Metcal VPI1000 video inspectin camera  - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: costas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 07:55:07 am
content: Hello ,I've bought a camera for video inspection ,Metcal VPI 1000 model. Price was reasonable. Unfortunately the light and video control box was missing. Now the light I can easily fix but I have no idea about the video part, I do not know the tasks for each pin from the DB15 controler. I've opened the connector but the wire are covered with silicone and the connections hard to identify.The camera is the enclosed type and in order to reach inside the whole optical part should be dismantled. Up to this last solution I look for some schematics about how this camera could be adapted to a monitor. Does anyone have any idea about this issue? The power supply for the camera is done trough the DB15 connector. I suppose that the pinout is not standard. I do not know what the supply voltage should be.So any help would be appreciated.Thnak youCostas

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 09, 2015, 08:43:04 am
content: I'd be surprised if the camera really was encapsulated.As the expensive part of this will be the optics, an option may be to take out the camera and replace it with a webcam or similar that you can drive.If you can't figure out how to get it apart, perhaps a visit to a vet for an x-ray is in order....

author: costas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2015, 04:47:46 am
content: Thank you for idea , but I want to use own device camera

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2015, 08:43:51 am
content: In that case your only opiton will be to either open it up or get held of another complete system to reverse engineer the interface.

author: costas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 11, 2015, 08:50:26 am
content: I am thinking that someone already done this, and the information would be available !WBR.Costas

author: costas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 12, 2015, 05:20:13 am
content: Hello,I've tried to dismantle the camera to identify the links to the DB15 socket. I got stocked to the point where there are no other screws or safety locks or other obstacles to the camera's PCB. If anyone had a previous experience please enlighten me , because I do not want to break something to the optics.Thanks very much.

author: costas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2015, 10:57:12 am
content: I finally managed to dismantle the camera . PCB - has fewer components without the ICs and the wires connecting directly to the CCD ,. Now looking for something documentation about this CCD . is 1/2 "Sony R AD2 ( I'm not sure this is the model of CCD, but only write on it so ) . Unfortunately I have not found anything like this model . Maybe anyone have documentation available.Thank you.Costas

author: krivx
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2015, 11:06:51 am
content: Look through Sony CCD datasheets. They seem to do a few in 16 pin DIP (google threw up thishttp://www.npk-photonica.ru/images/icx259al2.pdf) with somewhat standard pinouts. Vdd and Gnd can be measured off the cable end with a DMM and the clocks should be identifiable with a scope. This just leaves a reset signal, a bias signal and the video output, which shouldn't be too hard to decipher.

author: costas
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: October 14, 2015, 11:27:25 am
content: Thanks for guidance, but CCD not even usually is 1/2 not 1/3 or 1/4 and pins do not think that matched the usual . I will look after a 16-pin 1/2 Sony CCD , maybe I can find somethingThanksCostas