(Solved)Help identifying connector type / PCI card model

(Solved)Help identifying connector type / PCI card model
Posted by sam1275 on 19 Mar, 2015 17:24
Hello everyone, I got a Cascade 512F Camera recently. This is the PDF: http://www.photometrics.com/support/pdfs/manuals/CascadeManual.pdf
But it doesn't include any accessory, I already managed to get a Lens and power supply for it after read a lot on the internet. Now I have a real problem with the DATA I/O, in the PDF it just said "DATA link" and "connect to a PCI card", WTF...
I already sent support request to the manufacture but no reply till now.
OK... At least there is a picture of the connector on page 36, and a small picture of the PCI card on page 3, could anyone figure out what connector type and/or PCI card model is it? Thank you!

PS. The power connector also confused me now, it said "5 pin lemo connector" and even give the definition of the pins, but I still cannot determine which type is it. According to http://www.lemo.com/en/products , every type of connectors can have variable pins...

OK, they finally answered me:
For Cascade 512F camera running under Windows XP/32 we recommended to be used PCI-LVDS-CARD(part number), currently unavailable on stock.
So I searched and found http://www.photometrics.com/products/datasheets/PCI-Express-LVDS-Interface-Card-Datasheet.pdf , it is not the PCI version, but seems to be a PCIE replacement. The nearest card on ebay is http://www.ebay.com/itm/Noritsu-PCI-LVDS-Conversion-PCB-P-N-J390343-00-Part-for-30xx-33xx-series-USED-/181527724606? , but this have 26 pins, not 20 pins...

I called then again and they send me the part number:
Here is the quote on the LVDS camera communication cable:
Part Number: 37-071-001
Description: CBL;DATA/PWR;MDR-20
Qty: 1
Price: $150.00 USD

Quote for the Power supply:
Part Number: 07-026-008
Description: ROHS;PWR SUPPLY;12V150W;DESKTOP W/Switch
Qty: 1
Price: $400.00 USD

Quote for the PCIe LVDS card:
The new Photometrics PCI-Express LVDS interface card will provide 64-bit support for current Photometrics LVDS-based cameras. See attached PCIe LVDS card datasheet.
Here is the link for the Photometrics computer recommendations document.
Note: you will need to connect power from PC power supply to PCIe card. Card has an IDE connector for power connection. Y- Cable and/or sata to IDE adaptor may be required. See attached picture.
You will also need the new PVCAM camera driver, PVCAM 2.9.3 or higher available on our website for free download and use: http://www.photometrics.com/support/downloads/

Part Number: PCIE-CARD-LVDS
Description: PCI-Express LVDS card for Photometrics cameras.
Price: $1600.00 USD each
They are too expensive... how can I get cheaper ones? Used are OK as long as they works.

#1 Reply
Posted by Chipmunk on 19 Mar, 2015 17:42
Page 8 of the linked manual seems to suggest a proprietary protocol on a (fairly standard) 26pin HD D-sub connector ("26 pin D connector" will find several suppliers on a search). The PCI card evidently is *required*, I can't help with the PCI card unfortunately but I suspect the detail given in the manual will let more technical people on this here forum work it out

#2 Reply
Posted by sam1275 on 19 Mar, 2015 17:51
Quote from: Chipmunk on 19 Mar, 2015 17:42
Page 8 of the linked manual seems to suggest a proprietary protocol on a (fairly standard) 26pin HD D-sub connector ("26 pin D connector" will find several suppliers on a search). The PCI card evidently is *required*, I can't help with the PCI card unfortunately but I suspect the detail given in the manual will let more technical people on this here forum work it out
Thank you, but do you mean page 9? And you may misunderstood me, I mean the "DATA connector: 20-pin, high-density connector for data transfer."
For the "I/O connector: DB26", the PDF even told me how to use it per pin, but that is not the main data port, I want to get video out, from the "DATA connector".

#3 Reply
Posted by Chipmunk on 19 Mar, 2015 18:05
Mea culpa, yes... sorry. That data connector looks like a micro centronics 20 pin (http://www.amamax.com/6fodfpmice201.html ) which according to that link is used for DVI... so it maybe a standard video signal!

#4 Reply
Posted by sam1275 on 19 Mar, 2015 18:14
Quote from: Chipmunk on 19 Mar, 2015 18:05
Mea culpa, yes... sorry. That data connector looks like a micro centronics 20 pin (http://www.amamax.com/6fodfpmice201.html ) which according to that link is used for DVI... so it maybe a standard video signal!
Thank you! I hope it is just a standard signal too, but I think it might not. The PDF described it should be used with a software, which can control the camera, a DVI cannot send back control command I think.

#5 Reply
Posted by Evil Lurker on 19 Mar, 2015 18:57
Quote from: sam1275 on 19 Mar, 2015 18:14
Quote from: Chipmunk on 19 Mar, 2015 18:05
Mea culpa, yes... sorry. That data connector looks like a micro centronics 20 pin (http://www.amamax.com/6fodfpmice201.html ) which according to that link is used for DVI... so it maybe a standard video signal!
Thank you! I hope it is just a standard signal too, but I think it might not. The PDF described it should be used with a software, which can control the camera, a DVI cannot send back control command I think.

Actually I vaguely recall reading something about DVI ports being capable of bidirectional communication, but after looking at a few cards on Ebay it would appear that it is not a standard DVI port used in consumer products.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that after skimming over a few random snippets here and there about what is so special about the cameras the PCI card and everything about it is proprietary and separately they might as well be paperweights.

#6 Reply
Posted by sam1275 on 19 Mar, 2015 19:20
Quote from: Evil Lurker on 19 Mar, 2015 18:57
Quote from: sam1275 on 19 Mar, 2015 18:14
Quote from: Chipmunk on 19 Mar, 2015 18:05
Mea culpa, yes... sorry. That data connector looks like a micro centronics 20 pin (http://www.amamax.com/6fodfpmice201.html ) which according to that link is used for DVI... so it maybe a standard video signal!
Thank you! I hope it is just a standard signal too, but I think it might not. The PDF described it should be used with a software, which can control the camera, a DVI cannot send back control command I think.

Actually I vaguely recall reading something about DVI ports being capable of bidirectional communication, but after looking at a few cards on Ebay it would appear that it is not a standard DVI port used in consumer products.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that after skimming over a few random snippets here and there about what is so special about the cameras the PCI card and everything about it is proprietary and separately they might as well be paperweights.
Thanks, now I know it's a LVDS signal, so... any benefits?