ADC FX

Tetracam's Narrow-Band Filter

Experimentation Platform

(Legacy Product - this product is no longer offered for general sale)

The ADC - Filter Experimentation System (ADC - FX) is an invaluable tool for identifying filters to use in Mini-MCA multi-spectral imaging systems. This camera consists of a single-lens multispectral camera equipped with a single changeable filter.  With the camera in a fixed position, one filter at a time may be successively inserted into the camera in order to locate one that emphasizes a particular property in the subject under study. The fact that only one filter may be used in this camera at any one moment in time disqualifies the ADC FX for most if not all mobile multi-spectral applications.

The ADC FX is able to capture radiation ranging from approximately 450 nm in the visible spectrum to approximately 1050 nm in the near-infrared and image-merging software used for processing and analyzing successive exposures of the camera's sensor to narrow bands of impinging radiation. 

The camera is identical in appearance to a standard ADC camera.  It differs from the standard ADC in that it employs a single SXGA (1280 by 1024) 1.3 megapixel CMOS image sensor identical to the sensors used in Tetracam's Mini-MCA cameras.  A graph of the sensitivity of the camera's image sensor is shown below.

Like the Mini-MCA, the optical filters used with the ADC-FX are field replaceable. In use, the camera is trained on a particular subject and successive images of the subject are captured.  Each image is exposed using a different narrow band optical filter attached to the camera,  The included software, PixelWrench2, allows precise pixel-alignment of selected images to create a single integrated image. This enables users to evaluate the impact of various optical filters on extracted vegetation indices such as NDVI or on their combined ability to disclose specific compounds of interest.  Customer-specified optical filters for the ADC - FX are ordered separately. 

System Controls and Connections

ADC FX  Connections The ADC FX obtains its power from a from a 12 VDC external power supply provided with the unit.  This plugs into the 12V power input on the side of the chassis.   The system is also able to be powered by means of eight AA alkaline batteries inserted into the opposite side of the chassis. The camera contains a Video Out connector that may be used to feed the same images available on the LCD to a remote receiver via a wire or telemetry.

To the right of the Video Out connector, the USB connector provides a link to host computers.  PixelWrench2 can process images accessed via this link or the CF card containing the images may be pulled from the camera and inserted to the computer containing PW2.  The camera contains an RS232 link that may be connected to a GPS receiver for capturing the precise GPS coordinates at the exact instant that an image is captured.  Lastly, the camera contains a external Trigger connector.  An External Trigger Cable (un-terminated on one end) is available with the system for remotely triggering the camera to capture images.  Closing the connection between the RING and the TIP on the provided cable causes the camera to trigger (reference TYPICAL EXTERNAL TRIGGER CIRCUIT for further details).  The ADC FX may also be triggered in a variety of other ways - see below.  Check out the User Manual below for precise descriptions of the system menus and all other controls and connections in the ADC.

Standard System Contents

System Includes: Camera with 8.0 mm C mount lens 2GB CF card USB Cable +12 V external power supply Calibration tag (Software Calibration Tile) System CD with PixelWrench2 software (PW2) (See additional CD contents at left) Rugged Pelican Carrying Case         Typical Availability:  3 to 4 weeks (although faster turnarounds are often possible).     Due to it's specialized nature, the ADC-FX is built to order. Please contact us for more information regarding configuration options and pricing.

List of files on included System CD:

ADC FX (with 8.0 mm Lens)

Resolution & Field of View

The ADC FX's field of view (FOV) is laid out in a 4:3 format.  The camera's field of view increases as distance between the subject and the camera increases. As this distance increases, the amount of space represented by each pixel in the image (i.e. the image resolution) decreases.

PixelWrench2, the software included with the camera, contains a FOV Optical Calculator that determines precise values for FOV and Resolution given distance from the subject.  The calculator requires the user to input appropriate sensor dimensions in millimeters, pixel size in microns and the camera lens focal length in millimeters. 

The current values for these specifications for the ADC FX camera are shown below: 

Sensor Dimensions (mm):  6.66 x 5.32

Pixel Size (microns): 5.2

Camera Lens Focal Length (mm):  8.0

Entering these values and an object distance in meters such as 2.5 meters provides a field of view of 2.081 meters by 1.663 meters with a spatial resolution of 1.625 mm per pixel.

Features and Specifications

Features

Specifications

• Enables testing of individual optical filters supplied separately
  
  

• High flexibility of operation and control
  
  

• User interchangeable 25 mm optical filters
  
  

• Uses standard Compact Flash Memory cards (standard = 2 GB Optional = up to 256 GB)

• Daylight-viewable display

• Includes PixelWrench2 image editing software with several tools specific to multi-spectral images and Tetracam cameras.

• Additional PixelWrench2 features enable merging images captured with separate filters into a common image (see Tetracam Application Software Overview for further details)
  

• Multiple Camera Triggering Methods

  • Shutter Release:  The button atop the ADC FX acts as a shutter release for the camera.  Depressing the button triggers the camera to take a picture.

  • Auto-Timer: The ADC FX may be configured to capture images continuously at intervals specified by the user via the camera's system menus.   Press the Shutter Release or trigger the camera via one of the methods below to begin continuously capturing images.  Press the Shutter Release or trigger the camera again to stop continuous capture of images.  Always stop continuously capturing images by pressing the Shutter Release or via a trigger command prior to powering the camera off.  Interruption of power during continuous capture of images may damage the camera.

  • Computer Triggering:  The camera may be triggered through its USB interface.  Optional GetShot software enables remote triggering under command of a linked computer. Optional SensorLink GPS waypoint triggering application enables camera triggering at pre-defined waypoints - a popular method used in manned aircraft. 

  • Optional Remote Shutter Release: Closing the connection between the RING and the TIP on an optional External Trigger Cable causes the camera to trigger (reference TYPICAL EXTERNAL TRIGGER CIRCUIT for further details). 

  • RS-232 Triggering:  The camera may be commanded to trigger by receiving an <ESC> T command via its RS232 serial interface.  Due to the delays incumbent in a serial link, the RS232 link is more commonly used to transfer GPS position coordinates to the camera at camera trigger time. When the camera is connected to a GPS receiver via its RS232 link, the camera records the coordinates of the location at which each image is captured into its log file upon receiving any camera trigger command.

• SXGA (1280 x 1024) 1.3 megapixel CMOS sensor
  

• Image storage to Compact Flash in Tetracam 10 bit DCM lossless, 8 bit RAW, and 10 bit RAW formats

• Camera body CS lens mount system with C mount adapter is compatible with thousands of available lenses.
  

• Camera supplied with a 8.0 mm lens
  
  
• USB interface
  
• Multipin I/O connector for use with Tetracam remote trigger and viewer accessories.
  

• Image Capture Capacity:
  Up to ~3 MB per image (DCM format), limited only by CF card size.
  

• Maximum Image Capture Rate: Approximately 1.0 to 7.5 Seconds between consecutive images depending upon image format and resolution selected -  See Interval Tables

• Inputs:
  + 9 VDC to +12 VDC (300 mA current rating) Center Positive
  RS-232 dedicated to capture of NMEA GPS sentences.
  External Trigger

• Power Consumption
  Two watts nominal
  

• Outputs:
  Realtime NTSC or PAL Video for both viewfinder and menu operations.
  

• Data Interface:
  USB 1.1

   

• Environmental -  Note: the camera will operate outside of the recommended environmental range, however performance may be degraded.

  • Temperature
    0 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit to 104 degrees Fahrenheit) 

  • Humidity
    Less than 85% relative humidity, non-condensing    

• Dimensions:
  4.8 in. x 3.0 in. x 1.6 in. (122 mm x 78 mm x 41 mm) without lens (see link to drawings at left)

• Weight
  12 oz. (340 gr.) without internal batteries.
  18 oz. (520 gr.) with alkaline AA batteries.
  

• Mount
  Standard 1/4-20 tripod socket, centered under lens (see drawings).

Additional ADC FX Reference Information