Tau 640 User’s Manual
5—Overview of the Electrical Interface
TAU-0640-00-10, version 110
June 2011
5-3
5.3 Analog Video Output
The Tau 640 camera can be configured to provide either NTSC or PAL analog video output.
These analog output standards allow direct video connection to common video display or
recording devices such as TV monitors and VCRs. Typically, an analog monitor input signal is
provided over a coaxial cable and uses either an RCA (consumer based electronics) or BNC
(generally associated with professional or scientific equipment) style connector.
Note
When the VIDEO_LO signal is tied to ground, the analog video signal meets the timing and
voltage requirements of either NTSC or PAL protocol. (The FLIR Camera Controller GUI
software allows you to select between NTSC or PAL video output formats. The NTSC analog
video format is the default in all cameras.)
If you are creating a custom cable to carry the analog video signal from the Tau 640 camera to
your monitoring or recording device, you should use 75 Ohm characteristic impedance coaxial
cable and terminate into a 75 Ohm monitor. These specifications represent standard video
cabling and I/O and will likely be the default for any generic video receiving hardware you
purchase. Per the pin function table, you will use the VIDEO_LO and VIDEO_HI pins for the
analog video output signal. Specific video characteristics are given in the table below.
Note
5.4 Command and Control Channel
Remote control of the Tau 640 camera is provided via a RS-232 serial interface consisting of
signals named RX, TX and GND using 3.3 volt signal levels. Chapter 3 provides information
regarding remote control using the FLIR Camera Controller GUI. Appendix B describes the
serial communications protocol in detail for the Tau 640 camera.
5.5 LVDS Digital Data Channel
The Tau 640 camera provides real-time serialized digital video. The camera outputs either 8-bit
or 14-bit data using the SD_CLK±, SD_FSYNC± and SD_DATA± signals. Conversion of the serial
data to a parallel format for data acquisition requires a serial-to-parallel converter accessory.
Information regarding the digital data interface is provided in Chapter 4.
The analog video output is compliant with NTSC or PAL standards when terminated with a 75
Ohm resistor. The video output driver is a current mode device which does not produce a
voltage output without proper termination. Some video filters with capacitive coupling are not
suitable for use unless an additional termination resistor is added before the filter.
Table 5-3: Video parameters
Parameter
NTSC
PAL
Monochrome equivalent
RS-170A
CCIR
Frame rate
29.97 Hz
25 Hz
Update rate
30 Hz/7.5 Hz
25 Hz/8.3 Hz
Active video lines
480
510
# displayed detector samples
640 (H)
×
480 (V)
640 (H)
×
512 (V)
Analog output is always NTSC/PAL compatible. Changes for reduced frame rate and reduced
size array do not effect analog video format.