help: cannot get the picture in the labVIEW program .. (was: need help!! quickly!)

[Danny Diaz]

Originally Posted by liad

by the way the error (in the upper right corner) says:
"VISA Read in query for result from serial port.vi->CMUcam2.vi->CMUcam2 GUI.vi" and the error code is:-1073807339

This error message means that the VISA Read timed out - i.e. there was no data sent through the serial line during the expected time period. Billbo911 has the right solution, try disconnecting from the RC and try again.

-Danny

[liad]

yes!!!!!!!!! it helped!you were right!!!!!
thank you all!

[tribotec_ca88]

We seem to be having the exact same problem (the error is the same) ...except we haven't been as fortunate. In 10 hours' time we've migrated from computer to computer, tested thousands of different cables to check signal transmission, and for some reason we just can't seem to capture any images at all in Labview (or, just to make matters worse, it worked perfectly fine earlier this same day for a few moments and out of nowhere it decides to go beszerk on us)

- we have connected the camera to the controller via the PWM cable
- we've connected the camera to the pc with the serial connection through com1, changed the baud rate to 115200 (etc)
- i trust labview & its driver have been installed properly
- both leds on the sensor light up when the camera is turned on

any ideas or suggestions - as wild as they may seem! - will greatly be appreciated at this moment i'm just about ready to pull my hair out

thanks...

[Joe Hershberger]

Originally Posted by tribotec_ca88

We seem to be having the exact same problem (the error is the same) ...except we haven't been as fortunate. In 10 hours' time we've migrated from computer to computer, tested thousands of different cables to check signal transmission, and for some reason we just can't seem to capture any images at all in Labview (or, just to make matters worse, it worked perfectly fine earlier this same day for a few moments and out of nowhere it decides to go beszerk on us)

- we have connected the camera to the controller via the PWM cable
- we've connected the camera to the pc with the serial connection through com1, changed the baud rate to 115200 (etc)
- i trust labview & its driver have been installed properly
- both leds on the sensor light up when the camera is turned on

any ideas or suggestions - as wild as they may seem! - will greatly be appreciated at this moment i'm just about ready to pull my hair out

thanks...

Remember to use only one serial port on the camera at a time.

How's the charge on the backup battery?

Can you talk to the camera in hyper terminal?

Are you selecting the correct serial port out of the list?

Have you set the settings for the port in MAX?

-Joe

[tribotec_ca88]

Originally Posted by Joe Hershberger

Remember to use only one serial port on the camera at a time.

How's the charge on the backup battery?

Can you talk to the camera in hyper terminal?

Are you selecting the correct serial port out of the list?

Have you set the settings for the port in MAX?

-Joe

Remember to use only one serial port on the camera at a time. OK.

How's the charge on the backup battery? Fully charged.

Can you talk to the camera in hyper terminal? No.

Are you selecting the correct serial port out of the list? 100% sure.

Have you set the settings for the port in MAX? Yes.

Today we plan on testing the camera using kevin watson's code to see if we can get any signs of life ... but if for some reason it doesn't work are there any chances whatsoever that our cam's circuitry may be damaged or something?

[Danny Diaz]

Originally Posted by tribotec_ca88

...but if for some reason it doesn't work are there any chances whatsoever that our cam's circuitry may be damaged or something?

Anything's possible, but I'd prefer to rule out everything else. Let's see whether or not your Camera is booting properly. I would like for you to follow these directions:

1. Connect the camera to power via the PWM outputs on the RC. Make sure the green lights on the camera illuminate.
2. Turn the Camera Off (via the switch on the camera).
3. Connect a Serial cable from the Camera to the PC.
4. Open the Measurement and Automation eXplorer (MAX) application on the PC.
5. Explode the "Devices and Interfaces" configuration option under "My System".
6. Explode the "Ports (Serial and Parallel)" option under "Devices and Interfaces".
7. Click on the COM Port that the serial cable is connected to.
8. In the middle panel at the top there should be a "Open VISA Test Panel" button, click on it. A New window will open up, which is the VISA test panel.
9. In the "Property Node (Set)" tab, I want you to select under "Attribute Name" the "Timeout Value". This is probably default, but in case it isn't make sure it's selected.
10. Enter a value of 10000 in the "New Value" field, and then press the "Execute" button. This will set the VISA Timeout to 10 seconds instead of the default 2 seconds.
11. Select the "Read" Tab.
12. Press "Execute" and then flip the switch on the CMUCam2 to turn it on as quickly as possible. Depending on your hardware (I dunno if you're using a USB-Serial converter or a built-in serial port on your PC) you may be able to turn on your CMUCam2 before pressing "Execute", depending on how much memory your Serial port has. Realize that by default the VISA session will wait until it either reads "Count" characters over the serial port, or if it times out. Since you won't be reading 1024 characters (default Count value) you will end up waiting 10 seconds before it returns the buffer, and you will get a timeout error of BFFF0015 in the return status (it's okay, it's expected).

Anyway, what this is doing is reading a message from your serial port - you can do the same thing using Hyperterminal, but I'd prefer you learn how to do it in MAX. When your camera boots up, it will output a text message containing its name and the firmware version to the serial port (the IFI controller also outputs its name but no version via the program port, by the way). By checking to see if the camera outputs this information you're able to make sure the serial cable you're using is good, and also you're making sure the CMUCam2 can boot up. Perform the same task with the serial cable connected to the IFI controller's program port instead of the CMUCam2 and see what you get (remember to power down the IFI controller and power it back up when you're ready to read). If you get nothing from either devices, use a different serial cable and try again. If still nothing from either device, call an exorcist.

-Danny