Photon FAQs - Analog Video

1. Is Photon available with PAL video?

Yes, Photon may be ordered in either NTSC or PAL video format. We use different part numbers to designate the video format. Both NTSC and PAL formats are fully compliant with their respective video standards. The video format (NTSC or PAL) programmed into the Photon is a factory setting that cannot be changed by the customer.

2. Does operating the Photon at 9 Hz reduce the camera power consumption?

There is no difference in power consumption. The FPA, AGC, and NUC are all still running at full rate. The video output is still running at full rate, however the data is updating at a rate less than 10 Hz.

3. Is there any price difference between the 9 Hz Photon and the 30 Hz (NTSC) or 25 Hz (PAL) versions?

The price of the slow video version of the Photon 320 is discounted approximately 3-5% from the full-rate video version, depending on the quantity of cameras ordered.

The price of the slow video version of the Photon 160 is discounted approximately 2-4% from the full-rate video version, depending on the quantity of cameras ordered.

The price of the slow video version of the Photon 120 is discounted approximately 2-4% from the full-rate video version, depending on the quantity of cameras ordered.

There is no price difference between the 9Hz and full-rate video versions of either the Photon 80 or Photon 640 cameras.

4. Is the Photon video interlaced or non-interlaced?

Photon generates analog video that complies with NTSC video standards, or PAL video standards if so configured. Each video frame is comprised of two interlaced video fields (odd and even). As in traditional video systems, fields are sampled every 1/60th of a second (1/50th second PAL), one odd and one even. These fields are recombined into a video frame every 1/30th of a second (1/25th second PAL) to conform to NTSC and PAL standards for interlacing and display.

In traditional video systems, each odd and even field is sampled 1/60th of a second apart. For Photon, both odd and even video fields are sampled at the same time. But even though the fields are then interlaced to generate a frame, the data in each Photon video field (odd & even) is identical. Since each odd and even field contains exactly the same data, Photon's video display, while fully compliant to NTSC standards, is consistent with a progressive scan mode with the video sampling benefits of more detail and less flicker. The digital output of Photon is exclusively progressive scan.

5. There is a reference to the aspect ratio of the Photon video as being 4:3, however the image on our monitor is 5:4. Is this a problem?

There are 324x256 active pixels in the Photon 320's focal plane array, and 644x512 active pixels in the Photon 640’s FPA.

For a Photon configured to display NTSC video, the pixel array format is 320x240 or 640x480, with an aspect ratio of 4:3.

For a Photon configured to display PAL video, the pixel array format is 320x255 or 640x512, so the aspect ratio is in fact very close to 5:4.

6. Can the Photon video format be changed from NTSC to PAL (or PAL to NTSC) ?

The video format is hard-coded into each camera at the factory and cannot be changed in the field. Cameras are calibrated differently depending on the video format, therefore customers must specify either PAL or NTSC at the time of purchase.

7. Does FLIR have any specifications as to the drive capability of the analog video out of the Photon camera?

We have empirically demonstrated the ability to drive analog video over 325 feet of coaxial cable with Photon. Longer cable runs may be possible, but not guaranteed.

8. Does the digital zoom feature affect the LVDS output?

For Photon 320 and Photon 640, the zoom feature only affects the analog video.
For Tau, the zoom feature only affects the analog and BT-656 video.
The LVDS data is not affected by the zoom feature in either Photon or Tau cameras.

9. Is the black border on my PAL Photon a problem with my monitor or even a bug in the camera?

No, a black border is to be expected when using a PAL Photon. The PAL output from a Photon camera is an adaptation of an NTSC image that is made to fit in the PAL video standard. The chosen method of achieving this was to add a black border around the outside of the image to fit the larger resolution for PAL. The alternative option was to replicate pixels and stretch the image to fill the larger format, but FLIR elected not to use this method. There is no plan to change the way PAL video is generated.

Photon FAQs - Analog Video Questions