is there a way for camera PIO to read an external hardware counter?

[zy9]

some 1394 camera with the PIO ports,  it is the standard feature of IIDC 1394,  4 inputs, 4 outputs, user can read the camera register to get input data. the input port0 already used for camera trigger,
 
port 1 ,2 ,3 still free, I wonder the 4 ports are just  1 bit per pin (physical pin)or some other way can get more data ? if we have a hardware counter, can we use the PIO input to get the counter value?
 
if it's just 1 bit per pin, then just can get hi, lo signal, then 3 ports can only get 0-7 states, then no way to get the count?  
 
we have multiple camera attached to multiple computers, if this way(PIO input) works, then we just need one external counter, output the count to all camera PIO, then save a lot money, the other way, we need to put multiple DAQ card with on board counter to each computer, let the DAQ card doing the counting, too expensive.

[Luke G]

Hi zy,
I'm not sure if I understand what you are looking for.  To rephrase your question, you are using an industry standard 1394 camera that has 4 input channels and 4 output channels, and you trigger the camera with its input port 0.
 
You asked about whether the ports transfer 1 bit per pin.  This sounds device specific.  What device are you referring to?
 
When you mention getting the hi or lo signal, I'm not sure if you mean that you are getting this from the camera or sending it to the camera.
 
Lastly, you mentioned that you have multiple cameras attached to multiple computers, but you want to send the same signal to all of them from the same counter.  Can you describe your application?  Are you trying to synchronize them?  What are you programming this in?
 
 

[zy9]

1) the basler camera, with pio on it, rj45 has 10 pins, 4 input, 4 output, i mean one input pin can only accept one  "low or hi", just 1 bit information ? 
2) I want to assign the same counter value to all the images triggered the same time on multiple RT, because these multiple RT shooting one object the same time, I want to use the counter to stamp images on the same object. the conveyer transfer the object has a vary speed, some time fast, some time slow, Host computer receive the RT images at diff time, so we just want to put the count as unique id for images trigger at the same time.

[Luke G]

Hi zy,
I'm starting to get a better idea of what you are trying to do, but I still have a couple of questions.
1. I don't have access to one of these cameras, so I can't answer specifically about its configuration.
2. It sounds like you just need to generate a digital pulse at a regular rate to output to all of your cameras.&nbsp; If you need the pulse to be very precisely timed, then I recommend that you use a device with a counter output to generate a pulse train.&nbsp; If you don't need the pulse frequency to be exact, but rather just need to have all cameras receiving one signal, you could use something as simple as a <a href="http://sine.ni.com/nips/cds/view/p/lang/en/nid/14604" target="_blank">USB-6008 </a>to generate a digital signal.
&nbsp;
I recommend that you take a look at this <a href="http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/3117" target="_blank">Digital I/O and Counter/Timer Tutorial </a>as you decide exactly what you need.
&nbsp;
Please let us know if we can offer any more help.

[zy9]

thanks for the reply.
&nbsp;
the pulse is from an optic encoder, like a treadmill, the tick count give how far the object on the conveyer goes. want to put this tick as a stamp on each collected image triggered the same time from diff RTs shooting the same object. if the IIDC fireware with PIO can do that, it will save us a lot of money, if not, then we can use PCI 6001 ? each will be $410, want to find a cheap solution. The RT has no USB port, don't know if we can add an USB card ?

[Luke G]

Hi zy,
I'm sorry, but I'm really not following what you are trying to achieve.&nbsp;
Can you please specify:
1. What hardware (with model numbers) you are using.&nbsp; I can't find any information about a PCI 6001.
2. What software are you using?
3. Can you describe step-by-step how&nbsp;you would like your&nbsp;application to work?
Thanks,