56 Chapter 5: Matrox Meteor-II hardware reference
RGB 8:8:8 (24-bit), RGB 5:6:5, YUV 4:2:2, and YUV 4:1:1 output pixel formats. Note that YUV 4:2:2 output pixel formats are grabbed as YUYV.
The video decoder on all form factors also features automatic gain control (AGC). However, you can disable this feature (MIL-Lite MdigControl() with
M_GRAB_AUTOMATIC_INPUT_GAIN set to M_DISABLE) and adjust the gain manually (MdigControl() with M_GRAB_INPUT_GAIN).
UART
Matrox Meteor-II /Standard for PCI and CompactPCI feature a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) that provides an RS-232 serial interface. For example, this allows you to remotely control a camera or a motion control unit, or remotely communicate with a program logic controller (PLC). The UART is programmed using the MIL-Lite command MdigControl() with the M_UART... control types.
Trigger
Matrox Meteor-II /Standard accepts an external trigger input which allows image acquisition to be synchronized to external events. The trigger is synchronous to the incoming video stream and it is received through an opto-coupler that helps isolate the rest of the circuitry from surges. Matrox Meteor-II /Standard operates in next valid frame/field mode. When in this mode, the digitizer waits for the next valid frame or field (as specified by the DCF file) before commencing the grab. This trigger mode functions in one of three ways:
■Edge-triggered monoshot acquisition: The VIA (Video Interface Asic) waits for the rising/falling* edge to capture a single frame.
■Edge-triggered continuous acquisition: The VIA waits for the rising/falling* edge to start a continous grab.
■Level-sensitive "continuous" acquisition: The VIA grabs continuously while the level of the trigger is high/low*.
*The polarity of the active and inactive levels of the trigger signal are software programmable.
