Sumix SMX-10Mxx Series User manual

User Guide
SMX-10MxXSeries USB2.0 Cameras

SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Revision 2.1
Copyright © 2001-2010 Sumix Corporation
4005 Avenida de la Plata, Suite 201
Oceanside, CA, 92056
Tel.: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
www.sumix.com
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. The software described in this
document is furnished under a license and be used or copied only in accordance with the terms of such
license.

Contents
3
CONTENTS
Chapter 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Chapter 2 Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
System Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Driver Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Removal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Troubleshooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Camera Was Not Detected or Recognized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Cannot Install the Hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Chapter 3 Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Installing Lens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Recommendations on the Camera Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Plugging in the Camera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Installing Driver Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Starting the Application. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Switching Between Cameras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Viewing Camera ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Reducing CPU Load. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Chapter 4 Tuning Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Initial Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Tuning Light in the Image. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Color Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Contrast Tuning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Sensor Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Exposure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Gain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Frequency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Decimation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Viewport . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Image Correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

Contents
4SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Color Balance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Color Correction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Advanced Sensor Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Color Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Image Flip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Increasing Image Quality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Frame Rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Auto White Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Output Bits per Pixel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Filtering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Saving and Loading Camera Profiles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Chapter 5 Capturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Capturing Images. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Capture Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Recording Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Saving Video to Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Saving Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Chapter 6 Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Snapshots Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Taking Snapshots Using Software Trigger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Taking Snapshots Using Hardware Trigger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
External Trigger Connector Pinout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Setting External Trigger Polarity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Saving Snapshots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Chapter 7 Use of Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Using C-mount Adapter with IR-cut Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
IR-cut Filter Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
C-mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
CS-mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Converting the Camera from CS-mount to C-mount or from C-mount to CS-mount . . . . . .52
Using Tripod Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Appendix 1 Keyboard Shortcuts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Appendix 2 Toolbar Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Appendix 3 Figures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

Introduction:
5
Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION
SMX-10Mxx Series Cameras are megapixel CMOS cameras with USB2.0 interface
suitable for scientific and industrial application. The cameras are designed for capturing,
streaming and storing high quality digital images.
There are the following models available:
●SMX-10M1M (1.3 megapixel, monochrome)
●SMX-10M2C (2 megapixel, color)
●SMX-10M3C (3 megapixel, color)
All SMX-10Mxx cameras feature:
●USB2.0 communication interface
●Duralumin housing with C/CS - mount
The benefits of SMX-10Mxx cameras are the following:
●High speed
●Low power consumption
●No external power supply required
●Ease of use
●Compact size
●Adjustable frame rate
●External trigger output mode
Programmable functions include viewport window settings, adjustable exposure time
and gain, selectable sensor clock frequency and image decimation, flipping image
horizontally and vertically. The SMX-10Mxx cameras can be used in microscopy, video
conferencing, webcasting, surveillance and security systems, etc.

Introduction:
6SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide

Installation: System Requirements
7
Chapter 2
INSTALLATION
Before installing the camera software, install a USB2.0 adapter if needed. Install all
required drivers. Installation of the USB2.0 adapter is beyond the scope of this
document.
System Requirements
Installation
To install the SMX-10Mxx camera application software:
1Run the SMX10MX-<version>.exe file downloaded via the URL provided by Sumix
Corporation.
2Welcome to the SMX-10Mx USB 2.0 Camera Software Setup Wizard starts. The
wizard will guide you through the software and hardware drivers installation. Close
all other applications that are running on your computer and then click the Next but-
ton to continue the installation.
Operating System XP SP1+/2003/Vista/2008/7, recommended: Windows 7 or XP SP1 and higher
Processor Intel PIII or higher, recommended: Intel Core 2 Duo
Performance Minimum 300 Mflops, recommended: 400 Mflops or higher
Memory 256 MP for XP (512 MB for 2008/Vista/7), recommended: 512 MB (1024 MB)
USB 2.0 Recommended: Intel integrated Host Controller, not recommended: VIA-based
USB 3.0 Host Controller is also supported
Video 8 MB memory, recommended: GeForce 4xxx/Radeon 9xxx or higher

Installation: Installation
8SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-1 Welcome to the SMX-10Mx Camera Setup Wizard
3In the License Agreement box, read the license. Then select I accept the agree-
ment and click Next.
Figure 2-2 License Agreement dialog box
4The wizard starts to check your system information. Upon completion, a table with
check results is displayed in the System Information box.

Installation: Installation
9
SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-3 System Information box
5Do one of the following, depending on the results of the check:
●click the Next button if all table cells with system parameters are green (the
parameters satisfy the software requirements)
●update your system if at least one cell is red - such configuration is not recom-
mended
●update your system if at least one cell is yellow, otherwise the technical character-
istics declared for the camera will not be achieved.
To see the recommended system requirements, click the Requirements button in the
System Information dialog box:
Figure 2-4 Recommended system configuration

Installation: Installation
10 SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
6In the Select Destination Location box, click Browse to change the folder in which
the SMX-10Mxx camera application software will be installed, or leave the one sug-
gested by the wizard. Click Next.
Figure 2-5 Select Destination location box
7In the same way, in the Select Start Menu Folder box, leave the suggested location
or specify the folder you wish. Click Next.
Figure 2-6 Select Start Menu Folder box
8In the next wizard box select additional icon that you wish to create and choose
whether you want to launch the application right after the installation, or not.

Installation: Installation
11
SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-7 Select Additional Tasks box
9In the Ready to Install step, view the options you selected and click Install.
Figure 2-8 Ready to Install box
10 The wizard will start to install the application on your computer.

Installation: Installation
12 SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-9 Installing box
During the installation, the system will ask you whether you want to install the device
software. Press Install to proceed.
Figure 2-10 Windows Security box
11 Press Finish to exit the wizard.

Installation: Update
13
SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-11 The last installation step
Note: If you face problems during the camera installation, see “Troubleshooter” on page 16.
The installation of the camera driver will be completed when you first connect the
camera to the computer’s USB port.
Update
The camera application software is constantly developed and improved. When a new
version is available, the customers are notified and a new installer file is sent to them.
The update procedure is exactly the same as the installation described in the previous
section. Simply run the new installer SMX10MX<version>.exe and follow the wizard
(see “Installation” on page 7).
Driver Update
When a new camera driver version is available, you can update it via the Windows
device manage.
To update the camera driver:
1Connect the camera to the computer.
2Open the Device Manager window in the Control panel window.
3Double-click Imaging devices.
4Right-click SMX-10MX Series USB2.0 Camera and select Update Driver Soft-
ware...

Installation: Update
14 SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-12 Updating the camera driver
5Follow the easy-on-screen instructions. On the first step, select Browse my com-
puter for driver software.
Figure 2-13 Updating the camera driver: step1

Installation: Removal
15
SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
6On the next step, browse for the location on your computer where the driver is saved
and click Next.
Figure 2-14 Updating the camera driver: step 2
7The system will start installing the driver. In the end, a message that the installation is
successful will appear. Press Close to finish.
Removal
To remove the camera application software, use the Add/Remove Programs section in
the Windows Control Panel. Remove the application according to the general
Windows application uninstallation rules.
Alternatively, you can click the uninstallation shortcut in the application folder (Start >
All Programs >Sumix > SMX-M10x USB2.0 Camera>Uninstall SMX-M10x USB2.0
Camera Software) and follow the uninstallation wizard.
After removing the software, you need also to remove the camera driver.
To remove the camera driver:
1Connect the camera to the computer.
2Open the Device Manager window in the Control panel window.
3Double-click Imaging devices.
4Right-click SMX-10Mx Series USB2.0 Camera and select Uninstall.
5Confirm removing the driver: check the Delete the driver software for this device
and click OK.

Installation: Troubleshooter
16 SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-15 Driver removal confirmation
6After the driver is uninstalled, the SMX-10Mx Series USB2.0 Camera will disappear
from the Imaging Devices section of the Device Manager.
Troubleshooter
If you face problems with installation and detection of the camera, use this
Troubleshooter. If you face problems that are not described below, contact Sumix
Technical Department.
Note: Tasks and problems in this section are demonstrated in Windows XP operating system.
Camera Was Not Detected or Recognized
If after connecting the camera to your computer the system does not detect it: there is
no icon on the Taskbar or the camera was not recognized by the system:
Try doing the following:
●Check if the device was installed successfully: open system folder WINDOWS\
system32\drivers and check if there is the SMX10MX.sys file (normally it is located on
the C: hard disk). If not, run the driver installation again. Be sure that no camera is
connected during installation.
●If the problem still persists, manually save the SMX10MX.sys file to the \WIN-
DOWS\system32\drivers folder (the SMX10MX.sys file is located in the \Sumix\SMX-
10Mx USB2.0 Camera\Drivers folder).
If the problem still persists, try one of the following:

Installation: Troubleshooter
17
SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
●Reconnect the camera.
●Use other USB2.0 port of your computer - the problem might be due to the USB2.0
port malfunction.
●Use another USB2.0 cable - the problem might be due to the USB2.0 cable malfunc-
tion.
●Connect other SMX-10Mxx camera (if any) to the same USB2.0 port - the problem
might be due to the camera malfunction.
●Disconnect the camera and restart your computer.
If any of the above steps did not help and the device is not recognized yet, try the
following:
1Connect the problematical camera to the computer.
2Open the Device Manager window (right-lick My Computer desktop icon, select
Properties, select Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager).
3In Device Manager, double-click Universal Serial Bus controllers.
4In Device Manager, select one of the following:
●Imaging devices> SMX-10Mx Series USB2.0 Camera with Warning status, if it is
available there:
Figure 2-16 Device Manager: the SMX-10Mx camera with Warning status
●Universal Serial Bus controllers> Unknown device:

Installation: Troubleshooter
18 SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Figure 2-17 Device Manager: the SMX-10Mx camera is detected as Unknown device
5Right-click and select Update Driver…:
Figure 2-18 Device Manager: Updating the SMX-10Mx camera driver
6Run the Hardware Update Wizard the same way as the Found New Hardware Wiz-
ard by choosing the Install the software automatically (Recommended) option.
7If some problems occur during the manual hardware installation, read the next sec-
tion of this Troubleshooter.

Installation: Troubleshooter
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SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
Cannot Install the Hardware
If the Found New Hardware Wizard\Hardware Update Wizard failed to install the
hardware (the wizard that starts after the first connection of the camera or the Wizard
that starts for updating the hardware; failure occurs after you browse to the files needed
for the installing),
Figure 2-19 Found New Hardware Wizard: Cannot install this Hardware
try doing the following:
1Click Back in the Found New Hardware Wizard and select Install from a list or spe-
cific location (Advanced).
2Click Next.
Figure 2-20 Found New Hardware Wizard: Installing from a list or specific location (Advanced)
3Select Search for the best driver in these locations.

Installation: Troubleshooter
20 SMX-10Mxx Series USB2.0 Camera User Guide
4Check the Include this location in the search box.
5Browse to the Drivers folder - on the SMX-M10x Camera CD or in the Sumix\SMX-
10Mx USB2.0 Camera folder (located on the hard disk where you installed the SMX-
10Mx Camera Software, normally it is the C:\Program Files\Sumix\SMX-10Mx
USB2.0 Camera).
6Click Next.
Figure 2-21 Installing from a list or specific location: specifying location
7In the list, select the last item.
8Click Next.
9Wait till the wizard installs all files.
10 Click Finish if installation passed successfully.