines at which distance the change from TAG to
ultrasonic measurement is done.
oRight: 2x TAG distance measurement value
A white icon (quadrat) is shown if a TAG is available.
The distance measurement values which are active and included in the merging
distance calculation are shown in white characters.
The status line is in the upper row.
ultrasonic handover TAG 2
value value TAG 1
status line
merging distance value

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Pressing the button MENU (M) 2 times leads to the MAIN MENU.
By pressing the button MENU again the distance readout selection (SR GUI) can be
changed.
1x: Single distance graphic user interface (GUI) with merging distance value
3x: Triple distance graphic user interface
The digit which can be changed is indicated as a red character.
With the buttons UP / DOWN the digit can be changed.
By pressing the button SET B the adjustment is fixed.
By pressing the button SET A you live the MAIN MENU.
Single distance graphic user interface (GUI)

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Triple distance graphic user interface (GUI)

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2.3 Ultrasonic and TAG distance measurement
After switch-on either single or triple distance readout is shown at the display
depending on how the device was turned off.
2.3.1 Triple distance readout
If no TAG is switched on only the ultrasound measurement value is visible.
This value is shown in white characters; the characters for TAG 1 and TAG 2 are shown
in grey characters.
After switching on TAG1 (with a correct channel selection) the icon for TAG1 and the
distance measurement value of TAG1 are shown after a few seconds. Additionally the
battery status symbol is visible. The display of TAG1 changes from grey to white
characters.
If you switching on a TAG and no value is visible please check the supply of the TAG and
the channel setting (MAIN MENU > SETTINGS > TAG channel).

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Also after switching on TAG2 the icon, the distance measurement value and the battery
status symbol for TAG2 are visible.
The battery status symbol for TAG1 and TAG2 has 4 grades. In grade 1 the symbol is red
meaning that the TAG will fail during the next fifteen minutes. The TAG battery runs for
more than 20 hours and can be charged with a 5V USB charger.
If TAG 1 and TAG 2 are switched on a mean value of TAG1 and TAG 2 can be built. The
mean value is shown in-between the lines of TAG1 and TAG2. To switch the mean value
on press the button SET C.
As example the mean value is helpful to determine the center of a car. For this purpose
on TAG is placed in the front of the car and the other is in the rear trunk.
The mean value can be switched of by pressing the button SET C again.
2.3.2 Single distance readout
In the middle of the display the merging distance value is visible. The following chapter
will explain this distance value and its calculation.
The lower line of the display show the measurement values for the ultrasonic sensor,
the two TAGS and the handover value.

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2.3.3 Range, sensitivity and offset of ultrasound signal
The sensitivity, range and offset of the ultrasonic beam can be adjusted in the QUICK
MENU.
The SMART RANGER 2 ultrasound sensor has three different sensitivities:
1: Low sensitivity
2: Medium sensitivity
3: High sensitivity
A high sensitivity (= 3) increases the possible range of the ultrasonic signal but also
captures more lateral interference. A low sensitivity (= 1) reduces the lateral
interference, but also reduces the possible range.
A measurement should start with sensitivity 2 ideally.
The sensitivity can be adjusted in the QUICK MENU. Pressing the button MENU leads to
QUICK MENU. The sensitivity can be adjusted by pressing the button SET A.
The SMART RANGER 2 ultrasound sensor has two different ranges:
NEAR: Measurements up to 4,8m
FAR: Measurements up to 9m
The NEAR setting reduces the measuring range, but also reduces the lateral
interferences again, and accelerates the measurement.
The range can be adjusted in the QUICK MENU. Pressing the button MENU leads to
QUICK MENU. The range can be adjusted by pressing the button SET B.

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The reference mark for the distance „0m” is situated at the front of the BASE UNIT
where the apertures for the ultrasonic sensor are visible. Please measure the distance
between the reference mark of the BASE UNIT and the film plane of the camera.
Normally the BASE UNIT is mounted next to the lens and is placed in front of the film
plane of the camera. For this set a positive value to add the offset to the measurement
value. The offset value is calculated in the measurement values for the ultrasonic and
the TAG sensors.
An offset value is adjusted in the QUICK MENU. Pressing the button MENU leads to
QUICK MENU. By pressing the button SET C the value starts to blink. It can be changed
by button UP/DOWN. Blinking stops automatically after 3s.
The information about sensitivity, range and offset can be found in the status line.

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2.4 Merging distance value and handover value
From the ultrasonic distance measurement value and the distance measurement value
of TAG 1 a merging distance value can be calculated and transmitted to the Lens Control
System. The merging distance value can be used to control the focus motor.
The advantage of the ultrasonic sensor measurement is the excellent accuracy in close
ranges in front of the camera. Measurements over 4m get more and more difficult and
over 6 or 8m eventually impossible. The measurement with the TAG is possible for
ranges over 80m. The advantage of the TAG measurement is that the measurement
device need no alignment on the TAG. It works immediately after switch-on but the
measurement is not as precise as the ultrasonic measurement and the TAG unit itself
may not be visible in the cameras field of vision. Thus the SMART RANGER 2 System
calculates a measurement value –the merging distance value –that combines the
advantages of both sensor systems.
In close range the ultrasonic measurement is used as measurement value, in long range
the TAG measurement. With SMART RANGER 2 it is possible switch between both
measurement values automatically. Thus the merging distance values allow the
permanent measurement of a motive that is moving from far range into close range.
If the BASE UNIT is connected with a standard “cinetape” cable at the Lemo 6p
connector the merging distance value is transmitted to the Lens Control System.
The merging distance value can be found in the single measurement readout. To build
the merging distance value, individual sensors for the measurement can be switched on
and off.
Merging Distance

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2.4.1 Triple measurement readout
By pressing button SET A the ultrasonic measurement can be switched on and off. When
the ultrasonic measurement is switched off, it is not included in the calculation of the
merging distance values. That means that only the TAG measurement value is equal the
merging distance value. A switched on ultrasonic distance measurement value is shown
in white characters, a switched off value is in grey characters.
By pressing the key SET C a TAG measurement value can be switched on and off. When
it is switched off it is not included in the calculation of the merging distance values. That
means the ultrasonic value is equal the merging distance value. If a TAG is available, the
icon and the battery symbol of the TAG are in white characters, when switched of the
characters are grey.
If TAG 1 and TAG 2 are switched on the mean value of TAG1 and TAG 2 can be built. The
mean value is shown in-between the lines of TAG1 and TAG2. To switch the mean value
on press the button SET C. In that case only the mean value is used for the calculation
of the merging distance.
If both TAGs are switched on, the value of TAG1 is used to calculate the merging distance
value.
Merging Distance
Merging Distance
Merging Distance

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2.4.2 Single measurement readout
The single measurement readout shows the merging distance value in a large font. In
the row below the ultrasonic measurement distance value, the handover value and the
distance values for TAG1 and TAG2 are visible.
By pressing the button SET A the ultrasonic distance measurement value can be
switched on and off.
By pressing the button SET C the TAG values can be switched on and off or a mean value
of both TAGs can be build.
Is the TAG not available the icon and battery symbol of the TAG are in grey characters.
To switch off the mean value press button SET C again.
Merging Distance
TAG1 & TAG2 mean
value
Merging Distance
TAG1 value

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2.4.3 Handover Value
The handover value defines the limit how near should the TAG value be used for the
calculation of the merging distance value. The following calculation method is applied:
Is the TAG distance value considerably lower than the handover value, the merging
distance value is equal to the ultrasonic distance value. The advantage of the ultrasonic
sensor measurement is the excellent accuracy in close ranges in front of the camera.
Is the TAG distance value considerable higher than the handover value, the merging
distance value is equal to the TAG value itself.
The merging distance value does not change erratically but with a transition which is
determined by the threshold value. The threshold value can be changed in the MAIN
MENU. A low threshold value causes rapid changes between ultrasound and TAG
measurements and a higher value allows a smoother transition.
Example:
Handover value: 4m
Threshold: 1m
In case of a TAG distance value over 5m (= handover value + threshold) the merging
distance value is calculated only from the TAG distance.
Handover value
Merging Distance
TAG1 distance value

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In case of a TAG distance value between 3m and 5m there is a linear transition from TAG
distance to ultrasonic distance.
In case of a TAG distance value below 3m ( = handover value –threshold) the merging
distance value is calculated only from the ultrasonic distance.

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The single distance measurement readout shows the handover value between the
ultrasound value and the distance value of the TAGs.
The handover value is adjusted by pressing the button SET B. When it starts to blink it
can be changed by button UP/DOWN. Blinking stops automatically after 5s.
The handover value can also be changed in MAIN MENU. For the triple distance readout
the handover value is only visible in MAIN MENU.
The threshold value can only by changed in MAIN MENU.

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When TAG1 and TAG2 are active only the distance measurement value of TAG1 is
included in the calculation of the merging distance value.
If TAG 1 and TAG 2 are switched on the mean value of TAG1 and TAG 2 can be built. The
mean value is shown in-between the lines of TAG1 and TAG2. In that case the mean
value is included in the calculation of the merging distance value.
Merging Distance
TAG1 & TAG2 mean
value