Kestra Video Multiplexer KVM24 Machine Vision Info Needed

[Wild_Bill]

Hi, I'm hoping someone will have some info to provide regarding a Kestra
Video Multiplexer with 24 camera inputs.
The front panel layout is the following, except the PSU connectors are on
the bottom edge of the box. The diecast box measures 10.5" x 7" x 2.5" deep.

There is a Status LCD display that appears to have 4 lines of 20 characters.
24 Hirose 12-pin camera connectors.
A 9-pin serial D-sub connector labeled Serial Comm.
3 power connectors labeled PSU 1, 2, 3 (three 3-pin XLR connectors)

6 BNC connectors labeled:
Horiz Sync
Vert Sync
Int
PClock Res
Idle Control
Video Out Capture Card

I was hoping that the 12-pin camera connectors would be the same pinout as
some Sony and Pulnix (and maybe Panasonic) industrial machine vision camera
connectors.
With no power applied, I'm not able to trace any of the PSU leads directly
to the 12-pin connector pins to verify that the pinouts are compatible.

Since I'm not sure how the unit is supposed to be powered, I'm not sure how
to proceed. I've discovered that the MAXIM ICs are -5/+5V devices, the
cameras I'm familiar with are 12VDC, so the 5V supplies could be derived
from a 12V input.

If I may assume that I know something about how this box might work, I think
it will power the cameras (cam ports fed 12V from a PSU input), and allow
any of the 24 input signals to be output to the Video Out/Capture Card port
(controlled by a PC connected to the Comm port).
I also assume that if the cameras have their own internal sync, then the BNC
ports wouldn't need to be fed with other sync and pixel clock signals.
Or, the cameras could possibly use sync signals from this unit's internal
sync circuits (if they are present).

Kestra appears to have been a UK based company.
The ICs show date code year of 2000, so the unit isn't very old.

Inside the box, it seems that the 24 inputs may be separated into 3 banks of
8 cameras, as there are:
3 ea. MAXIM MAX440CPI (U2, 3 & 4)
8-Channel, High-Speed, Video Multiplexer Amplifier

additionally:
8 ea. 74HCT245N Philips near the LCD display module.

And:
1 ea. PIC16C65A-20 I/P Microchip

Finally, there are 24 each 6-position dip switches (1 for each camera
input), which are all set to the same positions (3 Off, 1, 2, 4, 5 & 6 On).
I assume that each dip switch is for switching/selecting each of the 6 BNC
port signals on/off for each camera.

An IC for the serial port, some rectifiers (at the PSU inputs), a few
3-terminal voltage regulators and not many discreet components are the
balance of internal parts.
The LCD display is a self-managed module.

--
Cheers,
WB
..............

 

[msg]

Wild_Bill wrote:

Hi, I'm hoping someone will have some info to provide regarding a Kestra
Video Multiplexer with 24 camera inputs.

Did you just happen to buy this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kestra-KVM-24-Video-Multiplexer_W0QQitemZ270393824973QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0

Quite an impressive box; too bad the seller didn't have a power supply.
I imagine that you asked about it and potential documentation.

I recently got some Maxim video crossbar IC samples and began building a
32x32 matrix switcher (which I hope to complete later this year, time
permitting). Interesting that your box uses earlier Maxim mux ICs.

From your description, the PSU inputs drive rectifiers; how about
a variac driving a low voltage transformer while monitoring
the three-terminal devices downstream - crank it up until the
rails stabilize? Then it would be useful to check voltages on
the camera connectors and compare that to known power pins on the
Sony versions. Once powered you can empirically deduce the
signals in the camera connectors. Tracking down a real manual
is quite unlikely in this day and age; in my experience it
was a lot easier to do when companies had longer lives, support
was a decades-long commitment and documentation lived in
reference libraries rather than dumpsters.

On another subject, do you perchance have any documentation for a
Sigma Electronics TSG-440 sync generator/tsg? I have not yet requested
a manual (service) from the successor Sigma Technology and they
have no mention of the device on their website. For the moment,
I am curious about the signals on the rear panel BNCs labeled
SC SY BL and OPT; I had assumed that SY and SC were Y/C outputs
but observing these signals suggests otherwise.

Michael

 

[Wild_Bill]

Yep, that Kestra box in the auction is the one I'm attempting to decipher.
Several aspects seem weird about it, although they probably aren't big
hurdles.
The 3 power supplies seems goofy.

I was looking for some genlock, time code and other similar generators
recently, and saw some Sigma units in auctions, but I didn't really get too
enthused about them, since they looked old and required 120VAC. I don't have
any support documentation for Sigma gear.

I dunno if it applies to the unit you have, but SC on some broadcast
equipment refers to subcarrier/subcarrier phase and/or subcarrier phase
adjust.
Ahh.. a search for Sigma+TSG+440 brought up a link to the Broadcast
Store/BCS, and this site often has some in-depth info about equipment, so I
clicked the
Additional Model Brochure Information link, and there was this:
http://www.bcs.tv/store/prod_detail_generic.cfm?CFID=22593830&CFTOKEN=20881419&model_id=12325

I've been to the BCS site often, it's a good resource.
If that Sigma unit was a thrift store find, I'll have to stop by the local
ones to see what I've been missing.

I've bought some Horita generators, and they are very versatile, really
compact little boxes.
http://www.horita.com/alphabeticallist.htm

I've gotten several of these for about $10 each, on eBay and a local
hamfest, although they sell new in the $300-500 range. The manuals weren't
included for the generators (and Horita doesn't have them online), but they
can be figured out by going thru the different switch positions, and making
some notes.
What ya might call unbeatable value, as they are multi-purpose,
reconfigurable and multiple-output units. They operate on 9VDC, so they're
portable for field use.
I'm not certain that I'll need these generators, but since some of the
recent video equipment acquisitions have had more capabilities, I thought
I'd get some of these other devices in the event that I will need them.

I know exactly what you mean about finding useful documentation for
electronic gear, as I've had this sickness for a very long time. An advanced
degree in electronic engineering (and a library of data books) would be time
better spent, rather than having so much potentially good stuff turn into
extensive research projects.

Fortunately, there are often very helpful people in newsgroups, and
sometimes luck is involved in finding some other enthusiasts' websites
showing more info than one might've expected to find (not so often, though).

--
Cheers,
WB
..............


"msg" <msg@_cybertheque.org_> wrote in message
news:C9ednXliP4evKtTXnZ2dnUVZ_u6dnZ2d@posted.cpinternet...

Wild_Bill wrote:
Hi, I'm hoping someone will have some info to provide regarding a Kestra
Video Multiplexer with 24 camera inputs.

Did you just happen to buy this one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Kestra-KVM-24-Video-Multiplexer_W0QQitemZ270393824973QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0

Quite an impressive box; too bad the seller didn't have a power supply.
I imagine that you asked about it and potential documentation.

I recently got some Maxim video crossbar IC samples and began building a
32x32 matrix switcher (which I hope to complete later this year, time
permitting). Interesting that your box uses earlier Maxim mux ICs.

From your description, the PSU inputs drive rectifiers; how about
a variac driving a low voltage transformer while monitoring
the three-terminal devices downstream - crank it up until the
rails stabilize? Then it would be useful to check voltages on
the camera connectors and compare that to known power pins on the
Sony versions. Once powered you can empirically deduce the
signals in the camera connectors. Tracking down a real manual
is quite unlikely in this day and age; in my experience it
was a lot easier to do when companies had longer lives, support
was a decades-long commitment and documentation lived in
reference libraries rather than dumpsters.

On another subject, do you perchance have any documentation for a
Sigma Electronics TSG-440 sync generator/tsg? I have not yet requested
a manual (service) from the successor Sigma Technology and they
have no mention of the device on their website. For the moment,
I am curious about the signals on the rear panel BNCs labeled
SC SY BL and OPT; I had assumed that SY and SC were Y/C outputs
but observing these signals suggests otherwise.

Michael

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Wild_Bill wrote:

Yep, that Kestra box in the auction is the one I'm attempting to decipher.
Several aspects seem weird about it, although they probably aren't big
hurdles.
The 3 power supplies seems goofy.

Not really. There are lot of wideband op amps used in video
equipment that require a split rail to allow the video to hit zero volts
at the sync tips. and a +5 or +3.3 volt rail to power the control logic
is neccesary, to isolate the noise on the rail from the video. There
may be LDO regulators or for each camera, which would be why you can't
find anything on the 12 pin conectors. On the other hand, the cameras
it was made for may be line powered, or have other power requirements
provided by individual CCUs. It looks like you not only need a manual
but possibly software, or other equipment to use this item. On the
other hand, the maxim data sheets & application notes are good enough to
reverse engineer from.


--
You can't have a sense of humor, if you have no sense!