Universal RCP Operation Manual
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Index General Description ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Data System Description ................................................................................................................................. 2 Basic Operation ............................................................................................................................................
Universal RCP – Operation Manual General Description The Camera Corps Universal RCP provides comprehensive control of many different makes and models of video camera. Up to six cameras of different makes and models can be controlled from a single panel. The data output can be distributed on a single audio cable over long distances to the camera locations providing a very versatile system of control. The control functions are not limited by any particular camera type.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual To assist in testing and setting up the system it is possible to generate data test signals in the form of cue/tally light commands. The RCP will generate a cue/tally command from the ‘cue test’ action button which will light the cue indicator on both the Joystick controller and the interface box if everything is working correctly.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Menu Structure At the end of this manual there are flow charts showing the four main menu trees. These can be used as a ‘quick reference’ to see what menus are available, although for the ‘Main’ and ‘Eng’ menus it will depend on the camera make and model selected, as to which menus are available. The Menu shown here will always be described as the ‘Home Menu’.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Also note that any changes made in this menu will reset all the camera values and settings to their defaults. MENU Press the right hand Menu Select button to move on to the next Setup Menu. This menu is used to assign a particular ID number to the selected channel button. This can be useful where the cameras and interface boxes are already rigged with the interface box ID’s already set.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Next is a menu to allow adjustment of the contrast of the LCD display. This can vary in different ambient temperatures and can be adjusted as necessary here. The ‘Warn Beep’ function can be turned on or off if it becomes annoying! When a button is pressed for some function which is not available for a particular camera model there will be warning screen displayed for a few seconds accompanied by a ‘beep’ if it is enabled in this menu.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual IR This selects an infra-red mode for a camera if available. It may also lead to an ‘auto’ mode where the threshold at which the infra-red mode switches on and off automatically can be adjusted. AWC Mode This selects the colour balancing mode of the camera. Typical settings would be ‘Manual’ for allowing use of the colour control knobs to manually set the colour. 5600k, or 3200k will set preset colour values for lighting of those colour temperatures.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual V Detail This is similar to the above H Detail but increases the sharpness of horizontal lines in an image. Detail Band This adjusts the frequency at which the detail correction circuitry in the camera operates. White Clip This adjusts the white clipping level of the camera output. Must be adjusted while viewing the camera output on a waveform monitor. Aspect This adjusts the aspect ratio of the picture.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Aux Menus The Aux menus are accessed by pressing the third function button from the left while the Home menu is displayed. These Aux menus provide access to switch functions such as Wash, Wipe etc and the Pan, Tilt, Zoom and Focus controls for adjusting a remote head if it is being used.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual The Iris button would normally be used where a lens has a small DC motor to drive the iris. This would allow ‘Normal’ or ‘Reverse’ to be selected so that when operating the main iris control knob the direction of the motor can be changed.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual It also provides a quick way to get the camera back to particular settings if it has been switched off over night. White Balance The white balance button does just what you would expect, it starts a white balance operation. With quite a few of the small minicams this is only possible when the AWC mode is set to a mode where the manual controls do not work. This is clearly a bit of a disadvantage as manual operation is nearly always required in outdoor situations.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Auto The Auto button just above the Iris control is used to set the camera to auto exposure control. Depending on the camera type this may be done using the normal lens iris to control exposure based on picture content. There is usually about ±1 stop override available on the iris control set the ‘aiming point’ of the overall exposure. With some cameras the shutter (and/or gain) is used to set the auto exposure.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Setting Up Select ‘Setup’ from the Home Menu and then choose the required camera type for the first 3D channel while the Channel 1 button is selected. If a second 3D channel is MENU required, select the required camera type for this with channel 4 SELECT selected. Note that only the Left channel camera type needs to be set manually at this stage.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Operation with the Camera Corps Multi-Camera Keypad The Multi-Camera Keypad expands the number of cameras that can be controlled from 6 to 96. A single Keypad may be connected to both a Joystick controller and an RCP at the same time, or the Joystick and RCP may have separate Keypads to control them independently. It is not possible to setup 3D camera control modes when using the Keypad mode of operation.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual The channel select buttons will be displayed as green for one set of values and red for the other set. Pressing the channel select button will change the button colour from green to red or vice versa, and at the same time send the new camera data to each of the camera ID’s in that group. If a group has no camera ID’s stored in it then that channel select button will remain unlit.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual ADDENDUM There are a number of ‘special’ features which can be accessed which have not been described above. These can be accessed by holding down the ‘Auto’ button and then pressing one of the channel buttons to perform the action. AUTO + Channel 1 button:This displays the serial no. of the RCP. AUTO + Channel 2 button:When upgrading from the standard RCP to the 3D version you will need to enter a code to activate the 3D modes.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual RCP Panel - Master Set-up Menus Sony Q-Ball IR Channel 1 ID 1 Menu Selection Main Eng Aux Setup This main menu select screen can be reached at any time by repeated presses of the top left menu button. Note that if a ‘menu’ or ‘function’ button is illuminated it will perform some action. If unlit it will have no effect. MASTER SETUP Enter Password? Before proceeding with the set-up menus a password must be entered.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual RCP Panel - Main Menus Hitachi DK-H100 Channel 1 ID 1 Menu Selection Main Eng Aux Setup Hitachi DK-H100 Channel 1 ID 1 Filt ND Filt CC Clear 5600k Performs filter changes for both ND and colour filters when these are available. Hitachi DK-H100 Channel 1 ID 1 IR AWC Mode Off Manual IR sets various modes of infra red operation. Usually Off/On/Auto. AWC Modes set the operation mode of the colour balancing. Manual, Auto, Fixed etc.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual RCP Panel - Eng Menus Hitachi DK-H100 Channel 1 ID 1 Menu Selection Main Eng Aux Setup Hitachi DK-H100 Channel 1 ID 1 H Detail V Detail 8 8 Sets H & V Detail values. Note that more settings for detail can usually be found in the On Screen Display Menus. Hitachi DK-H100 Channel 1 ID 1 H Phase ColPhase 127 180 H Phase sets the line timing when using Genlock. Colour Phase sets 0, 90, 180, or 270 coarse values.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual RCP Panel - Aux Menus Sony Q-Ball IR Channel 1 ID 1 Menu Selection Main Eng Aux Setup Sony Q-Ball IR Channel 1 ID 1 PTZF Wipe Wash Sw1 This screen allows some basic switch functions to be transmitted to the Interface Box. Also, it is possible to enter the Pan, Tilt, Zoom and Focus menus from here This main menu select screen can be reached at any time by repeated presses of the top left menu button.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Typical Configuration Diagrams Wiring Configuration for RCP control of Q-Ball 12v PSU AC CAMERA CORPS Q Ball Camera 1 Hi t a c h i D K – H3 2 Chan nel ID 1 Me n u S e l e c t i o n ID 1 Main En g A u x S et up Joystick PTZF Controller RCP Controller Note that the data from the RCP and/or the Joystick Controller may be split to other Joysticks/Cameras.
Universal RCP – Operation Manual Connector Wiring Details 15 way ‘D’ Male on RCP – Power and Data Connections 1 +12v 2 +12v 3 +12v 4 RS232 test output 5 No connection 6 0v (program) – Do not connect 7 Balanced audio O/P 8 Balanced audio O/P 9 0v 10 0v 11 0v 12 MCLR (program and Reset) – Do not connect 13 PGD (program) – Do not connect 14 PGC (program) – Do not connect 15 +5v (program) – Do not connect 9 way ‘D’ Male on RCP – RS422 communications 1 +5v power O/P 2 No connection 3 CMOS level RS422 I/P monitor
Universal RCP – Operation Manual RCP - Specifications Channels Six camera control channels may be set to control either six individual cameras, or 1 x 3D rig (two cameras) + 3 individual cameras, or 2 x 3D rigs (four cameras). In individual control mode all six cameras may be different makes/models. In 3D control mode each 3D channel may have different camera types for each rig. Standard or Multi-camera ID’s may be assigned to any channel button either in individual or 3D modes.
