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marathon VCL#

marathon VCL is a fully programmable Camera Link frame grabber. When connected to the computer power supply, marathon VCL supports Power over Camera Link (PoCL SafePower 4W/12V per port).

Depending on the applets you are running on the board, you may need to enable the PoCL support via microDiagnostics. The automatic PoCL detection is disabled per default on marathon VCL when running standard applets version 2.0 or higher, or when running individual applets created with VisualApplets version 3.0.6 or higher. When you use PoCL cameras together with such applets, you must enable automatic PoCL detection. This is possible in microDiagnostics (runtime version 5.5.1 or higher). For details, see Enabling PoCL Support.

marathon VCL

To install the marathon VCL in your computer, plug it into a PCIe Gen. 2 x4 slot or higher. The following image shows a marathon VCL with two Camera Link cameras connected:

PCIe Connection

Image Processing#

In addition to the image acquisition and image processing functions that are included in the delivery, marathon VCL can be programmed to fulfill highly specific image processing tasks that are required by a specific application. The programming can be done by Basler/ a certified partner, or by yourself using the easy-to-use graphical FPGA programming environment VisualApplets.

Production Line Integration#

For integration into a production line, marathon VCL offers multiple general purpose inputs and outputs. 4 to 20 of the GPIOs (depending on the hardware add-ons used) are galvanically isolated.

These GPIOs enable you to do the following:

  • Control peripheral devices by sending trigger signals, e.g. lighting signals and cameras signals.
  • Receive various trigger signals from peripheral devices, e.g., shaft encoders and light barriers.
  • Synchronize multiple marathon VCL frame grabbers.
  • Synchronize connected devices.

marathon VCL within the Production Line (Example)

Communication between camera and marathon VCL is realized via four CC signals per Camera Link cable.

Software Programming and Configuration Interface#

marathon VCL offers an easy-to-use API. The Framegrabber API allows to integrate the frame grabber into any image processing application. You can use the Framegrabber API to write code in the following languages:

  • C/C++
  • C# (wrapper available)
  • Python (wrapper available)

For more information about the Framegrabber API, see the Framegrabber API documentation.

Alternatively, you can use Basler's GenTL Interface to develop your application in form of a GenTL consumer. For more information about the Basler GenTL Interface, see GenTL Interface documentation.

Connectors and LEDs#

Connectors#

marathon VCL has the following connectors:

marathon VCL with Connectors

Configuration Switch#

In addition to its ports, marathon VCL offers an on-board configuration switch for activating a fall-back FPGA configuration, called SAVE configuration. For details regarding the SAVE configuration, see FPGA Fall-Back Configuration.

Configuration Switch

LEDs on the Board#

marathon VCL provides the following LEDs on the board:

marathon CXP-SP LEDs on the Board

LED Name LED Color Meaning
TRG_PWR Green Front GPIO is connected to external power (power IN).
SAVE RED SAVE configuration is used for FPGA configuration
READY Orange The FPGA has been configured successfully and is ready for operation. LED READY also gives light when SAVE configuration is used on FPGA.
PGOOD Orange PGOOD=Power Good
All voltages are applied correctly.
CL A Orange Port A is connected to a camera that provides a clock.
CL B Orange Port B is connected to a camera that provides a clock.
PoCL A Green Power over Camera Link active on port A: Camera on port A is provided with power by frame grabber via Camera Link cable.
PoCL B Green Power over Camera Link active on port B: Camera on port B is provided with power by frame grabber via Camera Link cable.
USR1 Orange User-defined. The LEDs can be controlled via software. They aren't related to camera connectors and can be used for any purpose.
USR2 Orange User-defined. The LEDs can be controlled via software. They aren't related to camera connectors and can be used for any purpose.
PWR Green Frame grabber gets 12 VDC IN via PCIe interface.

Specifications#

marathon VCL
Order Number 2200000359
Host Interface PCIe Gen 2 x4 (Direct Memory Access)
Bandwidth (typ./max.) Up to 1.8 GB/s sustainable data bandwidth (maximal Camera Link data rate 850 MByte/s)
On-Board Memory 2 GByte DDR3-RAM
Power Supply (Input) / Current PCIe Slot 12 VDC (±5 %) / <1.5 A (actual values depend on processing)
Power Supply (Input) / Current PCIe 6-pin Connector 12 VDC (±5 %) / <6.5 A (actual values depend on connected PoCL cameras)
PoCXP Supply (Output) 4 W of 12 VDC regulated power per each Camera Link connector
Power Consumption Typ. current 1 A @ 12 VDC (actual values depend on processing)
Size (L x H) PCIe standard height
Half length card:
167.64 mm x 111.15 mm
Weight 200 g
Camera Interface 2 x Camera Link 2.0 standard (2 * SDR 26) (mini CL)
Ambient Temperature 50 °C (0 LFMa)
60 °C (100 LFMa)
An adequate airflow in the computer is recommended.
FPGA Operating Temperatureb 0–85 °C at 100 LFMa
Storage Temperature -50–80 °C
Humidity during Operation 5–90 % non-condensing
Humidity during Storage 5–95 %
Compliance CE, RoHS

  1. LFM = Linear Feet per Minute, unit for measuring airflow velocity. 

  2. Temperature being measured directly on the FPGA. You can read out the measured value in all applets that are available for marathon VCL via the applet parameter FG_SYSTEMMONITOR_FPGA_TEMPERATURE

Info

The PCIe bus data throughput depends on the mainboard, the chip set, and the BIOS configuration of the host computer. The number of installed PCIe boards also affects the throughput, e.g. a PCIe x8 connector may support only x4 performance. Always check the mainboard manual thoroughly to be sure.

The Front GPIO Connector#

The front GPIO connector covers the basic trigger setup of your frame grabber. Its trigger connector allows you to control peripheral devices (PLC) and to synchronize multiple marathon VCL boards.

marathon VCL Using the Front GPIO Connector for Trigger IN/Trigger OUT (Example: Bulk Sorting)

The socket is located directly on the slot bracket:

The Front GPIO Connector

In default configuration, the trigger connector of the front GPIO connector offers:

  • 3 differential input signals or 2 differential and 1 single-ended input signal in pull-up mode
  • 2 TTL output signals

Info

You can configure the pin assignment of the front GPIO connector to provide different input signals, e.g.:

  • Pull-down
  • 4 single-ended signals (and no differential signals).

To change the GPIO configuration, use the command line tool installed with the Framegrabber SDK.

For more information, see Input Configuration and gpiotool.

Pin Layout of the Front GPIO Connector#

Pins on the Front GPIO Connector

PIN Number (3P FPGA) Galvanically Isolated Signal Reference Signal
1 No GPO 0 (TTL) 5 VDC / global GND (pin 6)
2 No GPO 1 (TTL) 5 VDC / global GND (pin 6)
3 No Reserved for RS 485 (GND)
4 No Reserved for RS 485
5 No
6 No GND (global GND)
7 No 5 V_OUT (0.5 A max)
8 Yes GPI 2 (if used for differential signal) GPI voltage IN (pin 10) / GPI GND (pin 15)
9 Yes GPI 3 (if used for differential signal) GPI voltage IN (pin 10) / GPI GND (pin 15)
10 Yes GPI voltage IN (4.5–28 VDC)
11 Yes GPI 0+ GPI voltage IN (pin 10) / GPI GND (pin 15)
12 Yes GPI 0- GPI voltage IN (pin 10) / GPI GND (pin 15)
13 Yes GPI 1+ GPI voltage IN (pin 10) / GPI GND (pin 15)
14 Yes GPI 1- GPI voltage IN (pin 10) / GPI GND (pin 15)
15 Yes GPI GND
Extra Voltage IN/GND for Galvanically Isolated Circuit#

All General Purpose Inputs (GPIs) of the front GPIO connector are galvanically isolated. The incoming signals are transferred to the frame grabber via digital isolators. This way, the frame grabber is securely protected against high incoming voltages.

However, to operate the internal GPI circuits, you must connect a voltage source and ground: On pin 10, you apply the voltage (GPI voltage IN) that serves as operating voltage for the internal operational amplifiers. On pin 15, you connect the according ground (GPI GND).

Supply Voltage Required

The marathon VCL trigger system needs to get supply voltage on the GPI Voltage IN pin (pin 10). If you want to connect devices that have no PWR pin, you must provide the power supply to the GPI Voltage IN pin (pin 10) from an external source.

Possible Topologies#

You can operate marathon VCL as follows:

Number of Cameras Number of Camera Ports Number of Frame Grabber Ports Mode Topology
1 2 2 Bayer Pattern One Camera, Two Ports, Bayer Pattern
1 2 2 Grayscale One Camera, Two Ports, Grayscale
1 2 2 RGB One Camera, Two Ports, RGB
2 1 2 Bayer Pattern Two Cameras, Two Ports, Bayer Pattern
2 1 2 Grayscale Two Cameras, Two Ports, Grayscale
2 1 2 RGB Two Cameras, Two Ports, RGB

When connected to the computer power supply via the PCIe 6-pin connector, which always provides 12 V, marathon VCL supports Power over Camera Link (PoCL).

Info

If you are going to use multiple imaFlex CXP-12 Quad boards in one host computer, make sure you have one PCIe Gen. 3.0 x8 slot or higher per board available in the host computer. For more information, see Using Multiple Boards in one Host.

To find out which topology you can use with which applet, refer to Choosing the Right Area Scan Applet or Choosing the Right Line Scan Applet.

Acquisition Applets#

To ensure optimum use of system resources, not all image acquisition and processing features designed for marathon VCL are loaded onto marathon VCL simultaneously.

Instead, Basler provides various compilations of specific image acquisition and processing features that are combined to meet the requirements of a specific application field. These compilations are called applets, since they work like apps on mobile devices.

Typically, an applet supports a specific camera interface standard and topology, specific image acquisition features, and possibly specific image (pre-)processing features.

Applets come in .dll files.

Refer to Acquisition Applets for marathon VCL for more detailed information about the standard applets delivered with your frame grabber and their dependency on the topology used.

In addition to the acquisition applets that are included in the delivery, marathon VCL can be programmed to fulfill highly specific image processing tasks that are required by a specific application. The programming can be done by Basler/ a certified partner, or by yourself using the easy-to-use graphical FPGA programming environment VisualApplets.