Instruction Manual colorCONTROL Software C4 colorSENSOR OT-3-MA-200 OT-3-GL-200 OT-3-HR-200
PC software for Microsoft® Windows® Vista, XP, 2000, NT® 4.0, Me, 98, 95 MICRO-EPSILON Eltrotec GmbH Heinckelstraße 2 D-73066 Uhingen / Germany Tel. +49/7161/98872-300 Fax +49/7161/98872-303 e-mail eltrotec@micro-epsilon.de www.micro-epsilon.com Certified acc.
Manual Software colorCONTROL C4 V6.4 (PC software for Microsoft® Windows® Vista, XP, 2000, NT® 4.0, Me, 98, 95) for color sensors colorSENSOR OT-3-MA-200-20 colorSENSOR OT-3-GL-200-20 colorSENSOR OT-3-HR-200-20 with internal temperature compensation and white light balancing This manual describes the installation of the PC software for the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 color sensor.
0 Contents Page 1. Installation of the colorCONTROL C4 software .................................................................................... 3 2. Operation of the colorCONTROL C4 software ..................................................................................... 4 2.1 Tab CONNECT ......................................................................................................................... 5 2.2 Tab PARA, button SEND, GET, GO, STOP (parameterization, data exchange) .....
1 Installation of the colorCONTROL C4 software Hardware requirements for successful installation of the colorCONTROL C4 software: • • • • • • • • IBM PC AT or compatible VGA graphics Microsoft® Windows® Vista, XP, Me, 2000, NT® 4.0, 98, or 95 Serial RS232 interface at the PC Microsoft-compatible mouse Cable for the RS232 interface CD-ROM drive Approx. 5 MByte of free hard disk space The colorCONTROL C4 software can only be installed under Windows.
2 Operation of the colorCONTROL C4 software Please read this chapter first before you start to adjust and parameterize the colorSENSOR OT3-...-200-20 color sensor. Pressing the right mouse button on an individual element will call up a short help text.
2.1 Tab CONNECT CONNECT: Pressing the CONNECT tab opens a window for selecting and configuring the interface. The COMMUNICATION PROTOCOL function field is used for selecting either an RS232 or a TCP/IP protocol. If RS232 is selected, a port from 1 to 256 can be selected with SELECT COM PORT, depending on which port the sensor is connected to. The sensor operates with a set baudrate that can be modified with CHANGE BAUDRATE (see below).
The baudrate for data transfer through the RS232 interface can be set by means of the SELECT BAUDRATE drop down menu and CHANGE BAUDRATE function field. This is necessary if a high-speed connection is needed for data transfer through the serial interface. If the baudrate should be changed, a connection must first be established by clicking on TRY TO CONNECT. The CHANGE BAUDRATE button will then be active. Now a new baudrate can be selected under SELECT BAUDRATE.
2.2 Tab PARA, button SEND, GET, GO, STOP PARA: Pressing the PARA tab opens a window for setting the sensor parameters. ATTENTION! A change of the parameter function groups only becomes effective at the sensor after actuation of the SEND button in the MEM function field! SEND [F9]: When the SEND button is clicked (or shortcut key button F9 is pressed), all the currently set parameters are transferred between PC and sensor.
EVALUATION MODE: This function field serves for setting the evaluation mode at the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 color sensor. All the evaluation modes apply to all CALCULATION MODE = X/Y INT, s/i M, X/Y/INT and i/i/M. The TEACH TABLE is correspondingly adapted depending on the CALCULATION MODE. The following explanation uses CALCULATION MODE = X/Y INT. FIRST HIT: The currently measured color values are compared with the default values in the TEACH TABLE, starting with teachcolor 0.
BEST HIT: The currently measured color values are compared with the default values in the TEACH TABLE, starting with teachcolor 0. If in the row-by-row comparison the current color values correspond with several of the teach parameters entered in the color table, the teach parameter that has the shortest x/y distance from the current color value will be a hit. This "hit" in the TEACH TABLE is displayed as a color number (C-No.) and is output at the digital outputs (OUT0 ...
MIN DIST: The individual teach-in colors defined in the TEACH TABLE are present as points in the color triangle, defined by their (X,Y) value pairs. When this evaluation mode is set at the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 color sensor, the evaluation algorithm, starting from the currently measured color value (X,Y), calculates the distance to the individual teach-in colors in the color triangle. The current color value (X,Y) is assigned to the teach-in color that is closest in the color triangle.
CALCULATION MODE: X/Y INT: The X/Y pairs of the individual red, green, and blue components, and the intensity are used for evaluation. For X/Y a color tolerance CTO can be set, and for the intensity an INT tolerance ITO can be set. With the individual tolerances the color is represented as a cylinder in space (see picture below). CTO defines the diameter of the cylinder, and ITO the height of the cylinder.
INT, M CALCULATION MODE: X/Y/INT s/i/M radius) P (X, Y, INT) P (s, i, M) Y, i X, s (0.
POWER MODE: In this function field the operating mode of automatic power correction at the transmitter unit (transmitter LED) can be set. STATIC: The transmitter power is constantly kept at the value set with the POWER slider (recommended operation mode). DYNAMIC: The LED transmitter power is dynamically controlled in accordance with the amount of radiation that is diffusely reflected from the object.
TRIGGER: This function field serves for setting the trigger mode at the colorSENSOR OT3-...-200-20 color sensor. If TRIGGER is not CONT, the TRIG LED shows a trigger event. CONT: Continuous color detection (no trigger event required). SELF: By selecting SELF the sensor can be operated in self-trigger mode. The "free status" must be taught to row 0. With a split optical fibre in transmitted-light operation the free status, for example, is the uncovered status.
TEACH PROCESS WITH EXTEACH=ON: Through IN0 or by way of the button at the sensor housing, the sensor can be taught up to 31 colors. In EVALUATION MODE = FIRST HIT the currently present color is taught to all active rows depending on MAXCOL-No. In EVALUATION MODE = BEST HIT, MIN DIST, and COL5 a single row in the TEACH TABLE can be selected with the teach button or through IN0. The example shows the external teaching of 4 colors in EVALUATION MODE = BEST HIT. Select the EXTERN TEACH = ON function.
Before the external teach-process can be started, the color to be taught must be presented to the sensor. The external teach process is started with a positive edge at IN0 (green wire). When such a positive edge is applied, the output LEDs (OUT0 ... OUT4) start to blink. From now on, the user has a certain number of seconds time to inform the sensor about the position at which the color information (X,Y,INT) should be placed in the TEACH TABLE.
INTLIM: This edit box is used for setting an intensity limit. Color evaluation is stopped, if the current intensity INT arriving at the receiver unit falls below this limit, and ERROR STATE is output. Attention: ERROR STATE if: INT < INTLIM MAXCOL-No.: This function field serves for setting the number of colors to be checked. In the BINARY mode the maximum number of colors to be checked is 31. In the DIRECT HI or DIRECT LO mode the maximum number of colors to be checked is 5 (colors no. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4).
2.3 Tab TEACH TABLE When the GO button is pressed, data transfer from the sensor to the PC is started. The respective RED, GREEN, and BLUE contents are shown by way of the bars beside the graph. The calculated X, Y, INT or s,i,M values are visualised in the displays. X or s: This numerical value output field displays the RED content (x-axis) of the scattered light currently arriving at the receiver.
TEACH TABLE: TEACH TABLE opens a view where colors can be taught to the TEACH TABLE. Please note: The sensor must be informed about the teach colors by pressing SEND. After a left mouse button double click (or a click on shortcut key button F2) on the respective field the default values can be changed by entering numerical values with the PC keyboard. The TEACH TABLE is organized in rows, i.e. the individual parameters for the teach-in colors are arranged side by side in the respective row.
The following panel will be displayed after a click on TEACH MEAN VALUES. The Teach Panel can be used in every EVALUATION and CALCULATION MODE. The explanation herein uses the EVALUATION MODE=BEST HIT and the CALCULATION MODE=X/Y INT. The main panel remains active, and data are automatically picked up from the sensor and are displayed. A click on the CAPTURE button enters a parameter frame in the table. The COUNTER display field shown how many frames have already been recorded.
2.4 Tab TABLE ATTRIBUTES TABLE ATTRIBUTES: A click on TABLE ATTRIBUTES opens a panel where the row color in which the individual tolerance circuits are represented can be individually chosen or these can be automatically replaced by the color detected by the system. Furthermore, designations for the individual rows can be entered in the SPECIFICATION table. These designations are saved on the PC's hard disk and can be loaded again, if necessary.
2.5 Tab GROUPS GROUPS: GROUPS opens a view where colors in the TEACH TABLE can be assigned to certain groups. Please note: The sensor must be informed about the color groups by pressing SEND. It is possible to form color groups in evaluation modes FIRST HIT, BEST HIT, and MIN DIST. This means that in a special table the individual rows are assigned to a group. In this example, COLOR GROUPS has been set to ON, i.e. group evaluation is activated. Rows 0 and 1 have been assigned to group 0.
2.6 Tab RECORDER The colorCONTROL C4 software features a data recorder that allows the saving of RED, GREEN, BLUE, X, Y, INT, C-No: and TEMP. The recorded file is saved to the hard disk of the PC and can then be evaluated with a spreadsheet program. The file that is created has eight columns and as many rows as data frames were recorded. A row is structured as follows: Date and time, RED, GREEN, BLUE, X, Y, INT, C-No:, TEMP.
Step 2: If you want to automatically record several data frames, please select AUTO LIMITED under RECORD MORE. Enter a time interval for recording under RECORD-TIME INTERVAL [sec], in this example: 1, i.e. a new value is called from the sensor every second). Then enter the maximum number of values you wish to record in the RECORD VALUES [MAX 50 000] field. Please note: Recording can also be stopped earlier by clicking STOP RECORD, the data recorded so far will not be lost.
2.7 Tab CALIBRATE 2.7.1 White light balancing White light balancing can be performed with the sensors of the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 series. Balancing can be performed to any white surface. A ColorCheckerTM table with 24 color fields according to CIE standard is available as an alternative, and white light balancing or calibration can then be performed to one of the white fields.
Calculation example for determining the calibration factors In the example in the picture below, a POWER value at which the three bars of the raw signals RAW DATA are in the dynamic range has been set. Each of the three bars is at approx. 3600 digits. It is thus appropriate to set a setpoint value of 3600 (see SETVALUE FOR R,G,B) for the three bars.
In the following the individual steps for calibrating the sensors are described: INFO: The individual pop-up windows are intended as a help to guide you through the calibration process. ATTENTION: It is a prerequisite for successful calibration that the sensor front-end is calibrated to a white surface. Step 1: First of all a suitable POWER value must be found such that the RAW DATA for RED, GREEN and BLUE lie in the dynamic range (upper third of the bar display).
2.7.2 Offset calibration To avoid an increase of the electronic offset when using the integral function (INTEGRAL parameter), this offset can be eliminated by way of offset calibration or zero-point calibration. The corresponding tab is passwordprotected to prevent inadvertent incorrect settings. e.g. here: Double-click with the right mouse button Offset calibration can be accessed by double-clicking with the right mouse button at any place between the individual elements in the CALIBRATE tab.
2.8 Graphic display elements SOURCE: A click on the arrow button opens a selection field for the selection of a display mode in the graphic display window. RAW RGB : XY or s/i : INT or M: The current raw signals of the 3-fold receiver (red, green, blue) are displayed. Display of the color triangle as well as of the X/Y or s/i coordinates of the currently determined color. The currently determined intensity INT or M is displayed. X/Y INT or s/i M: X/Y or s/i pairs are displayed in a zoomed graph.
delta C:] This display (delta color) shows the deviation from a color hit, delta C corresponds with ΔE that is calculated in a color measurement. In FIRST HIT evaluation mode delta C represents the distance from a color hit. When no color has been hit, delta C is calculated in relation to the last valid color in the color table (depending on MAXCOL-No.). In BEST HIT and MIN DIST evaluation mode delta C also represents the distance from a color hit.
3. Short instructions for the operation of color sensors with the colorCONTROL C4 V6.4 software These instructions describe how to perform quick teaching of the color sensors of colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 series with the colorCONTROL C4 V6.4 software interface. Basically there are 2 methods of teaching a color. These methods can be set with CALCULATION MODE. The CALCULATION MODE = X/Y/INT (or s/i/M) uses a color sphere in space with radius TOL.
The text below describes a teach process with EVALUATION MODE = BEST HIT and CALCULATION MODE = X/Y/INT. Step 1: Prior to the use of the software aids (graphic display of sensor signals) the sensor must be manually adjusted to the respective target or background as accurately as possible. The reference distance of the sensor to the target is defined in the data sheet of the respective sensor. Please make sure that the sensor is properly connected and supplied with power.
Step 3: Please make sure that for the time being RAM and not EEPROM is selected for the data exchange with the sensor (RAM is a volatile memory in the sensor, i.e. the data will be lost when power is turned off. EEPROM is a non-volatile memory in the sensor, i.e. the data will not be lost when power is turned off.) All the other parameters should be set as shown in the picture below. Press the tab PARA to show the parameters. (See the FILE function in the operating instructions.) Now press the GO button.
Step 4: An X and a Y coordinate as well as an intensity INT are calculated from the RED, GREEN, and BLUE data. X = (R*4095) / (R+G+B) Y = (G*4095) / (R+G+B) INT = (R+G+B) / 3 Press the GO button once again to read out the current data. Press STOP to stop the data exchange. Now use the tab TEACH TABLE to switch to the TEACH TABLE. Select a row under No.: to which the currently present color should be taught. (ATTENTION: Only the rows marked with green numbers are evaluated by the sensor.
A color is only recognised if its current coordinates lie in the tolerance circle. Step 5: For teaching additional colors please make sure that the sensor head is directed onto the respective color. Then repeat the procedure starting from step 4. Step 6: When you have taught all the channels, please select EEPROM and press SEND to save the data to the nonvolatile memory of the sensor. For the meaning and handling of the remaining parameters please refer to this manual.
4. Operation of the TEMPCOMP-Scope software If a firmware update should go wrong and the temperature characteristics that are stored in the EEPROM should be lost, these characteristics must be created anew. For this purpose you will need a file with the corresponding data. This file can be obtained from your supplier. To perform temperature compensation please start the corresponding TEMPCOMP-Scope software that is included on the supplied CD.
5. External triggering of the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 color sensor External triggering is performed through pin no. 3 (grn) at the 8-pole socket of the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20/PLC connection. EXTERN: First the external trigger mode must be set at the color sensor. For this purpose option EXT1, EXT2, EXT3, or EXT4 must be selected in the TRIGGER selection field.
6. Function of the LED display LED display: BINARY The color code is visualised by way of 5 yellow LEDs at the housing of the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 color sensor. At the same time in the binary mode (OUT BINARY) the color code indicated on the LED display is output as 5-bit binary information at the digital outputs OUT0 to OUT4 of the 8-pin colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20/PLC socket. The colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 color sensor is able to process a maximum of 31 colors (color code 0 ...
DIRECT HI: In the DIRECT mode (OUT DIRECT HI or OUT DIRECT LO) the maximum numbers of colors to be taught is 5 (color no. 0, 1, 2, 3, 4). If DIRECT HI is activated, the specially digital output is set to HI, while the other 4 are set to LO. If the current color does not correspond with any of the teach-in colors, color C-No = 0 is set, i.e. all digital outputs are set to LOW (no LED is lighting).
7. Connector assignment of the colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 color sensor Connection of colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 to PC: 5-pole female connector (type Binder 712) colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20/PC-RS232 Pin No.: 1 2 3 4 5 Assignment: 0V (GND) TxD RxD Not connected Not connected Connection of colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 to PLC: 8-pole female connector (type Binder 712) colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20/PLC Pin No.
8. RS232 communication protocol RS232 communication protocol PC ⇔ colorSENSOR OT-3-...-200-20 Sensor (colorCONTROL C4 V6.4) - Standard RS232 serial interface without hardware-handshake - 3-wire: GND, TX0, RX0 - Speed: 19200 baud factory setting, can be changed (example 190) to 9600, 19200, 38400, 57600, 115200 8 data-bits, no parity-bit, 1 stop-bit in binary mode, us (unsigned), MSB (most significant byte) first. The control device (PC or PLC) has to send a data frame of 18 words to the Sensor.
Example 1: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 1: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 1): WRITE parameters from PC into RAM of the sensor! The completely data frame = 18 words must be sent to the sensor hardware in binary form (sync-word / order-word / 16 parameter words). DATA FRAME PC Æ Sensor (18 WORDS) 0x0055 1 200 0 1024 0 10 10 5 0 0 0 0 3000 3500 0 1 0 SYNC.-WORD ORDER-WORD POWER POWER MODE AVERAGE EVALUATION MODE HOLD INTLIM MAXCOL-No.
Example 2: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 2: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 2): WRITE one selectable row (vector) of TEACH TABLE into RAM of the sensor! The completely data frame = 18 words must be sent to the sensor in binary form. (sync-word / order-word / ROW-NO / parameter words = vector, dummies). Fill unused words of the TEACH VECTOR by value word=1 in binary form. CALCMODE = X/Y INT respectively s/i M DATA FRAME PC Æ Sensor (18 WORDS) 0x0055 2 0 1200 1500 200 2000 200 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 SYNC.
Example 4: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 4: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 4): READ one selectable row (vector) from RAM of the sensor! The same frame as example 2 must be sent to the sensor except of the order word that must be 4. The values for the parameters must be sent as Dummies. The complete DATA FRAME which is responded by the sensor is 18 words.
Example 6: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 6: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 6): SAVE parameters from RAM to EEPROM of the sensor! The complete data frame = 18 words must be sent to the sensor in binary form (sync-word / order-word / 16 parameter words). DATA FRAME PC Æ Sensor (18 WORDS) 0x0055 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SYNC.
Example 7: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 7: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 7): SEND CONNECTION OK from the sensor! Cf. example 1: Send the same DATA FRAME but with ORDER NUMBER 7 to the sensor. The sensor will reply with 18 words which tell the version of the sensor.
Example 20: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 20: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 20): SEND LINE OK from the sensor to PC! Cf. example 1: Send the same DATA FRAME but with ORDER NUMBER 20 to the sensor. The sensor will reply with the same18 words but with SYNC-WORD=0x00AA which tell that there is a connection.
Example 31: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 31: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 31): Write calibration factors Offset RED, Offset GREEN, Offset BLUE from PC into EEPROM! The completely data frame = 18 words must be sent to the sensor hardware in binary form (sync-word / order-word / 16 parameter words). DATA FRAME PC Æ Sensor (18 WORDS) 0x0055 31 VALUE VALUE VALUE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 SYNC.
Example 32: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 32: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 32): READ calibration factor RED, GREEN, BLUE and Offset RED, Offset GREEN, Offset BLUE from the EEPROM of the sensor! The same frame as example 30 must be sent to the sensor except of the order word that must be 32. The values do not affect the sensor. The complete DATA FRAME which is responded by the sensor is 18 words.
Example 190: DATA FRAME with ORDER NUMBER = 190: ORDER NUMBER (second word = 190): Write new baud rate to sensor. Attention! New baud rate is only in the RAM. To store the new baud rate to EEPROM refer to example 6. baud rate is coded to: 0 9600 Bit/s 1 19200 Bit/s 2 38400 Bit/s 3 57600 Bit/s 4 115200 Bit/s The completely data frame = 18 words must be sent to the sensor hardware in binary form with old baud rate (sync-word / order-word / 16 parameter words).
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