Camera

Supported cameras

Logitech C270

../../_images/logitech-c270.png

HD USB webcam with fixed focus.

Name Value Setting
Width 1280 px camera_width
Height 960 px camera_height
Frame rate 30 fps frame_rate
Rotation Yes camera_rotate
Horizontal flip Yes camera_hflip
Vertical flip No camera_vflip
Focal length x 1430 px camera_matrix
Focal length y 1430 px camera_matrix
Optical center x 480 px camera_matrix
Optical center y 620 px camera_matrix
Distortion No use_distortion

Image controls

Name Range Setting
Brightness 0-255 brightness_
Contrast 0-255 contrast_
Saturation 0-255 saturation_
Exposure 1-64 exposure_

These parameters have different values for each situation:

  • Capture texture
  • Pattern detection
  • Laser detection over the object
  • Laser detection over the pattern

Therefore, for each case the optimum values can be set.

Flush buffer

OpenCV is used to manage the camera. It wraps all the functionality to allow easy access.

At the low level driver, each operating system has different behavior regarding to the buffer of stored images. Moreover, if the exposure time is set over the frame rate (33 ms), buffer filling may vary if image controls are being updated. This may cause synchronization problems between the laser and the camera. Instead of using a long delay to reach the synchronization, a better approach is implemented using custom flush values.

Name OS Value Setting
Texture flush Linux 3 flush_linux_texture
Laser flush Linux 2 flush_linux_laser
Pattern flush Linux 3 flush_linux_pattern
Texture flush Windows 4 flush_windows_texture
Laser flush Windows 3 flush_windows_laser
Pattern flush Windows 4 flush_windows_pattern
Texture flush MacOSX 4 flush_darwin_texture
Laser flush MacOSX 3 flush_darwin_laser
Pattern flush MacOSX 4 flush_darwin_pattern

Note

In Linux, a custom OpenCV version is used, because of the next reasons. In Windows and Mac, standard 2.4.9 version is used.

Troubleshooting

Focus image

Logitech C270 camera is not focused at the scanner working distance (about 300 mm), but it is focused at a longer distance. This may cause inaccurate pattern detection and worse calibration values.

To improve that, the camera can be re-focused manually:

  1. Remove the electronics: the camera can not be removed if the board is fixed.
  2. Disassemble the camera: remove the 3 screws and the front cover.
  3. Move the lens to break up the glue.
  4. Put the camera into the scanner.
  5. Put the pattern on the middle of the platform.
  6. Open the video and move the focus until the pattern is focused.
  7. Assemble again the camera and the rest of the scanner.

In this video the camera manual focus is explained.