QUALITY MIPI Frame Grabber & Image Frame Grabber FACTORY

The world is constantly changing. Dothinkey has been offering CPHY Image Grabbers for over three years. With the rapid development of smartphone cameras and the continuous introduction of high-pixel and high-frame-rate sensors, the demand for sensor output communication bandwidth has increased, inevitably driving the continuous evolution of standard protocols. As a result, the CPHY standard has been updated to version V3.0. Recently, a sensor manufacturer launched a CPHY sensor that supports LRTE mode. The main difference between LRTE mode and previous modes is the frequency of LP (Low-Power) mode occurrences. Previously, LP mode appeared in every line, but in LRTE mode, the frequency of LP mode is reduced to a frame-based interval. In high-speed transmission and when the module is usually far from the receiving end, LRTE mode is very beneficial for signal stability and noise reduction. It should be particularly noted that MIPI protocol standard CSI-2 versions below V2.0 (usually V1.2) do not support this feature. If the Image Grabber solution uses a dedicated MIPI decoding chip, it may not support standards V2.0 and above, resulting in the inability to display images. Fortunately, most of Dothinkey's Image Grabbers are based on FPGA technology, which allows for real-time online updates. This type of Image Grabber solution can continuously upgrade the "decoding logic" according to customer needs. Therefore, when Dothinkey received the corresponding customer demand, the engineers immediately initiated the programming upgrade work. After their efforts, the issue has been resolved. Dothinkey is pleased to announce to all customers that after upgrading the firmware, the company's 10 Gigabit Network Image Grabber now supports this feature, bringing good news to customers.

Static electricity is hard to guard against. Not long ago, I was in Jincheng and got electrostatic shocks four times in the hotel. It was really scary! Many customers have damaged our test boards due to static electricity issues! Eventually, we had to enhance the ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection level to make it work. But today, some customers have been complained about by the mobile phone companies, saying there is leakage in the I2C and MIPI interfaces, and the devices are not lighting up at the terminal. However, the Image Grabber can still light up. Here, I want to tell all of you that the strictness of different mobile phone platforms varies. Some are very strict, while others are quite lenient. As a manufacturer of camera Image Grabbers, if we are too strict, some module factories will complain, saying that other companies' Image Grabbers can light up, but why can't Dothinkey Image Grabber? If we loosen the standards, some projects will ask why the device doesn't light up at the terminal, but the Dothinkey Image Grabber can. It's really hard to satisfy everyone. Before Dothinkey introduced the all-in-one Image Grabber, the Image Grabber was generally only responsible for outputting images. After Dothinkey Technology realized the industry's need for testing images, current, and open/short circuits together, the Image Grabber's functions expanded a bit. However, it still couldn't solve all the problems. For example, the leakage current test required in the semiconductor industry is beyond the capabilities of the all-in-one Image Grabber. Fortunately, Dothinkey Technology had developed the four-in-one DTLC Image Grabber a few years ago. The DTLC2 can support parallel port and MIPI image testing, current testing, open/short circuit testing, and leakage current testing. With this leakage current testing function, the static electricity breakdown issue can be easily intercepted today! No need to worry about fines from mobile phone companies, or the cancellation of orders! So easy! Performing leakage current testing is quite challenging. It requires relays, not electronic switches. It must be able to detect nanoampere (nA) currents and test in both positive and negative directions. Dothinkey DTLC2 is the perfect choice! In the figure above, any value that is not zero indicates a leakage current issue. Dear camera customers, if you are troubled by static electricity breakdowns, use the Dothinkey Image Grabber DTLC2 to intercept the issues! It's definitely worth it! Feel free to contact us! Once intercepted, the mood is as pleasant and happy as this beautiful scenery!

For module manufacturers, extending the distance between the module and the Image Grabber has always been a challenging issue. Due to the structural limitations of automated equipment, it is often necessary to extend the distance, with some cases requiring up to 60 cm. However, MIPI is a protocol originally designed for connections between mobile device chips, not for connections between components, which means its transmission distance is inherently limited. Using ordinary connectors and cables makes extension extremely difficult. Production engineers have been suffering from this problem. If the speed is too high, the connection becomes unstable, and sometimes no image is displayed; if the speed is too low, it severely affects efficiency. We live in a rapidly changing world, and it is fortunate to be in an era of continuous technological progress. Thanks to advancements in technology, Dothinkey has developed its own dedicated extension cable solution. Currently, extension cables are available in standard lengths of 20 cm, 40 cm, and 60 cm. The 20 cm and 40 cm lengths are more commonly used, while the 60 cm length is less frequently requested. However, there are still customers inquiring about it, and custom orders are required for this length. Is it possible to achieve long-distance transmission of up to 60 cm? The answer is yes. So far, Dothinkey has conducted some tests, and some modules can still function normally with a 60 cm extension. Based on the actual test results, the MIPI speed difference between 60 cm and 40 cm is not significant, depending on the design characteristics of the module's circuitry. The quality of the cable is indeed commendable. DothinkeyAppendix: Measured Rate vs. Extension Cable Length Chart (for reference only, actual results may vary):Dothinkey Note that this is a curve simulation and not an exact representation of the actual situation. The data points shown are based on actual measurements. It is recommended that all applications be verified through actual testing. In some cases, it may be necessary to reduce the speed for longer extensions. If you are troubled by this issue, or if you are experiencing problems with image display or low speed due to extension difficulties, you can consult and design with Dothinkey. We will do our utmost to meet your satisfaction.

In the automated production process of camera module factories, the Image Grabber, as a core component of automated testing equipment, plays a pivotal role despite its small size. Its efficiency determines the efficiency of the automated equipment, and its stability determines the stability of the automated equipment. Dothinkey Technology has been committed to providing the latest and best products for China's camera industry for 18 years. The Dothinkey Image Grabber has long been known for its stability and reliability. However, real-world scenarios are extremely complex. As shown in the figure above, "connection" is the key:   1. The connection between Image Grabber #2 and Camera #3 through fixtures and adapter boards;  2. The connection between Computer #1 and Image Grabber #2. There are several reasons that can cause the connection between Image Grabber #2 and Camera #3 to fail:   1. The Image Grabber #2 itself or its connector fails;  2. The fixture pins between Image Grabber #2 and Camera #3 are partially or completely faulty (most common);  3. The camera itself malfunctions. When these problems occur, the software will report I2C communication failures, abnormal currents, OS failure, or inability to capture images. For such hardware issues, the software is powerless. Only the relevant personnel can arrange for inspection and troubleshooting. There are several main reasons that can cause the connection between Computer #1 and Image Grabber #2 to fail:   1. Issues with the computer itself, such as problems with the USB 3 expansion card or the 10-Gigabit Ethernet card;  2. The Image Grabber is affected by static electricity, electromagnetic interference, or other strong impacts, leading to partial or complete operational anomalies;  3. Problems with the connecting cables: long-term wear can lead to unreliable connections or even complete damage; long USB cables are prone to interference; poor-quality cables can cause instability (most common). When these problems occur, the software often reports that the device cannot be found or that the connection is lost. The corresponding functions of the Dothinkey DTCCM2 SDK will return a fault error code of -1104. Maintenance personnel should investigate the cause of the problem. If hardware issues have been ruled out, software personnel can follow the steps below for recovery: In Dothinkey's K series, G series, and all new products designed after 2019, to have an emergency response plan in case of unexpected events, Dothinkey Technology has added the "reconnect self-recovery" technology to the relevant products. When the connection between Computer #1 and Dothinkey Image Grabber #2 is completely abnormal and communication is impossible, the Dothinkey Image Grabber will restart itself to return to a normal state. When this happens, the upper-level machine software will receive a return value of -1104 when calling Dothinkey's relevant functions. At this time, the process mentioned above should be followed to re-establish the connection. There is also an extreme scenario where the Image Grabber can partially communicate with the computer end, such as transmitting control commands, but some communication modules, acquisition modules, cache modules, or OS modules have already malfunctioned (some customers have experienced such situations due to external high voltage or static electricity). In this case, the upper-level machine software can call the SystemRestart function to command the Image Grabber to force a restart. The recovery method can refer to the above process: first, disconnect the device, then determine whether a delay is needed based on the device's situation (since restarting takes time, and some devices may take longer), and then restart the device. This function can avoid the awkward situation of having to manually shut down the Image Grabber in extreme environments. Since the upper-level machine software can fully control the Image Grabber, it eliminates the various troubles of automated equipment in unexpected situations.