System Elements
Background
Live capture FrameGlide / Spin Browser exhibits enable visitors to explore wide ranging phenomena (including themselves!) in real time. The camera types, and other input sources, currently supported by the FrameGlide / Spin Browser system include:
- Timelapse
- 30fps
- High speed
- Periodic aggregation of updated images from an HTTP address (e.g., from a NASA/NOAA satellite)
- Folders of JPEGs filled by 3rd party applications.
Camera connection methods range from analog NTSC, to Gigabit Ethernet (GigE), to ultra-fast Camera Link. We are also available to integrate to new camera types upon request.
Supported Protocols/APIs
For those who want to use a particular camera, please note that our FrameGlide software currently supports the following protocols/APIs:
- WDM (i.e., cameras supported/viewable-using Microsoft's free DirectX sample app "Amcap.exe".)
- HTTP-supplied JPEGs.
- GigE Vision.
- Various proprietary.
Cameras We've Used So Far
Note that all cameras below write directly to computer RAM (as opposed to onboard camera RAM), and thus image data is immediately available for user review.
30fps
- Imaging Source: Firewire and GigE. One camera we have regularly used is the GigE color model DFK 31AG03, Bayer 1024x768 @30fps.
High Speed
- Imperx: One camera we have regularly used is the GigE Bayer color model Lynx VGA210, 640x480 @200+fps. This camera has now (2011) been replaced by the faster Bobcat IGV-B0620, 640x480 @250+fps.
- Basler: One camera we have been using is the Dual Camera Link mono model A504K, 1280x1024 @500fps (or 1280x512 @ 1000fps, 1280x256 @ 2000fps, etc.).
Timelapse
- Imaging Source: GigE Bayer color DFK 51AG02, 1600x1200 @15fps.
- Stardot: 10BaseT Ethernet. One camera we have regularly used is the color model NetCam SC-5MP color JPEG 1280x960 @1 fps.
- Canon: For ultra high resolution/quality capture, DSLR cameras such as found in the Rebel series, are excellent choices.
Again, should your desired camera not be listed above, we are always available to perform custom integration.
Typical recommended 1600 x 1200 timelapse and 1024 x 768 @30fps cameras, with lens, are in the $1000 range. For high-speed cameras: 640 x 480 @250fps, with lens, are in the $2200 range, and 1280x1024 @500fps, with lens and capture card, are in the $11,000 range.