Matrox Morphis overview
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The Matrox Morphis family consists of three imaging boards capable of acquiring standard, monochrome/color, analog video: Matrox Morphis Dual, Matrox Morphis Quad, and Matrox Morphis QxT. Note that, for information regarding Matrox Morphis QxT, refer to the the Matrox Morphis QxT chapter in the MIL Hardware-specific Notes hardware-specific chapter.
Matrox Morphis Dual can be purchased with an acquisition section. There are four factory-configured versions of Matrox Morphis Dual: Matrox Morphis Dual Standard, Matrox Morphis eDual Standard, Matrox Morphis Dual High Density Connector (HDC), and Matrox Morphis Dual PC/104-Plus.
Matrox Morphis Quad can be purchased solely as a frame grabber. There are two factory configured versions of Matrox Morphis Quad: a PCI-X version and a PCIe version. The PCIe version has the same features as the PCI-X version except that it connects to the Host via a x1 PCIe bus.
Common features
The Matrox Morphis family of frame grabbers can simultaneously capture from multiple cameras using independent acquisition paths. In addition, Matrox Morphis can switch the capture (channel switch) between cameras of the same type. The Matrox Morphis family of frame grabbers can perform ultra-fast switching when they are not grabbing from several acquisition paths simultaneously.
The Matrox Morphis family of video decoders can accept composite (CVBS) and component (Y/C) video in NTSC/PAL formats, and monochrome video in RS-170/CCIR, both of which have square pixels. Grabbed data can be converted into the following formats: RGB planar, BGR32 packed, YUV16 packed (stored in YUYV format), and 8-bit monochrome.
Formatting features of Matrox Morphis include cropping (ROI capture), subsampling to 1/16th of a field or frame, and vertical/horizontal flipping.
Matrox Morphis Dual
Matrox Morphis Dual Standard can simultaneously capture from any two connected, supported, asynchronous video sources, using its two independent acquisition paths. On the bracket of its base board, you can connect up to 4 cameras.
Matrox Morphis eDual Standard provides the same features as Matrox Morphis Dual Standard except that it connects to the Host via a x1 PCIe slot. Therefore, when this manual refers to both versions of the Standard, it will refer to them as Matrox Morphis eDual/Dual Standard.
Matrox Morphis Dual HDC provides the same features as Matrox Morphis eDual/Dual Standard, except the HDC version has a high density 44-pin video input connector on its bracket to directly support connection with up to 16 CVBS/monochrome or 8 Y/C video sources, or a combination of both.
Matrox Morphis Quad
Matrox Morphis Quad is a frame grabber that can simultaneously capture from any four connected, supported, asynchronous video sources, using its four independent acquisition paths. If not simultaneously capturing from four video sources, Matrox Morphis Quad can perform ultra-fast switching. Note that Matrox Morphis Quad does not support triggered grabs (MdigControl() with the M_GRAB_TRIGGER...).
Matrox Morphis Video and I/O Input modules
There are two modules available for Matrox Morphis: the Video and I/O Input module and the Video Input module. You can connect the Matrox Morphis Video and I/O Input module to the Matrox Morphis eDual/Dual Standard, Dual HDC, and Quad. You can connect the Matrox Morphis Video Input module only to the Matrox Morphis eDual/Dual Standard and Quad. Note that you can only connect a single Matrox Morphis Video and I/O module to the base board, and that Matrox Morphis Video and I/O module and the Matrox Morphis Video Input module are mutually exclusive.
Using optional expansion modules with a Matrox Morphis eDual/Dual Standard or Quad, you can extend the number of video sources that can be connected. You can use up to three Matrox Morphis Video Input modules and to each module, connect the same number of video sources as is supported by the base board. Alternatively, you can use a single expansion module, the Matrox Morphis Video and I/O module, and connect an additional 12 CVBS/monochrome or 6 Y/C video sources, or a combination of both.
Summary of Matrox Morphis features
The following table outlines the features currently available for each member of the Matrox Morphis family of frame grabbers.
|
Matrox Morphis features |
Morphis eDual/Dual Standard |
Morphis Dual HDC |
Morphis Quad |
|
Acquisition memory |
16 Mbytes |
16 Mbytes |
16 Mbytes |
|
Number of data channels |
4/16 1 |
16 |
4/16 1 |
|
Number of independent acquisition paths |
2 |
2 |
4 |
|
Number of supported triggers |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Watchdog supported |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Number of supported UARTS |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Number of auxiliary signals |
16 |
16 |
16 |
|
Custom software-based motion detection supported |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Board format |
PCI |
PCI |
PCI-X |
|
Matrox Morphis Video and I/O Input module supported |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Matrox Morphis Video Input module |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
1 Four data channels are supported on the base board; 16 are supported if using either one Video and I/O module or three Video Input modules.
Note on nomenclature
This manual refers to all Matrox Morphis boards as Matrox Morphis. When necessary, it distinguishes between them using their full name.