Vicon RS-232 User manual

NOTES NO. REV. SEC.
INSTRUCTION MANUAL Refer to XX134-22-00 1108 3
XX134
Vicon Direct Control Software
It is possible to control the SurveyorVFT from a PC using the Direct Control software. Surveyor Direct Control
software can be installed on a PC type computer and used to operate any Surveyor Camera Dome on the RS-
422 bus. The software will work with all versions of SurveyorVFT and older versions of Surveyor Camera Domes.
Note: The Direct Control Software does not work with the ViconNet (IP) model of the SurveyorVFT.
Typical application: To test a new installation or troubleshoot an existing installation, simply select the dome
(Receiver#), connect, and test PTZ (Pan, Tilt, and Zoom) functions, Aux. functions, etc. The RS-422 bus as well
as the functionality of all domes on the bus can be verified.
Note: It is recommended to remove any older versions of Vicon’s Direct Control program before installing this
software.
Before the software for the dome can be upgraded, it is necessary to setup the hardware. The PC must be con-
nected to the dome by means of Vicon’s RS-232/RS-422 Interface converter/adapter and a cable assembly.
Note: If using an SVFT-PRS-RS232 version, the RS-232 adapter is built-in and the external converter is
not required.
There are two system configurations, a standalone system, with one dome and one PC, and a star configuration,
using a V1400X-IDL. See Figures 1 and 2.
Installing the Software
The software should be installed on the computer prior to connecting the camera dome to a computer with the
following minimum configuration:
•Pentium 233 MHz with 32 MB RAM
•2 MB of free hard drive space
•CD-ROM drive
•1 free serial port (COM 1, COM 2, COM 3 or COM 4)
•Mouse (for navigation)
•Windows '95, '98 (second edition), ME, NT, 2000 Professional or XP Home or Professional
•RS-232 to RS-422 protocol converter/adapter
Software can be downloaded from Vicon’s FTP site: ftp://ftp.vicon-cctv.com/Software/03_Camera/.
1. Power on and boot the computer to the Windows™ desktop.
2. Place the CD into the drive.
3. If it does not autorun, run the file on the CD named setup.exe.
4. Follow the software prompts to install the software onto the hard drive in the desired directory.
Setting Up the Connection:
Power down all equipment and use Figure 1 or 2 (standalone or star configuration) to make all connections
between the camera dome and the host computer.
Copyright © 2008 Vicon Industries Inc. All rights reserved.
Product specifications subject to change without notice.
Vicon and its logo are registered trademarks of Vicon Industries Inc.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.
Vicon part number 8009-8134-22-00 Section 3 Rev 1108
VICON INDUSTRIES INC., 89 ARKAY DRIVE, HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK 11788
TEL: 631-952-CCTV (2288) FAX: 631-951-CCTV (2288) TOLL FREE: 800-645-9116
24-Hour Technical Support: 800-34-VICON (800-348-4266)
UK: [phone] WEB: www.vicon-cctv.com

Figure 1 – Standalone Configuration
(Duplex shown, may be simplex or duplex)
Pin Out Connections
RS-232/RS-422 Converter SurveyorVFT COMM TB3
Signal To Signal
RXD- (RESPONSE IN -) PIN 4 (RESPONSE OUT -)
RXD+ (RESPONSE IN +) PIN 3 (RESPONSE OUT +)
GND (GROUND) PIN 5 (GROUND)
T/R+ (COMMAND OUT +) PIN 1 (COMMAND IN +)
T/R- (COMMAND OUT -) PIN 2 (COMMAND IN -)
2 •XX134-22-00 Direct Control

Figure 2 – Star Configuration
Tech Tips
1.) Power down all components before wiring.
2.) Verify that the address DIP Switch (S1) is set to "address 1".
3.) Verity that the configuration DIP Switch (S2) is set correctly (RS422, Duplex, VPS in OFF position;
NTSC or PAL selected per appropriate system).
4.) When using shielded twisted-pair cable, the shield is used as the ground (G) wire.
5.) Plug the adapter into the computer serial port (COM 1 or COM 2) before the computer has been
powered on.
XX134-22-00 Direct Control •3

Preparation for Setup
1. With the software installed and the dome properly connected to the computer, power on the computer.
2. Upon boot completion, run the Surveyor Direct Control software. The following screen will appear:
Note: There is a choice of protocols, Vicon or Cohu. When using the Cohu protocol, Auto Pan,
Receiver Alarm and Aux 1-6 are disabled and grayed out, since there is no Cohu equivalent of these func-
tions. Also, presets only go up to PRESET 64, which is used to enter Program mode. Focus Far and Iris
Close are framed to indicate that they have additional functions when dome is in Program mode (Auto Pan
and Auto Iris, respectively) In Vicon mode, Auto Pan and Auto Iris are framed to indicate that have addi-
tional functions when dome is in Program mode.
3. Verify that the Receiver # is set to assigned dome address.
Note: The Receiver # selected MUST match the DIP settings of the dome being tested.
4. Verify that the Comm Port: is set to the appropriate port (COM 1, COM 2 and on some computers COM 3 or
COM 4). This is the Comm Port the RS-422 adapter is connected to.
5. Verify that the Baud Rate: is set to 4800,N,8,1.
Note: The Baud rate MUST match the settings of the dome being tested.
6. Power on the camera dome and the following series of screens should display on the Analog Monitor:
Vicon Screen Cohu Screen
4 •XX134-22-00 Direct Control

7. With the black screen displayed, select the Connect button with the mouse on the Surveyor Direct Control
Main Screen on the computer monitor.
8. The dome should immediately connect to the computer and the following screen display.
9. If this screen is not immediately displayed, the baud rate might have been different in the dome. To connect,
select the red button in the center of the joystick with the mouse and move it. The black screen on the Analog
Monitor will briefly display a blinking cursor to the right of the word "Duplex" (if connected in duplex mode)
and a message as follows:
10. Continue to move the joystick until the Vicon Surveyor screen (above) is displayed. The connection is
complete.
XX134-22-00 Direct Control •5

Using the Vicon Surveyor Direct Control Program
With the camera dome and computer communicating, the dome can now be operated using the panel controls in
the software. The following is a description of all controls:
Comm Settings: This section allows you to select the Receiver to control, select the PC’s RS-232 Communica-
tion Port and the Baud Rate to communicate with the camera dome.
a) Receiver – If the installation has a number of cameras connected on an RS-422 loop, enter the
number of the specific camera that is to be tested. If a number of cameras are to be tested, simply
change the number and press the Connect button to send commands to the new selection.
b) Comm Port – This refers to the RS-232 Serial Port, usually found on the back of the PC. For most
PCs and Laptops, use Comm Port 1.
c) Baud Rate – By default, 4800 baud is fine. However, if you desire to test the Receiver and installation
at higher baud rates, select 9600 or 19200 baud. After changing the Baud Rate, press the Connect
button to apply the new setting.
Connect: This button initiates the communication between the Direct Control program and the selected receiver.
When the Connect button is pressed, it checks if the PC Comm Port; if it’s valid and unused, it will open a sim-
plex or duplex connection between the PC and the selected receiver. The progress bar shows the connection
activity.
Pan and Tilt: By selecting the red button of the simulated joystick and moving it within the black box, the camera
can be adjusted up, down, left and right in the same orientation as the displayed screen.
Preset Mode: Presets allow setup of, and access to, the camera dome features. To program certain features or
preset positions, the Program Mode option must be selected. To recall these features or preset positions, the
Run Mode option must be selected. Preset functions can represent a variety of features. To access a preset,
perform the following routine:
1. Select the Program or Run Mode option.
2. Select the Preset # right arrow and click on one of the 99 preset values. It will display in the box.
3. Select the PP Enter button. The preset has been programmed or solved.
6 •XX134-22-00 Direct Control

The table on the left shows preset numbers and their functions,
which are described in detail below. There are no commands asso-
ciated with certain presets. These have been reserved for future use
or advanced programming and diagnostic tools. These presets per-
tain to Vicon mode only.
PRESET
NUMBER FUNCTION
1 to 79 Preset positions
80 to 87 Tour sequences
88 to 89 Autotour sequences
90 Pan/Tilt lockout
93 Set response line polarity
94 Enter Dome menu system
95 Auto-Baud Detect feature
96 Program Dome sectors
97 Initiate Dome reset
98 Autopan limits
99 Set manual pan limits
Preset 1-79 (Preset Positions) —When a preset number is stored,
the current position of the camera is written into that preset memory
location. When the number is recalled, the camera moves to the
stored position. This is called solving a preset.
Presets are usually solved at the maximum speed, typically less
than 1 second; if a preset is assigned to a tour or salvo, the preset
recall speed is programmable. Camera focus is also stored as part
of the preset; if the image is out of focus when the preset is stored,
it will be out of focus when the preset is solved, even if autofocus is
enabled.
When a preset is recalled, the corresponding preset title is displayed on the screen (when preset titles have been
enabled). If the operator attempts to recall a preset number that has not been stored, the message “Preset Not
Stored” appears on the screen for a short period and the camera position does not change. Pressing any com-
mand key or moving the joystick will also remove the message.
Preset 80-87 (Tour Sequences) — A tour is a series of up to 32 events or actions.Accessing the “Program
Tour” option will bring up an on-screen menu that allows programming of each tour event. This is described in
greater detail in the Preset/Tour Handling menu section. Recalling a tour initiates the sequence of events that
corresponds to that tour number. A longer sequence of actions can be prepared by chaining 2 or more tours to-
gether.
Preset 88-89 (Autotour Sequences) — An Autotour is a series of up to 256 pan, tilt and zoom actions.Access-
ing the “Program Autotour” option will bring up an on-screen menu which allows dynamic programming of each
autotour event. This is described in greater detail in the Preset/Tour Handling menu section.
Preset 90 (Pan/Tilt Lockout) — Storing preset 90 will disable joystick control of that dome, and the message
Pan/Tilt Disabled will momentarily appear on the screen. Any time the joystick is moved, the message will reap-
pear. To restore pan/tilt operation, preset 90 must be stored again.
This feature prevents the camera dome’s position from being tampered with. This allows the dome to respond
only to preset positions, eliminating the operator’s ability to manually position the dome. It also allows a unit to be
temporarily locked onto a subject for recording or monitoring specific activity. Recalling preset 90 has no effect.
The camera dome retains its capability of zoom, focus and iris control while locked.
Preset 93 (Set Response Line Polarity) (Duplex Only) — The camera dome checks for polarity of the command
in lines through the auto baud detect feature. The baud detect cycles through 4800+/4800-/9600+/9600-
/19200+/19200-, indicating not only the baud rate it is searching for but also the polarity that the receive lines are
set to. When preset 93 is selected, the dome will periodically cycle the polarity of the COMM IN+ and COMM IN-
lines. During the cycling, pan the joystick and press either the A/I or A/P key. As soon as one of the respective
lights illuminates, press the AUX2 key. This locks in the correct polarity for operation.
Preset 94 (Enter Dome Menu System) — Many camera dome features are accessed through a series of on-
screen menus. These are described in the following programming menu sections and accessed by storing preset
94 (in Vicon mode). A Menu Flow Chart is included at the back of this manual. Recalling preset 94 has no effect.
For convenience, when performing programming, pressing the L-SPD (lens speed) button will display a black
background.
Preset 95 (Auto-Baud Detect Feature) — Auto-baud detect functions after installing defaults, using preset 95,
when switching Vicoax to NOVA (VPS) and upon power-up when the dome sees an incorrect baud rate from key-
pad or control system. It allows the camera dome to detect a new baud rate from the host controller without hav-
ing to fully reboot the camera dome and lose all stored configuration parameters. Be sure that auto home on
power up is disabled before executing this command. Symbols are used to display the status of the detection
process. The * symbol indicates that valid data at the correct baud rate has been received, the X symbol repre-
XX134-22-00 Direct Control •7

sents a framing error has been received and the - symbol indicates that no data has been received. Recalling
preset 95 has no effect.
Preset 96 (Program Dome Sectors) — The camera dome has the ability to divide its 360°field-of-view into sec-
tions or sectors. There may be up to 16 sectors and the boundaries for each are programmed for each individual
dome. An individual title may be programmed for each sector and video may be enabled or disabled. More infor-
mation on disabling sector video or “sector censoring” and titling may be found in the Camera Controller and
Source Titling menu sections.
Storing preset 96 will begin the sector programming process by establishing the left boundary for sector 1. Pan
the camera to the right and press the AP (autopan) key to set the right boundary for sector 1, which is also the left
boundary of sector 2. Continue panning the camera and pressing AP until all 16 boundaries have been pro-
grammed. If fewer than 16 sectors are required, press AP repeatedly at the right boundary of the last sector you
will be programming to use up all the boundary numbers and exit sector-programming mode.
When the camera is moved, the corresponding sector title is displayed on the screen (when sector titles have
been enabled). If the video is disabled for a given sector, a black screen with the words “sector censored” will ap-
pear when the camera enters that sector and video will be restored when the camera moves to a sector where
video is enabled. Sector programming can be aborted by issuing a preset recall; this will also erase any prior sec-
tor programming. Recalling preset 96 has no effect.
Preset 97 (Initiate Dome Reset) — Storing preset 97 resets all of the system software and performs the power-
on self-test. This is called a “soft reset” because no memory settings are affected. All user programmed options
such as titles and presets remain unchanged. Recalling preset 97 has no effect.
Preset 98 (Programming Autopan Limits) — When a camera dome is selected on a keyboard, pressing the AP
(autopan) key will start the camera in motion, panning at a predetermined speed.
•To change the speed — Press and hold the AP key while moving the joystick to the desired speed.
When the speed is correct, release the AP button and then the joystick. Each dome may have its own
autopan speed and pressing the autopan key will start the dome panning at the last speed selected for
that dome. (When using a Kollector DVR, shut off AP, move the slider to desired speed and press AP
again.) In continuous rotation only, the autopan command will cause the dome to reverse direction.
•To stop autopanning — Any other pan command will disable autopan. This includes pressing the AP key
again, panning the camera with the joystick, or recalling a preset.
•To set the autopan limits — When a continuous rotation dome is in autopan, it will rotate in a full circle
until autopan is disabled. When an application, such as a wall-mounted camera on a building, does not
require continuous rotation, limits are set to define the left and right boundaries. Storing preset 98 will
bring up a series of prompts to set the left and right autopan limits with the AUX 2 and AUX 3 keys. When
the autopan limits are set and the camera is placed into autopan it will pan until it reaches a limit. It will
then reverse direction until it reaches the opposite limit, repeating this cycle indefinitely.
•To clear the autopan limits — Store preset 98. Press AUX 2 and AUX 3 without panning to set the auto-
pan limits to the same position. By recording both limits on the same point they will both be deleted. The
dome will now rotate continuously when placed in autopan mode until new limits are programmed.
Recalling presets 98 has no effect.
Preset 99 (Set Manual Pan Limits) — Storing preset 99 will bring up a series of prompts to set the left and right
manual pan limits with the AUX 2 and AUX 3 keys. After these are set, the physical range between these limits is
the valid range. The camera dome will not move outside these limits. Setting pan limits also sets AP limits if the
AP limits are outside the of the pan limits. The only exceptions are prerecorded tours and previously stored pre-
sets. To clear the pan limits, press AUX 2 and AUX 3 without panning.
8 •XX134-22-00 Direct Control

Send Commands: This list of commands provides instant control of zoom, focus, iris, auto pan, auxiliary
functions and lens speed. When the text for a particular function is selected with the mouse, the function is
performed and the indicator to the right will blink. They operate as follows:
Zoom Out When selected, the camera lens will display a closer image of the current scene.
Zoom In When selected, the camera lens will display a farther image of the current scene.
Focus Near When selected, the camera lens will attempt to display closer objects clear.
Focus Far When selected, the camera lens will attempt to display farther objects clear.
Iris Open When selected, the camera lens will display a brighter image.
Iris Close When selected, the camera lens will display a darker image.
Aux (1 - 6) When selected, a pre-established external function will be triggered momentarily or indefinitely.
Lens Speed When selected, the camera lens speed toggles from Low, Medium and High. Indication is
displayed on the Analog Monitor when titles are enabled.
Absolute Positioning Information (Cohu mode only) Next to the Pan and Tilt label the labels P (for Pan) T (for
Tilt) and Z (for Zoom) show absolute positioning information from the dome.
Note: There needs to be a duplex connection between the PC and the dome to receive this information.
Troubleshooting:
RS-232 to RS-422 Protocol Converter - It is very important that the RS-232 to RS-422 adapter be wired
correctly. The RS-232 side MUST be connected to the PC and the RS-422 side goes to the camera dome. This
does not pertain to the SVFT-PRS-RS232 version.
Serial (COM) Port – If you suspect that the computer serial port is not working correctly, run a software diagnos-
tic or connect another device (such as a modem) to see if it is indeed operational. If it continues to fail, try using
an alternate serial port.
Camera Dome – When the camera dome is powered on, it must display the series of boot screens
previously displayed. If not, there is a serious problem; contact Vicon Tech Support for assistance. If the dome
boots normally and does not connect, verify that the wiring from the terminal block or box is correct. Wiring is the
most common cause of failed camera dome communication.
Computer – If the computer is not running the program properly, consult the computer manufacturer for
assistance.
XX134-22-00 Direct Control •9

Vicon Industries Inc.
Corporate Headquarters
89 Arkay Drive
Hauppauge, New York 11788
631-952-CCTV (2288) 800-645-9116
Fax: 631-951-CCTV (2288)
Vicon Europe
Headquarters
Brunel Way
Fareham, PO15 5TX
United Kingdom
[phone]
Fax: [phone]
Brussels Office
Planet II - Unit E
Leuvensesteenweg 542
B-1930 Zaventem
Belgium
322 712 8780
Fax: [phone]
Vicon China
Unit 5, 17/F, Metropole Square
2 On Yiu Street, Shatin
New Territories,
Hong Kong
(852) 2145-7118
Fax: [phone]
Internet Address: www.vicon-cctv.com