For anyone wanting to connect to a TAU core without the FLIR VPC module, here is the information you need.
The FLIR VPC provides the following facilities to the user:
1. 5V power for camera from USB source or external 5V power supply. Current at boot is ~500mA dropping to a nominal 180mA
2. USB to Pseudo 'RS232' conversion, providing the required 3V3 levels for the core.
3. Analogue Composite video output NTSC or PAL depending upon core settings.
So what 'lives' inside the VPC ?
In truth I do not know as I have not seen one up close. I do know that it contains a CP2102 USB to UART converter that provides a 3V3 TTL output. The VPC may contain some power input protection, I would hope so for what it costs.
To build your own VPC you will need the following parts
1. Hirose DF12-50DP-0.5 header connector (costs less tha £1 from Farnell)
2. Some form of PCB on to which to attach Hirose connector. Pin pitch is 0.5mm
3. CP2102 converter PCB from ebay (costs less than £2.00)
4. Video connector of your choice
5. Micro USB cable
6. Micro USB Power supplu 5V, 1A max (optional)
The pins that must be connected to the core connector:
Pin Function
1 RS232 TX
2 RS232 RX
5 D Gnd for RS232
43 Video out High
44 Video out Low
47 0V
49 0V
48 5V
50 5V
Note that the TAU core provides a Hi-Z analogue video output that is intended to be terminated with 150 Ohms or 75 Ohms depending upon user requirements.
I would add a protection diode across the 5V supply rail and a series high speed fuse to offer some protection to revers polarity errors.
All this costs a few pounds and is pretty easy to build. The official VPC costs around £150 in the UK and has to be ordered.
The TAU GUI software for testing and configuration is free and available from the FLIR download page.
http://www.flir.com/cores/display/?id=51880The software comes with the CP2102 driver software and installs it after the GUI installation is complete. Power can come from the USB port so no other power supply is needed. The CP2102 PCB that I bought from ebay includes a 5V output pin for just such use.
I include pictures of the FLIR VPC, CP2102 PCB, Hirose DF12 connector information and an extract from the TAU manual detailing the interface and pin layout.
UPDATE: Note that the TAU uses
inverse UART polarisation. Tht is to say, Logic 0 = +3V3 and Logic 1 = 0V. You need to place a 74HC04 inveter IC in line with the RX and TX lines if using a standard USB to CP2102 adapter. Take the 3V3 supply for the inverter from the CP2102 PCB. All will work well then.
Fraser