Product Overview

The National Instruments PCIe-1473R is a reconfigurable Camera Link frame grabber for PCI Express systems. It is designed to acquire images from Camera Link cameras and process image data with a user programmable FPGA. The module is part of the NI FlexRIO and reconfigurable I/O approach to high performance imaging.

The PCIe-1473R is suitable for machine vision, scientific imaging, high speed inspection, and custom image processing applications. It allows engineers to define acquisition and processing logic in LabVIEW FPGA rather than relying only on fixed function frame grabber features. This flexibility supports custom triggers, image filters, and real time decision making.

Camera Link Interface

The module provides a Camera Link interface for connecting compatible cameras. Camera Link is widely used in industrial and scientific imaging because it supports high data rates and deterministic cabling. The PCIe-1473R can acquire image data from Camera Link cameras and transfer it to host memory or process it on the FPGA.

The reconfigurable architecture allows the frame grabber to adapt to different camera timing and data formats. Engineers can implement custom deserialization, trigger handling, and region of interest logic. This is useful when standard frame grabbers do not provide the required real time behavior or custom interface.

FPGA Based Processing

The PCIe-1473R includes an FPGA that can run custom logic at hardware speed. This enables real time image processing functions such as thresholding, filtering, feature extraction, and data reduction before transfer to the host. Processing on the FPGA can reduce host CPU load and lower latency in inspection systems.

LabVIEW FPGA provides a graphical development environment for implementing FPGA logic. Engineers can build acquisition state machines, trigger logic, and image processing pipelines. The FPGA can also control camera timing and synchronize acquisition with external events through I/O and trigger signals.

PCI Express Integration

The PCIe-1473R connects to a host computer through PCI Express. This provides high bandwidth for image data transfer and control. The module can be used in a desktop computer or industrial PC that supports the required PCI Express slot and system resources. High bandwidth is important for high resolution and high frame rate imaging.

The frame grabber can be synchronized with other hardware through trigger and timing signals where supported. This allows image acquisition to be correlated with motion stages, sensors, lights, and other test equipment. The combination of Camera Link input and FPGA processing makes the module useful in automated inspection and scientific imaging systems.

Typical Applications

• High speed industrial machine vision

• Scientific and microscopy imaging

• Custom Camera Link camera interfaces

• Real time image processing and inspection

• FPGA based trigger and acquisition control

• Research and prototype imaging systems

The PCIe-1473R provides a reconfigurable Camera Link frame grabber with FPGA processing for PCI Express systems. Its Camera Link interface, LabVIEW FPGA development, and high bandwidth integration make it suitable for advanced imaging and inspection applications.