Skip to main content

PIO

Introduction

Proton camera USB interface.

Usages:

  • Updating the camera
  • Changing parameters from your computer

Spelling (NATO):

  • P like Papa
  • I like India
  • O like Oscar

Pronounced: Pee - Eye - Oh

This is a connecting box for Proton cameras.

Reference: PCI-ACC-PIO

warning

Depending on your computer USB power and the camera used, using a PSU is not mandatory (you could rely on USB power only).

But as a rule of thumb, prefer using the provided PSU so it works in a reliable way with all your Proton cameras.

LEDs

Meaning

The PIO has 3 LEDs:

  • L1 for power (can be blue or off):
  • L2 for camera (can be green or off)
  • L3 for USB (can be blue or off)
LEDstatusmeaning
L1Blue or OFF
  • blue: power is plugged and working as expected
  • off : power is not working, check wiring in PIO and power plug.
L2Green or OFF
  • green : camera not properly connected, try to unplug/replug
  • OFF : camera is connected properly to the hirose 6P
L3Blue or OFF
  • blue : USB connected to a computer
  • OFF : USB not connected to a computer, check both ends, maybe change cable

Examples

PIO stateDiagnostic
All good! PSU, camera and USB are plugged.
No Power, check PSU (both sides)
No USB, check USB cable (both sides).
No camera, check Hirose.
tip

Sometime the connector looks inserted, but is not properly inserted.

Try to remove it and insert it back.

If that's still not working. Try replacing the cable or PSU.

Wiring

Computer

info

You could plug multiple PIO on a computer to control multiple cameras

Infos

Inputs:

  • USB-mini to computer : for serial / control data
  • 2.1mm barel jack for power (4.2-24V)

Output: 6P Hirose to the camera

info

As the voltage lower boundary is really low, you could definitely power the camera from USB (computer or power bank). As long as it can deliver sufficient Amps.

Cyanview RCP

You can find more information here

info

You could use a CI0 instead of the PIO.

Pros:

  • robust
  • PoE (Ethernet for control and power in a single cable)

Cons:

  • price
  • size