ViviCam 3000 FAQs
12 June, 1997

Introduction 
CMOS Technology 
Storing Images/Memory 
Image Formats 
General 
Your Images Stored within the ViviCam 3000 
Images that are Downloaded from the ViviCam 3000 to your PC 
Lens/Optics 
Communications issues between your ViviCam 3000 and your PC: Getting your
ViviCam 3000 to talk to your PC through the serial connection. 
MAC Operations 
Introduction

Q: What is the ViviCam 3000? 

A: The ViviCam 3000 is an exciting new digital camera just recently
introduced to the US market in March of 1997. It is a high resolution, yet
remarkably affordable digital camera. The ViviCam 3000 is unique in that it
features CMOS image sensor technology. 

Q: What are the key features of the ViviCam 3000? 

A: The ViviCam 3000 hosts a number of truly outstanding features which make
it the most feature rich product in it's price range. Some of the
outstanding features include:

A 1000 x 800 pixel CMOS sensor. (Actually it an imaging array with 1016 x
804 pixels) Few other digital cameras offer this resolution. No other
digital cameras offer this resolution at an equivalent, affordable price. 
CMOS image sensor technology. (See below for further information on this.) 
Advanced image compression technology for highly efficient image storage
within the camera itself. 
Low power consumption for added battery life. 
Low power consumption means that your batteries will last longer. 
Fewer battery changes will result in considerable cost savings to you. 
Reduced battery consumption and subsequent discard is much more friendly to
the environment. 
The ViviCam 3000 uses common alkaline AA batteries. You can even use
rechargeables! 
The ability to add sound to your images. Up to five seconds. 
A simple user interface. 
A common look and feel which remind you that the ViviCam 3000 is a camera.
It is a photographic (imaging) product as opposed to a digital input device. 
Fast, efficient, and reliable image downloading to your PC. 
Efficient image compression for images downloaded from the camera to your PC
storage media. 
An automatic shut-off feature to save even further on batteries. 
If you turn the camera off while it is still processing a picture, the
camera will finish processing and then shut itself off. Automatic exposure
control. 
A built-in auto flash. 
The ViviCam 3000 is Made in the USA. The V3000 is perhaps the only digital
camera on the market today which is made in the USA. The image sensor is a
product of Scotland, while the balance of components are of US origin. All
assembly and test is conducted here in the states! 
The ViviCam 3000 Image Sensor - CMOS technology:
Q: I have heard that the ViviCam 3000 uses a CMOS image sensor. What is
CMOS? 

A: CMOS stands for Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor. It is a silicon
fabrication and processing technology used commonly for the production of
memory, processors, and now image sensing chips. 

Q: CMOS sounds real familiar. Haven't I heard the term CMOS before? 

A: Most certainly. If you have owned a computer for the last few years you
will remember not to long ago when we commonly referred to our computer's
BIOS as the CMOS setup. Some BIOS's still refer to the basic CMOS setup. The
term CMOS reflects the fabrication technology used to make the BIOS chip
itself. 

Q: The heralding of a CMOS imager in the ViviCam 3000 implies that other
digital cameras use some other image sensor technology. What do most other
digital cameras use? 

A: Up until now virtually all digital cameras and camcorders use CCD
(Charge-Coupled Display) imagers. CMOS imagers compete directly with
established CCD technology. 

Q: What are the fundamental differences between CMOS and CCD? 

A: Both CMOS and CCD imagers are constructed from silicon. This gives them
fundamentally similar properties of sensitivity over the visible and near-IR
spectrum. Thus, both technologies convert incident light (photons) into
electronic charge (electrons) by the same photoconversion process. Both
technologies can support two flavors of photo element - the photogate and
the photodiode. Generally, photodiode sensors are more sensitive, especially
to blue light, and this can be important in making color cameras. The
ViviCam 3000 uses a photodiode based CMOS image sensors. When you take
pictures with the ViviCam 3000, you will notice brilliant blues. Color
sensors can be made in the same way with both technologies; normally by
coating each individual pixel with a filter color (e.g. red, green, blue). 

Q: Please discuss both CCD and CMOS technologies as they apply to digital
cameras. 

A: A brief dissertation of each technology is presented below. The following
discussions are drawn from a paper by Dr. Peter Denyer of VLSI Vision Ltd.
Edinburgh, Scotland. CCD technology - CCD technology is now about
twenty-five years old. Using a specialized VLSI (Very Large-Scale Integrated
circuit) process, a very closely packed mesh of polysilicon electrodes is
formed on the surface of the CCD imaging chip. These are so small and close
that the individual packets of electrons can be kept intact while they are
physically moved from the position where light was detected, across the
surface of the chip, to an output amplifier. To achieve this, the mesh of
electrodes is clocked (timed) by an off-chip source (timer). It is
technically feasible but not economic to use the CCD process to integrate
other camera functions, like the clocks, drivers, timing, logic, and signal
processing into a single chip. These functions are therefore normally
implemented in secondary chips. Thus most CCD cameras comprise several
chips, often as many as eight, and not fewer than three. Apart from the need
to integrate the other camera electronics in a separate chip, the Achilles'
heel of all CCD's is the clock requirement. The clock amplitude and shape
are critical to successful operation. Generating correctly sized and shaped
clock signals is normally the function of a specialized clock driver chip,
and this leads to two major disadvantages: 
1) multiple, non-standard supply voltages and 
2) high power consumption. It is not uncommon for CCD's to require five or
six different power supplies at critical and obscure values. If a simple
single voltage source (such as batteries) is used, then several regulators
will be employed internally to generate these supply requirements. This adds
cost to the product and it consumes power since every voltage conversion
will be less than 100% efficient. On the plus side, CCD's have matured to
provide excellent image quality with low noise. CCD production processes are
generally captive to the major manufacturers. CMOS Technology - CMOS imagers
sense light in the same way as CCD, but beyond that point, everything is
different. The charge packets are not transferred, but they are instead
detected as early as possible by charge sensing amplifiers, which are made
from CMOS transistors. In some CMOS sensors, amplifiers are implemented at
the top of each column of pixels - the pixels themselves contain just one
transistor, which is used as a charge gate, switching the contents of the
pixel to the charge amplifiers. These "passive pixel" CMOS sensors operate
like analog DRAMs. In other CMOS sensors, amplifiers are implemented in each
and every pixel - these are called "active pixel" CMOS sensors. Active pixel
CMOS sensors usually contain at least three transistors per pixel.
Generally, the active pixel form has lower noise but poorer packing density
than passive pixel CMOS. The ViviCam 3000 features an active pixel CMOS
imager. CMOS sensors of both types can be manufactured on standard CMOS
processes from a myriad of silicon foundry sources. Vendors of CMOS sensors
also benefit from the large investments, which are made continually to
improve the quality and capacity of CMOS foundries. The Achilles' heel of
CMOS sensors is the problem of matching the multiple, different amplifiers
within each sensor. Fortunately this problem has been overcome, reducing the
residual level of fixed-pattern noise to insignificant proportions.

Summary: CMOS versus CCD Technology in a Digital Camera:

A major benefit of CMOS cameras over CCD lies in the high level of product
integration that can be achieved through implementing virtually all of the
electronic camera functions onto the same chip as the imager itself. CMOS
technology is ideal for this. The supplier of the ViviCam 3000 CMOS sensor,
VVL, commonly integrates timing logic, exposure control, and all
output-chain signal conditioning on-chip along with the imaging sensor to
make complete one-chip cameras. The benefits of this translate to simple
power supply requirements and significant power savings over CCD. Typically,
CMOS camera products consume 1/3rd of the power of equivalent CCD cameras at
the system level. The competitive prevalence of CMOS technology and the high
level of camera integration also combine to bring about substantial cost
advantages over CCD. 

Q: In twenty-five words or less, what does this means to a digital camera
buyer? 

A: This explains why the ViviCam 3000 can offer high resolution at a very
affordable price that the CCD cameras cannot match. This means best value. 

Q: What other CMOS cameras are on the market at this time? 

A: Actually, the ViviCam 3000 is the second CMOS digital camera that Vivitar
has released as a consumer product. The first is the MPP-2 digital camera.
It is a digital parallel port camera that connects to the parallel port of
your PC. Its primary use is desktop video conferencing over common phone
lines (POTS) or over the Internet. The MPP-2 was initially released in July
1996. This product has been well received and it is one of the first color
CMOS imagers ever put into volume production that we know of.

Storing Images/Memory:
Q: What memory is available on the ViviCam 3000? 

A: The ViviCam 3000 features .5 MB (500KB) internal memory which can be
extended by a PCMCIA Type I linear flash card to extend memory by 2 MB or
4MB. If demand for larger capacity cards becomes great enough, a 10MB or
16MB card could be placed into production. 

Q: If I insert a Type II PCMCIA ATA (compact flash) card adapter into my
ViviCam 3000 will it work? 

A: No, the ViviCam 3000 uses a Type I linear memory card, the design of
which is optimized for the ViviCam 3000 architecture and operating system.
Type II cards will not work in the ViviCam 3000. 

Q: If I insert a Type II PCMCIA ATA card (such as a FlashDisk, or a
CompactFlash Storage Card with physical adapter) into my ViviCam 3000 will
it cause any physical or electrical damage to the card or camera? 

A: There should not be any physical damage to the camera or card. Despite
the fact that a Type II card will physically insert into the ViviCam 3000's
card slot, it is not compatible with the ViviCam 3000 operating system and
the camera will not recognize the card, nor will it take pictures correctly.
Do not attempt to insert a Type II card into the ViviCam 3000.

Image Formats:
Q: What image format does the ViviCam 3000 use. 

A: The ViviCam 3000 can record both an image, a five second sound clip
together in a single file. The image and sound are stored together in a
single file with the extension SVI. The ViviCam 3000 software allows you to
Save As either a TIF or a BMP. The SVI images can include both imagery and
sound in a very efficient (small) file size. 

Q: Does the ViviCam 3000 support JPG format? 

A: Not at this time. A scheduled product (software) upgrade will allow you
to Save As a JPG file. This added capability is scheduled for completion and
incorporation into the V3000 interface software in Q3 1997. 

Q: What image sizes are available from the camera? 

A: There are a number of image output sizes that the user may select. These
are: Image Size, in pixels Image Size, in Inches 60 x 50 0.8 x 0.7 120 x 100
1.7 x 1.4 240 x 200 3.3 x 2.8 480 x 400 6.7 x 5.6 960 x 800 13.3 x 11.1 Note
that although the image sensor (the actual CMOS imaging chip, itself) is
1000 x 800 pixels the largest output image is 960 x 800. Image File Size:
When discussing image file size the discussion may break into a discussion
of files which are stored internally by the camera itself, and image files
stored out side of the camera - on your PC storage media (hard drive, floppy
disk, MO, writeable CD, etc.)

General

Q: What are the factors that effect the sizes of my image files. 

A: Image file size will vary depending upon several factors:

Choice of Mode: Best (1000 x 800) or Standard (500 x 400) 
Whether or not you have elected to include sound with your images 
The compression level you have selected 
Scene content 
Your Images Stored within the ViviCam 3000

Q: How large are the image files that are stored within my ViviCam 3000? 

A: The ViviCam 3000 uses a highly efficient compression technique known as
wavelet compression. You may select the compression factor that is applied
to the images you take with your camera. Using the ViviCam 3000 interface
software you may (while you V3000 is connected to your PC) adjust the
compression level. Under Camera, Set Compression Level you may set the
Target File Size for your images. In this manner you actually instruct the
camera to compress your images to a specified size. You may direct your
camera to compress your internally stored images to a minimum file size of
10KB or a maximum of 100 KB (in Best mode). If you are in Standard mode, the
Target file size will be one-half of this (5 KB to 50 KB). There are two
things to note here. 
1) Many (most) compression selections (in other programs or applications)
are expressed in relative terms, i.e. a percentage. The V3000, however,
defines compression is absolute terms, i.e a specific size in KB. 
2) We have used the word "Target" file size. The file size you select is in
fact, a target (an objective) file size that the compression algorithm will
attempt to achieve. 

Q: What file sizes may I "Target"? 

A: You may select any (integer) value from 10KB to 100 KB, so in essence you
have 91 compression levels (targets) to select from. 

Q: How closely will the compression algorithm compress files to the selected
"target" size? 

A: The term "target" is an appropriate description. It is accurate to
within, perhaps 20 percent, depending mainly upon scene content. If your
image is very "busy" (with lots of visual complication.like a grassy meadow,
for instance) it is difficult for the algorithm to compress, and hence you
image file will be larger than the target. If your scene is rather bland
(perhaps with a background of a solid color) the algorithm will most likely
achieve your target size. 

Q: What is the default target size? 

A: The V3000 is set at the factory to a target size of 40 KB. The cameras
are set at the factory to 40 KB to allow you to store a reasonable number of
images without the need for a supplemental memory card. With 500 KB
available internal memory and a target of 40 KB you may likely be able to
store twelve images in Best mode. 

Q: Is there a noticeable difference between the images taken at minimum
target size as opposed to maximum target size. 

A: Yes. Experiment and judge for yourself. You will find that scene content
(busy versus bland) will play a big role in final image quality. 

Q: If I adjust the target file size, while connected to my PC will that
setting be retained after I disconnect? 

A: Yes, the compression setting you select will remain in effect until the
next time you elect to adjust it. When you make a compression level change
you will receive a confirmation message on you PC display screen that
verifies that the compression setting change has been sucessfully accepted
by the camera.

Images that are Downloaded from the ViviCam 3000 to your PC
Q: How large are my image files after I down load them to my PC? 

A: Your images will partially decompress upon down loading them from the
camera to your storage media. The down loaded file size is a function of the
original compression which you targeted. Typically, your down loaded images
(in SVI format) will vary from 80 KB to 140 KB as stored on you hard drive.
If you have included sound clips with your images you will find that the
files are slightly larger.

Lens/Optics

Q: What is the focal length of the lens. 

A: It is an 18 mm focal length lens with plastic elements. 

Q: What is the field of view? 

A: The lens provides a 47-degree FOV. The lens is designed to emulate at
50-mm lens on a 35mm film camera. 

Q: I am trying to use the new PhotoVista image stiching software by Live
Picture. What camera settings should I use? 

A: Good question. We are just now evaluating the optimal settings for this
application. At first guess try 18mm lens with 47 degree horizontal by 37.6
degree vertical. Please email us a Vivitar if you have any experience or
suggestions as this is still quite new to us, as well. Getting Connected:
The Physical Connection between your ViviCam 3000 and your PC: The serial
cable to your computer. 

Q: I lost the cable adapter which adapts the round cable (8 pin) to my PC's
9 pin serial port. 

A: The adapter you are referring to is called an adapter block. It adapts
the round ViviCam 3000 cable (8 pin mini-DIN) to a 9 pin D (serial)
connector. These adapters are available at electronics supply shops and
computer stores. Look for an adapter which is "Female MAC to Female DB-9".
One supplier has this part under the part description AD-D9F/MD-8F. 

(4/24/97) 

Q: What if I would like to find another interface cable so that I can leave
one cable attached to my home PC and have a second to carry with me while I
travel? 

A: Spare and accessory items, including digital camera cables will be
available from the Vivitar parts department at 805-498-7008 extensions 245
or 253. The ViviCam 3000 cables will be available in the coming months. 

(5/29/97)

Communications issues between your ViviCam 3000 and your PC: Getting your
ViviCam 3000 to talk to your PC through the serial connection.

Q: I can't locate a serial port on the back of my PC. My mouse is in one
serial port type and I have an external modem in the other. What can I do? 

A: There are several possibilities. As a test, disconnect your external
modem. This will most likely expose a male 25 pin D shaped connector. Using
a DB25 to DB9 adapter block (as discussed elsewhere in theses FAQs) connect
your ViviCam 3000 to this port. Turn on the ViviCam 3000 by opening the door
and start the ViviCam 3000 application. The camera and your PC should now
find each other. This will most likely be on COM 2. If this is successful,
there are several permanent solutions to consider. (Listed in order of
complexity, starting with the easiest.) 
1) One choice would be to alternatively plug-in either your camera or your
modem, depending upon which device you plan to use. This is inexpensive, but
the shuffling of cables may get tiresome. (4/25/97) 
2) A second choice would be to get an A/B switch box. Run a straight-through
cable (25 pin female to 25 pin male, most likely) from the serial port to
this A/B switch box. You would then plug your modem and ViviCam (using the
block adapter) into the A and B ports. You would then select which ever
device you intend to use by simply switching from A to B positions. Before
purchasing cables, double check gender and pin counts. (4/25/97) 
3) A third possibility would be to check with your motherboard manufacturer
to determine if you could use a PS/2 type mouse instead of the serialand
leave your modem in COM2 as it was previously. (4/25/97) 
4) A fourth option would be to see if your motherboard and/or controller
will support another physical COM port. Some (a few) controllers will
support more than two physical COM ports. If your existing controller will
not support another physical port, you could add another serial port
controller card. Jumper (configure) the new controller to establish COM 4
and plug your camera into this new port. COM 4 is suggested in this case, to
avoid a conflict with your mouse on COM 1. (The reason for this is that COM
1 and COM 3 share an IRQ, as do COM 2 and COM 4.) (4/25/97) 
5) Another choice would be to consider an internal modem. With recent
advances in modem technology you may wish to upgrade to a faster modem.
Install a new modem to COM 4 and then use the existing COM 2 for the ViviCam
3000. Be advised that you will not be able to use your modem and download
ViviCam 3000 pictures simultaneously, however. (4/25/97) 

Q: I've connected my cables between the ViviCam 3000 and my PC. Why can't I
get my PC to recognize or find my ViviCam 3000? 

A: There are a number of issues related to serial port communications which
may inhibit your communications link between your PC and your ViviCam 3000.
The ViviCam 3000 is software is designed to search through all of your
computer's communications ports in search of the camera. Not only will the
ViviCam attempt to find a serial port, but it will also select an optimal
communication rate, as well. If your PC and ViviCam cannot connect please
review the following materials. (4/25/97) 
Step 1: A physical inspection of your computer. With the power disconnected,
look at the back of your computer. How many serial ports are there? Look for
D-shaped connectors with male pins. Serial ports will be D-shaped, two rows
of pins, with either 9 or 25 pins. It is possible that a mouse, an external
modem, a back-up power supply, or other devices are already plugged in to
one or more of these ports. (4/25/97) 
What type of mouse do you have? Follow your mouse cgs, Control Panel. Double
click on the System Icon. Click on the Device Manager tab. In the Device
Manager explore your Mouse, Modem, and Ports as follows: 
1) Explore the properties of your mouse. Your mouse will be either a serial
port type or a PS/2 type. From the physical investigation in the previous
step, you should have already determined your mouse type. The System
Properties Device Manager should confirm what you have already observed in
step 1. If you have a serial port mouse there should be a mouse icon
followed by a description. (4/25/97) 
2) Explore the properties of your modem. It will also each require a COM
port and an IRQ. Quite possibly your modem is on COM 2 or 3. 
3) Look at Ports (COM & LPT). Look at the ports available on your PC. Take
note of the COM ports which are available and their IRQs. It is possible to
add COM ports from the Windows 95 "Add New Hardware" Icon in the Windows 95
Control Panel. 
Step 3. BIOS settings. If the previous steps are not productive. It may be
necessary to look at your system BIOS. (Formerly known as CMOS setup.) Some
BIOS's will have a line entry which enables or disables COM 2. Make sure
this is enabled to allow the use of this additional COM port. (4/25/97) 
In Summary, the following rules apply to ViviCam 3000 serial port
communications investigations: 
1) Mice rule! If your mouse is a serial port type and it is on COM 1
(likely) then the ViviCam 3000 cannot physically or logically use COM 1.
Since COM 1 and COM 3 share an IRQ (by definition of PC architecture) then
COM 3 cannot be used either. (4/25/97) 
2) Therefore you must look towards COM 2 or COM 4. (If you have an external
modem it may already occupy physical COM 2. In that case review these FAQs,
as that case is discussed elsewhere.) If you have an internal modem try to
move it to COM 3 or COM 4 and use your second physical COM port (COM 2).
Refer to your modem manual for instructions to move your modem to COM 3 or 4
by software command or by physical jumper. ViviCam 3000 can use COM 2 with a
modem on COM 4 even thought they will share an IRQ. Asuly or August of 1997.
After a beta test phase, it is expected that a final version could be ready
for release in August or September. (5/29/97) 

Q: What will the MAC system requirements be? 

A: At this time it appears that the MAC system requirements will be:

PowerPC 
Available printer or modem port 
System 7.5 
RAM: tbd 
Hard drive space: 2MB for ViviCam 3000 application, additional space for
images 
Other: TBD (5/29/97) 

Q: Will the ViviCam 3000 work with my 68020 or 68040? 

A: No, a Power PC will be required. (5/29/97) 

Q: I have SoftWindows on my PowerPC. Can I then install the ViviCam 3000 PC
software and access my ViviCam 3000 images? 

A: Yes, we have tested the ViviCam 3000 interface software on a Power PC
under SoftWindows 95. The application installs, slowly, and it runs. The
problem is getting the PC software to find the MAC COM/serial port and
recognizing the camera. Suggestion: wait until the MAC version becomes
available in July/August time frame. (5/29/97)

Future Sections to be completed: 
Image processing: How does the ViviCam 3000 process images? 
What is the processing time? 
System Requirements and Why: What are the System requirements? 
Power: Batteries and AC Adapter 
Batteries AC power supply 
Image compression