Basler L301kc - BFi OPTiLAS

NEWSletter
The Vision Components Magazine by Basler Vision Technologies
Fastest tri-linear color line scan camera
Basler L301kc
Page 3
New Camera Configuration Tool
CCT+
Page 4
Does size matter?
Pixel Size
Page 5
Basler A101fc
IEEE 1394
Area Scan
Cameras
Positioning
System
Basler L104b
Camera Link
Compatible
Line Scan
Camera
PC 1
NIC
PC 2
NIC
I/0
Board
Camera Link
Frame Grabber
IEEE 1394
Adapter Board
Image
Processing
Data
Base
Image
Processing
IEEE 1394 or Camera Link
An Application Example
Page 8
No. 5

Dr. Ralf S. Pulz
Business Segment Manager
Vision Components
2
Comment
Welcome to the second half of 2002 and the newest
issue of our VC Newsletter – No. 5! This newsletter
includes information on the following topics:
The introduction of the Basler L301kc.
This camera has been designed to provide the
ultimate in color line scan performance at a very
attractive price. Please review page 3 for more
information.
Re-launch of the Camera Configuration Tool.
The revised configuration tool is called CCT+.
Following a thorough requirements analysis, we
decided to completely redesign the CCT and to
implement many exciting new handling features.
Details about the new CCT+ can be found on
page 4.
IEEE 1394 vs. Camera Link interface technology.
There are two new interface technologies for
industrial digital cameras on the market, IEEE 1394
(FireWire ® ) and Camera Link. Those of you who
spent a long time investigating which interface
technology might best suit your applications, may
have found this to be a somewhat confusing topic.
The article on pages 8 through 10 will hopefully
clear up some of the confusion.
As announced in newsletter No. 4, we will begin
presenting some of our partners in each issue. This
time, you will find articles from Matrox Imaging,
Neuro Check, and Jos. Schneider Optische Werke
GmbH on pages 6 and 7.
In earlier issues, we covered news from the European
and US regions. In this issue, a general survey about
Asia is included. New distributors, sales support,
and application support will enhance our presence
in the Asia Pacific region. More on page 11.
Last but not least, we have introduced a new section
called Technical Corner. Technical Corner is dedicated
to discussions on frequently asked questions from
our customers and partners. If you have any
suggestions, topics, etc., please let us know. This
issue’s topic will be pixel size.
While looking back on a successful first half of year
2002, the entire VC team wishes you much fun in
reading this issue of our newsletter and a profitable
second half of the year.
Sincerely yours,
Dr. Ralf S. Pulz

Basler Introduces the L301kc
Basler Vision Components (Basler-VC) has announced
the introduction of the L301kc, a tri-linear, color
line scan camera. The L301kc features a three-line
sensor with 2098 pixels per line. With a maximum
line rate of 9.2 kHz, the L301kc ranks as one of the
fastest tri-linear cameras.
The L301kc has been designed to provide the ultimate
in color line scan performance at a very attractive
price. Because of its lower level of complexity, the
L301kc is much more affordable than the typical
three-sensor color line scan camera. And unlike
three-sensor cameras, the L301kc does not require
an expensive matched lens in order to obtain the
best possible image quality. The camera's simple
design also means that it is lightweight, a factor that
can be important in some design applications.
The L301kc uses
a three-line
sensor with one
line used to
capture red color
information, one
line used to
capture green
color information,
and one line used to capture blue color information.
Because there is a separation between the lines in
the camera, each line will capture a given area on
the object passing the camera at a different time.
This means that to get full color information for a
given area on the object, the data from three different
line captures must be combined. This process is
commonly called "spatial correction". With earlier
versions of color line scan cameras, the process of
storing and combining the data from different line
captures was performed on the frame grabber. The
L301kc, however, includes an integrated spatial
correction feature that stores and combines line
captures right in the camera. And the L301kc includes
a set of adjustable parameters that allows the user
to control exactly how the spatial correction task
will be performed. When the L301kc is combined
with a position encoder, accurate color reproduction
is easy to achieve.
The "k" designation indicates that the camera is fully
compliant with the new Camera Link standard.
Camera Link is an interface standard that was
developed by a group of camera and frame grabber
manufacturers. Since the L301kc is fully Camera Link
compatible, it can be easily integrated with a Camera
Link compatible frame grabber thus lowering system
design time and system cost. A Basler Interface
Converter for k type cameras (k-BIC) is also available.
The k-BIC can be used to convert the output of the
camera to standard RS-644 LVDS.
The L301kc incorporates the features most popular
with Basler customers including: asynchronous image
triggering, electronic exposure control, super compact
size, a precision housing, and built-in test capabilities
for trouble shooting. The camera also includes
Camera Link's new high-speed RS-644 serial
communication capability that can be used for online
parameter setting. A Windows® based Camera
Configuration Tool will be available for the L301kc
which allows the user to change camera settings
with ease. The L301kc has been externally certified
for CE and FCC compliance. Full camera
documentation is available.
Series production of the L301kc began in July 2002.
Author: Anthony Pieri, Technical and Marketing
Communications Specialist
Response Number 01
Basler L301kc _ fastest
tri-linear color line scan
camera with Camera
Link interface
Scan direction
3

Fig. 1: The CCT+ user interface
4
Re-launch of the Camera Configuration Tool
Executive Summary
Innovative new CCT+ for use with our newer
cameras
Available for the A102k, A202k, L301kc, and A501k;
more to come
Camera auto-identification
Supports all camera link frame grabbers
Immediate response to setting changes
Resizable window
Categories to enhance usability
Communications trace for experienced users
Interdependencies between features are
explicitly shown
As you may know, all Basler cameras can be fully
configured via a serial interface. You are also probably
aware that users can easily setup their cameras with
Basler’s popular Camera Configuration Tool (CCT).
Since the first release of this tool back in 1997,
Basler cameras have become more and more featurerich.
As a result, the need arose for a complete CCT
redesign. The new configuration tool is called the
CCT+ and it is available from our website. 1 The
CCT+ currently works with the Basler A102k, A202k,
L301kc, and A501k Camera Link cameras.
Using the CCT+
The CCT+ supports all frame grabbers compliant
with the Camera Link standard. 2 In addition, cameras
can be accessed using a k-BIC and one of the PC’s
standard COM ports. Just start the CCT+ and select
the appropriate port from a drop down list (see fig. 1).
To speed things up, you can place a link on the
desktop and supply the port name via command
line.
The CCT+ will automatically identify the camera
and show a list of all camera parameters with their
current settings (see fig. 1). The list is grouped by
categories to simplify navigation. The window is
fully sizable so you can enlarge it for overview and
shrink it if you want to access only a few properties.
The window will remember its last settings.
There are three types of settings in the list of
parameters: enumerable settings, such as Binning,
which are exposed via a drop-down box, read-only
settings which are printed in gray, and scalar settings,
such as Frame Rate, for which a slider is blended in
at the bottom of the window. For some parameters,
for example Exposure Time, the slider is logarithmic
to give constant relative sensitivity over the whole
range of values. To change a setting incrementally,
either use the cursor keys or type in the setting
directly.
In contrast to the old CCT, the new CCT+
immediately sends any parameter changes to the
camera. This means that dragging the Exposure Time
slider while showing a live image will change the
appearance of the image instantly. This is a great
feature often missed with the older CCT, but it
comes with a small drawback: to avoid inconsistent
parameter sets, the bounds of each parameter must
be restricted. For example, the sum of the area of
interest (AOI) Starting Column plus the AOI Width
must not be greater than the number of horizontal
pixels in the sensor array. As a result, the maximum
setting of the AOI Width depends on the AOI Starting
Column and vice versa. To expose these dependencies
to the user, the CCT+ shows a yellow mark on any
other feature that depends on the currently selected
parameter. In addition, a textual explanation of the
restrictions is displayed in the help window. This
feature will help camera users to understand the
underlying concepts of the camera.
Extended features
The set of parameters that a camera is currently
using (called the work set) can be stored into and
loaded from a file. This feature is useful when cloning
camera settings. Also, the work set can be stored in
one of 15 available user sets and users can define
which user set will be loaded when the camera is
powered up.
To speed up and simplify support, a camera register
dump and any error message the CCT+ might show
can be stored in a file and sent to Basler by email.
Expert users who want to program the camera
themselves should look over the Communication
Trace window. In this window, the commands sent
to the camera are listed together with the contents
of the binary protocol used by the tool.
Because the CCT+ only blocks the communication
port during transactions, 3 it can be used in parallel
with other programs accessing the camera, for
example, frame grabber viewer programs. You can

configure the CCT+ to refresh the display repeatedly
to see if other programs are changing camera settings
in the background. Of course, you can also run as
many instances of the CCT+ in parallel as you like
and you can mix the new CCT+ with the classic
CCT.
What to do next
Download the new CCT+ from our website and
give it a try. It is written in Java and comes with an
optional Java Virtual Machine so it will run on any
Win32 machine without problems.
There is a demo mode for each camera available,
so if you want to have a look at how certain camera
features are set before you actually get a camera
for evaluation, the CCT+ is a great place to start.
Technical Corner
Pixel Size – Does It Matter?
Today's marketplace offers a wide variety of sensors
with many different sizes, resolutions, speeds, and
sensitivities. In this article, we outline some of the
effects of pixel size.
Effects on sensor size
A higher pixel size will, of course, result in a larger
sensor. With larger sensors, lens effects such as
shading and distortion may be added to the image.
Effects on the fill factor
For area scan sensors with CMOS and interline
transfer technology, either some ”blind” electronic
devices or some vertical shift registers must be
placed next to the light sensitive areas on the sensor.
The fill factor (ratio of sensitive area to total area)
decreases as the pixels become smaller. Due to this,
you may find micro lenses on sensors with small
pixels. Micro lenses increase the effective fill factor
through optical means.
Effects on MTF
MTF is determined by a combination of sensor and
optics. When using a Basler camera, a poor quality
lens can be a major limitation. This is especially true
in the region below a 7 µm pixel size where a good
1 Download the CCT+ from the product range
section (e.g., A100 Series) of our website at
www.basler-vc.com.
2 The frame grabber driver needs to supply a
CLSER***.DLL as described in appendix B of the
Specifications of the Camera Link Interface
Standard for Digital Cameras and Frame Grabbers
(October 2000).
3 This is compliant with the Camera Link Serial
Software Enhancements that will be included in
the upcoming new version of the Camera Link
standard.
Author: Dr. Friedrich Dierks, Software
Development Manager VC-D
Response Number 02
quality lens is needed to resolve the image data to
the pixels. It's clear that to achieve the best
performance with any Basler camera, you should
use high quality lenses.
Effects on sensitivity and S/N ratio
Opinions on this subject differ, but experienced
engineers say, "Yes, pixel size does matter! " With
smaller pixels, the lens will focus slightly less light
on the pixels. With less sensitivity, the S/N ratio
trends toward worse behavior, but this effect is
minimal. For example, the difference in S/N ratio
between 10 µm and 14 µm pixels will only be about
20%.
To sum it up
In many respects, pixel size does matter. Bigger pixels
have their advantages but they can also cause
problems. In the end, we come to the conclusion
that the quality of the entire camera must be
considered - that's why Basler is here.
Author: Ingo Lewerendt, Product Manager
Vision Components
The CCT+ development team
(from left to right): Margret
Albrecht, Alexander Happe
5

6
Partner Page
No More Bottlenecks with PCI-X
PCI-X is a high-performance enhancement to the
conventional PCI bus specification. This technology,
with its increased performance, addresses the
demanding I/O requirements for high-bandwidth
applications like Gigabit Ethernet and high-speed
CameraLink cameras. Version 1.0 of PCI-X specifies
a 64-bit connection at speeds of 66, 100 or 133 MHz,
resulting in a peak bandwidth of 528, 800 or 1064
Megabytes per second, respectively.
Equally important, PCI-X provides backward
compatibility by allowing devices to operate at
conventional PCI frequencies and modes. PCI-X
peripheral cards can operate in a conventional PCI
slot, although only at PCI rates and may require a
3.3 V conventional PCI slot. Similarly, a PCI peripheral
card with a 3.3 V or universal card edge connector
can operate in a PCI-X slot, however the bus clock
will remain at a frequency acceptable to the PCI
card.
However, as with many technologies, there is a tradeoff.
With PCI-X, speed is sacrificed as the number
NeuroCheck Implements
Basler IEEE 1394 Cameras
NeuroCheck GmbH, a medium-sized German
company, develops innovative systems for optical
quality control in production processes. Implemented
in more than 2,500 applications, NeuroCheck’s
software package has proven high performance in
automating visual inspection processes worldwide.
The company's application department develops
turnkey system solutions for optical inspection of
all kinds of products.
Based on years of positive experience with Basler
cameras, NeuroCheck decided early this year to
of slots per bus segment increases. A 66 MHz
operation allows a maximum of four slots per
segment (compared with a maximum of two slots
for 66 MHz conventional PCI). A 100 MHz operation
allows a maximum two slots per segment, while a
133 MHz operation allows a maximum of one slot
per segment.
Server and workstation class systems and
motherboards are starting to appear with PCI-X
equipped core logic chipsets such as the
ServerWorks Grand Champion series, Intel®
E7500 and the soon-to-arrive AMD-8000 series.
The ePCI-X specification from the PCI Industrial
Computer Manufacturers Group (PICMG) will pave
the way for Industrial PCs with PCI-X slots.
And stay tuned as Matrox Imaging will soon be
announcing an exciting new generation of frame
grabbers and vision processors that take advantage
of PCI-X technology!
Author: Pierantonio Boriero, Product Line Manager
for Matrox Imaging
support the new Basler IEEE 1394 cameras in their
version NC5.1 software.
Under Windows 2000 and Windows XP, version
NC5.1 supports all 1394 cameras identified by the
Basler BCAM 1394 driver. In theory, an unlimited
number of different color and monochrome cameras
can be operated simultaneously. In the NeuroCheck
Device Manager, the identified cameras are listed in
a tree view. For each device, the user can easily set
the corresponding parameters in the Properties
dialog. In addition to the standard camera settings

defined in the DCAM standard, Basler specific
functions such as triggering and test images are easy
to configure. All settings can be included in an export
file and stored in an archive for documentation
purposes.
Since the new 1394 technology eliminates the need
for fine-tuning the camera/framegrabber combination,
integration in NeuroCheck is very simple.
NeuroCheck communicates directly with the camera,
Schneider Kreuznach has introduced two new lenses
to its well-established Macro System family:
Componon-S 5.6/100 and Macro Symmar 5.6/80.
Users benefit from the increased focal length of 28
to 100 mm. And with the Macro Symmar 5.6/80, a
lens is now available that is optimized for a 1:1
magnification ratio.
The lenses of the Macro System are renowned for
their outstanding imaging performance. Due to their
large image circle diameter, they can be combined
with even comparatively large CCD matrix and line
scan sensors of up to 42 mm. Larger sensor sizes
can be supported using the lenses of the Unifoc
58/76 system.
The Macro System is universally applicable. Its
mechanical stability makes it an ideal choice for
industrial applications. Using extension tubes in
different sizes from 6 to 75 mm, these lenses can
it identifies the camera type, and it reads out the
corresponding resolution and setting options. If a
camera is removed during runtime, the user receives
a message and the current checking cycle is stopped
immediately. This functionality represents an intelligent
way of using the operating system's plug & play
mechanism in favor of increased process reliability.
Compared to traditional solutions, NeuroCheck
expects 1394 technology to considerably reduce
the demand for technical support.
Author: Till Pleyer, Marketing NeuroCheck
Schneider Introduces New Macro
Lenses for Image Processing
easily be adapted to the user's specific imaging task.
For focusing, the Unifoc 12 or 6 helical mounts are
used. The large number of camera adapters available,
such as C-Mount, Nikon-Bayonet, and many others,
ensure compatibility with almost any camera type.
The uniform mechanical interface consists of three
grub screws engaging into a groove. This ensures a
solid and permanent connection while offering
multiple combination options of the individual
components. It is even possible to mount the lens
in the reverse position for enlarged imaging.
For further information about the Macro Lenses,
please visit the Schneider web site at
www.schneiderkreuznach.com/industrie
optik_e/makro/makro.htm.
Author: Joerg Blaetz, Vertrieb/Sales
Industrial Optics, Jos. Schneider
Optische Werke GmbH
Adjusting the camera properties in
the NeuroCheck Device Manager
7

8
IEEE 1394 or Camera Link –
Which One Do I Want?
If you've been to a machine vision trade show lately
or if you've looked through any industry related
publication, you know that two new interfaces for
industrial digital cameras were recently introduced.
The new interfaces, Camera Link TM and IEEE 1394
(also known as FireWire ® ) appeared amid much
fanfare and with long lists of supposed advantages
to camera users. But even if you have extensive
experience with digital cameras, the competing claims
and highly technical explanations for each interface
may easily have left you confused about whether
either interface is worth considering in your current
or your future applications.
In this article, we will clear up some of the confusion
by looking at a real world decision-making process
that revolved around the Camera Link and the IEEE
1394 interfaces. Stan Shmia, an applications engineer
for Basler Vision Technologies, recently worked with
International Cybernetics and helped them work
through their questions about the two interfaces
and to decide what was appropriate for their
application. Stan's experience with Cybernetics
provides some insights that you might find useful.
Before we go further, you may want to look over
Table 1. It outlines some of the basic characteristics
of the IEEE 1394 and Camera Link interfaces. If you
would like to become even more familiar with the
technical details of the Camera Link or IEEE 1394
interfaces, a key word web search will yield a wealth
of information.
The Cybernetics application
International Cybernetics
develops and manufactures
a variety of equipment
used to examine and
profile highways. Currently,
they are working on a new
piece of equipment that
will employ two truck
mounted camera systems
to examine the condition
of highway striping and
overhead signs (see Fig. 1).
As the truck moves along
a highway, camera system
one uses a high speed line
scan camera to capture
images of the highway striping. Camera system two
uses two medium resolution area scan cameras to
capture images of overhead signs. Proprietary
software is used to evaluate the condition of the
striping and the signs and a positioning system is
used to track the location of the truck on the
highway. Condition and location information are
logged in a database (see Fig. 2). Potential customers
for this equipment include state and local highway
departments who will use the information from the
database to schedule highway maintenance.
For camera system one, an extremely high speed
line scan camera is required. Stan noted that trying
to meet this requirement reveals some of the
limitations of the IEEE 1394 interface and highlights
some of Camera Link's strengths. Currently, the
specifications that govern IEEE 1394 cameras do not
define a line scan camera, so no IEEE 1394 line scan
cameras are available. Also, the IEEE 1394 bus has
a relatively low data rate; it can handle approximately
32 MBytes of image data per second. On the other
hand, Camera Link line scan cameras are readily
available. And with a potential image data rate of up
to approximately 650 MBytes per second, Camera
Link can easily handle the fastest line scan cameras
currently available.
Another interesting consideration is that the standard
electrical interface on Camera Link cameras and
frame grabbers would allow the Cybernetics
engineers to test cameras from several different
manufacturers with a minimum of effort. In the past,
each manufacturer used different connectors, different
cables, and different pin layouts on their products.
This resulted in major headaches for engineers who
wanted to test products from different manufacturers
head to head. The standard connectors and cabling
associated with Camera Link make it much easier
to try different cameras during a development effort.
Keep in mind, however, that you will still need to
obtain a different frame grabber configuration file
for each different camera that you test.
For camera system one, Stan pointed to the Camera
Link cables as a major advantage over the cables used
with older products. Camera Link cables are thinner,
are much more flexible, and are more robust. In the
Cybernetics application where harsh conditions,
vibration, and cable routings with tight curves are all
present, the Camera Link cables are an obvious plus.

Stan's recommendation for camera system one was
a Basler L104b 2k monochrome line scan camera.
The L104b is Camera Link compatible and has a
29.2 kHz line rate. At this line rate, the camera can
capture high-resolution images of the highway striping
even when the Cybernetics vehicle is traveling at
highway speeds.
Camera system number two posed a different set
of challenges. The Cybernetics engineers specified
that they needed two medium-resolution area scan
cameras and that the cameras must connect to a
single computer. Since the overhead signs these
cameras will be imaging remain in view for a relatively
long period of time, high frame rates are not required.
Also, since lighting conditions can change dramatically
from moment to moment, the cameras must have
very fast re-parameterization capability. Stan
concluded that cameras using the IEEE 1394 interface
were well suited for this situation. Using an
inexpensive interface board, two cameras can easily
be connected to a single computer. In fact, the ability
to connect multiple cameras to a single bus at a
very low cost is an outstanding advantage of the
IEEE 1394 interface. Stan also pointed out that the
bi-directional nature of the IEEE 1394 bus allows
attached cameras to be re-parameterized before
each image acquisition with little or no effect on the
frame rate. Stan also noted that as with Camera
Link, the cables used with the IEEE 1394 interface
are very flexible and robust. The IEEE 1394 cables
have an additional advantage in that since they are
widely used in many video applications, they are
readily available and tend to be less expensive than
the cables used with Camera Link.
For system number two, Stan recommended using
two Basler A101fc IEEE 1394 color area scan cameras.
A101fc cameras have a resolution of 1300 x1030
pixels and a maximum 11.75 fps frame rate. At this
speed and resolution, they can provide high quality
images to the system’s overhead sign condition
analysis software. When these cameras operate at
full resolution and frame rate, they generate
approximately 15 MBytes of image data per second
per camera or a total of 30 MBytes for the two
cameras. This is within the maximum 32 MByte
capacity of the IEEE 1394 bus and means that the
two cameras can be attached to a single IEEE 1394
adapter board while operating at full resolution and
frame rate. Most adapter boards have
multiple IEEE 1394 ports thus allowing
the two A101fc cameras to be
connected directly to a single board.
Some adapter boards also have an
internal connection to the power supply
in the host PC. This connection allows
the board to supply sufficient power
to the two A101fc cameras via the IEEE
1394 cables. You should note that many
adapter boards draw their power from
the PCI bus and do not have a direct
connection to the host computer’s
power supply. In this case, the adapter
boards cannot supply sufficient power
to most cameras and an external IEEE
1394 powered hub must be used.
So in summation, Stan's recommendations for the
Cybernetics development project incorporate both
of the new interfaces and match the strengths of
each interface to the needs of the system. As a result,
Cybernetics will achieve superior performance at a
lower cost.
What about legacy systems?
As the discussion about the new Cybernetics system
progressed, the issue of legacy systems arose.
Cybernetics produced systems in the past that used
digital cameras with RS-644 format video output
and they must be able to maintain those legacy
systems. Their first concern was whether
manufacturers would discontinue production of
cameras with the older types of interface. Camera
manufacturers have a very large base of customers
who depend on the availability of cameras with the
current interfaces both for production of systems
they currently sell and as service replacements in
their installed base. For at least the foreseeable
future, all of the major manufacturers appear to be
keeping their RS-644 camera lines intact.
The Cybernetics engineers also wondered if there
might be any advantages to integrating cameras with
newer interfaces into their legacy systems. Camera
Link cameras generally have very high performance
and high data rates. In some cases, integrating these
cameras into legacy systems can significantly improve
system performance. Stan also pointed out that
many of the newer cameras include desirable features
Basler A101fc
IEEE 1394
Area Scan
Cameras
Positioning
System
Basler L104b
Camera Link
Compatible
Line Scan
Camera
PC 1
NIC
PC 2
NIC
I/0
Board
Camera Link
Frame Grabber
IEEE 1394
Adapter Board
Image
Processing
Data
Base
Image
Processing
9

IEEE 1394 or Camera
Link? A careful
application evaluation
is required
10
that are not available on older models. For example,
Stan described a "shading correction" feature, which
can give a significant boost to image quality and is
only available on newer Basler cameras. If you can
entice your customers with an upgrade that will
increase system performance and if you can price
the upgrade high enough to recover engineering
costs and an acceptable profit margin, it is worthwhile
to consider integrating the newer cameras in legacy
systems.
In some cases, it could be worthwhile
to consider using the newer cameras in
legacy systems because it can lower
production and service costs. For
example, if you have a system that uses
multiple area scan cameras connected
to a single PC, you may find that switching to IEEE
1394 based cameras with their ability to share a single
bus can significantly reduce your costs. You will also
find that some manufacturers offer devices that
convert the output of Camera Link cameras to an
Table 1: Comparison of IEEE 1394 and Camera Link
Maximum Cable Length
Cable
Connectors
Standard Camera
Operating Modes and
Features are Defined
4.5 meters
(up to 72 meters with repeaters)
Uses standard six conductor IEEE 1394 cables
widely available from a variety of manufacturers.
Four wires in the cable are used for image data
transmission, parameterization, and control
signals. Two wires in the cable are used for power.
Uses standard six pin IEEE 1394 connectors
widely available from a variety of manufacturers.
Yes. Several operating modes and standard
resolutions are defined. Many standard features
such as gain and brightness are also defined.
older RS-644 format. This allows Camera Link
Cameras to be easily integrated into some legacy
equipment and to be used as service replacements.
If you buy Camera Link cameras for both newly
designed equipment and for legacy equipment, you
may find that quantity discounts reduce your overall
costs.
A final concern voiced by Cybernetics was that the
code they have developed for use with RS-644 based
frame grabbers would require major revisions to
work with Camera Link frame grabbers. In general,
frame grabber manufacturers have been acutely
aware of this concern and they have been careful to
make Camera Link frame grabbers compatible with
existing software.
Note: Firewire is a registered trademark of Apple
Computer Inc. Camera Link is a trademark of Pulnix
America Inc.
Author: Anthony Pieri, Technical and Marketing
Communications Specialist
Response Number 03
Topology Bus
Point-to-point
Adapter Standard IEEE 1394 Adapter
Frame Grabber
Maximum Image ~ 32 MBytes/sec per adapter
Base Config: ~ 243 MBytes/sec
Data Bandwidth (Up to two adapters can be used
Medium Config: ~ 486 MBytes/sec
in a single PC)
Full Config: ~ 648 MBytes/sec
Parameter Port
~ 8 MBytes/sec
At least 9600 baud
~ 10 meters
Uses standard 26 conductor MDR cables readily
available from 3M and others.
One cable required for the base configuration
and two cables required for the medium or full
configuration.
All 26 wires in the cable are used for image data
transmission, parameterization, and control
signals.
A separate power cable specified by the camera
manufacturer is required.
Uses standard 26 pin MDR connectors readily
available from 3M and others.
A separate connector specified by the camera
manufacturer is required for power.
No. Camera Link is basically an electrical interface
specification.

News From the Regions
Our Asia Pacific Sales Channels
are Expanding
In order to better serve our customers in the Asia
Pacific region, we are expanding our sales channels
in the area. New distributors have been added in
China and Japan and the staff of our Singapore office
has been increased.
New distributors
In China, Beijing Lingzhi brings nearly a decade of
vision system experience to the market. They have
been our unofficial partner in China for some time
and have now joined Basler as an authorized
distributor.
Beijing Da Heng Image Vision Company is a new
distributor for Basler. The company was founded in
1995 and they are a subsidiary of the China Da Heng
Group. They specialize in vision applications for the
medical and industrial markets.
Basler’s Asia Pacific Sales Network
Beijing Da Heng Image Vision Co. Ltd.
Phone: +86 10 6254 2059
Fax: +86 10 6254 2058
Email: sales@daheng-image.com
Contact: Mr.Yang Shao Rong
Post: No. A2, South 4th Street
Zhong Guan Cun
Beijing 100080 China
Web: www.daheng-image.com
Beijing Lingzhi Image Technology Corp.
Phone: +86 10 6257 6237
Fax: +86 10 6252 2629
Email: guanqunli@lzimage.com.cn
Contact: Mr. Guan QunLi
Post: No. Jia 331
Zhong Guan Cun Hai Dian District
Beijing 100080 China
Web: www.lzimage.com.cn
DAT System Corporation
Phone: +82 2 402 1854
Fax: +82 2 402 1853
Email: cho0325@chollian.net
Contact: Mr. Cho Hyun-ki
Post: Yungsun Bldg. #302, 108-8
Garak-Dong, Songpa-Ku
Seoul 138-60 Korea
Web: www.datsys.co.kr
In Japan, DHT has joined us as a new distributor.
DHT has over 10 years of experience dealing with
high technology products used for imaging processing
and industrial measurement applications.
Singapore office expands
A sales and applications assistant has been added to
Basler’s Singapore office to further enhance the
existing strong support given to our Asia Pacific
customers. Our goals are to provide better purchase
order processing and delivery monitoring and to
improve our ability to provide comprehensive, timely
application support.
To find representatives or distributors anywhere in
the world, please visit our web site:
www.basler-vc.com.
Author: Anthony Pieri, Technical and Marketing
Communications Specialist
Chong Yoon Foo, Sales Manager Asia Pacific
DHT Corporation
Phone: +81 44 455 0251
Fax: +81 44 434 3679
Email: rin@dht.co.jp
Contact: Mr. Gakuyoshi Rin
Post: 1-636-4 Maruko-Dori, Nakahara-ku,
Kawasaki City, Kanagawam Pref, 211-0006
Japan
Web: www.dht.co.jp
Jastam Corporation
Phone: +81 3 3558-2411
Fax: +81 3 3558-1557
Email: sales@jatsam.co.jp
Contact: Mr. Tamio Mori
Post: Wakoh Bldg., 3-7-30, Azusawa
Itbashi-ku, Tokyo, 174
Japan
Web: www.jastam.co.jp
Total Turnkey Solutions
Phone: +61 2 9979 5643
Fax: +61 2 9979 9573
EMail: sales@turnkey-solutions.com.au
Post: Bungan House, 1st Floor, No. 1
Bungan Lane
Mona Vale NSW 2103
Australia
Web: www.turnkey-solutions.com.au
Basler Asia Pte. Ltd.
Phone: +65 6425 0472
Fax: +65 6425 0473
EMail:
vc.sales.asia@baslerweb.com
Post: Basler Asia Pte. Ltd
25 International Business Park
#02-06 German Center
Singapore 609916
Web: www.basler-vc.com
New distributors, sales
support, and application
support will enhance
our presence in the
Asia Pacific region
11