The bench test 1 - 'Formidable' two parts in harmony

While not exactly a new idea, the PLETTAC Space Camera range does refine the concept of a separate camera head and control unit. The idea is simple enough: split the lens, image sensor and its associated electronics from the main body of the camera and mount them in a compact module. The camera head, connected to the control unit by a single cable, can thus be installed in confined locations and – being a good deal smaller than a conventional camera – is more discreet and easier to conceal or integrate within furnishings and fittings.

Clearly that much is already possible with sub-miniature cameras and 'board cameras', but the key difference with the Space Camera is that there have been no compromises with performance, it is exceptionally well specified. Moreover it has an unusually wide range of operating parameters that can be remotely configured from a dedicated camera control unit or a Windows PC.

We have been looking at the FAC 838 IS SD colour camera; two basic variants are available with short (0.3m) and long (7m) cables connecting the camera head to the control unit. The camera modules on both types are fitted with a high performance 1/2-inch interline Hyper HAD image sensor with a 480k (effective) pixel array. Claimed low light sensitivity is down to 0.2 lux (0.05 lux in field integration /slow shutter mode) and horizontal resolution is in the order of 480 lines.

The actual camera module is a small and very rugged alloy cylinder measuring 48 x 37mm. On the front end there is a standard C-mount threaded collar, set into a threaded barrel that provides the back-focus adjustment. At the other end there is a square mounting plate. The video/power/control cable emerges from the side, along with a pair of four-pin sockets for auto iris/zoom lenses etc.

On to the control unit, which is a relatively anonymous-looking cream-coloured box with the same proportions as a conventional camera. Indeed it appears to be identical in construction to the camera housings used on other models in the plettac range. It measures 185 x 71 x 60 mm and has D-Sub connectors at each end. The one at the front for the camera module is an unusual 26-way type, so it can't be accidentally connected to anything else.

The 15-pin connector on the back panel carries power, data, control signals and the video output. Inside the control unit there are four very densely packed glass fibre PCBs mounted on a metal chassis. The standard of construction and quality of materials is most impressive throughout and both the head and control unit look as though they are well protected and able to survive in a harsh environment (with suitable weatherproofing).

Most of the camera's main features are based on the extensive use of digital video processing. They include an impressive array of automated exposure systems with SCS (sensor controlled sensitivity), auto and manual shutter (1/10,000th to 10 seconds), manual and automatic gain control, black level, gamma correction, and white balance.

In fact there are an astonishing range of adjustments available to the installer/user, carried out from a set of menu-driven on-screen displays (more about that in a moment). There is also provision for a camera ident/title of up to two lines of 20 characters, which can be positioned anywhere on the screen in three display modes (black background, frame or standard).

It also has a number of ancillary security features including a motion detector with alarm indication plus an image storage facility. The latter utilises a range of pre-setable grids or targets with variable sensitivity and field configurations.

Set-up and operation

All of the camera's set-up and configuration adjustments are carried out remotely from a control unit or a PC, using PGEWin software. Access to the main menu is password protected. The first page opens with six selections (Video Processing, Synchronisation, Output Interface, Text Insertion, Alarm Management and BS-88 communications), the second page has options to set and change passwords, program the control unit's Function Keys and restore factory settings.

The instructions could be better and sometimes fail to get into the nitty-gritty, leaving the user or installer wondering how to access or modify a particular function.

Performance

Despite the sometimes-frustrating behaviour of the remote control system it is clear that the camera's video performance is of a very high standard. Resolution and low light sensitivity on our sample lived up to the manufacturer's claims and in good light the resultant image was crisp and clean with natural looking colours.

Colour accuracy was maintained under changing light conditions, though manual adjustment was normally required in tube light. The range of adjustments means the camera can operate in practically any lighting situation, and left to its own devices the auto exposure systems can cope with most conditions. The camera head and control unit are both mechanically stable and came through our intermittency checks (several hefty whacks with a rubber mallet) with flying, or should that be unwavering, colours.

What the manufacturer says …

The plettac electronics range of CCD cameras offers a practical new alternative for environments and situations where discretion and/or design are of top priority or where a lack of space is a problem. For applications such as access control, observation or microscopy this new development is sensational news.

The IS range of cameras features a separate sensor head and control unit that produce high quality images and now, for the first time ever, thanks to a special cable, the electronics unit which processes the image can be easily and safely concealed in obscure places, such as mounted in a ceiling or behind a wall.

The sensor head can be mounted either 0.3m or 7m away from the control unit and, due to the different cable lengths, an easy and discreet integration into any existing or new environment can be achieved. The plettac IS camera models are ideal for innovative applications, such as inside outdoor domes located in town centres, because due to the extremely compact nature of the camera itself, large lenses are easily fitted inside the domes. This option is not available with standard CCD cameras.

There are a total of eight models in the IS range, providing a choice of black and white or colour cameras. There is also the choice of 1/3 or 1/2 inch sensors. The IS camera range is based on the existing plettac electronics camera models – the FAC 836, FAC 838, FA 876 and FA 878. The high level of light sensitivity of the plettac camera models enabled the IS camera range to provide high-resolution pictures (444,000 effective pixels) even in extreme light conditions.

They are all fully equipped with digital 10 bit video signal processing. Automatic picture optimisation, movement detection, digital picture storage and automatic text insertion are all standard features common to the entire IS range. The range can be easily and conveniently controlled and configured remotely from the control room, control PC or control keyboard. There is a variety of optional software upgrades available which can make light work of tailoring their operation to the specific situation or customer requirement.

A further optional matrix function within the camera enables 16 cameras to feed their images sequentially, or individually to a single monitor.

A standard feature is also the inclusion of a twisted pair launch amplifier and receive correction amplifiers, this enables this model to transmit video over large cable distances without extra modules. Several of the new IS cameras have been installed at a major London bank, and have been highly successful due to their discreet nature and compact appearance.