Can I use a TIS USB camera via UVC in Windows?
Yes, you can use The Imaging Source's USB3 Vision cameras in Windows, however some limitations have to be considered.
Q: How do Windows applications access the camera?
Windows applications such as the Camera app and the Control Panel access cameras through Media Foundation, which acts as an interface between applications and camera drivers.
Q: What role do camera drivers play in Media Foundation?
Media Foundation works with kernel camera drivers. Windows provides a bridge between kernel-mode camera drivers and Media Foundation.
For example:
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23U and older drivers are kernel camera drivers
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33U, 37U, 38U and newer DirectShow or IC4 GenTL drivers are user-mode drivers
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The Windows UVC driver is a kernel camera driver
Q: Which image formats are supported by Media Foundation and the Control Panel?
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Media Foundation and the Windows Control Panel only support YUV or RGB image formats.
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Formats such as Mono or Bayer are not supported directly.
Q: Which formats do different camera models provide?
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37U Mono: Mono formats only
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37U Color: Bayer formats only
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33U/38U Mono: Mono formats only
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33U/38U Color: Multiple formats, including YUY2 and RGB24
Q: Which camera models work with the Windows Camera app and Control Panel?
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23U and older: Likely to work with our driver because we generate an RGB format even for mono cameras.
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33U / 37U / 38U (with Windows UVC driver installed):
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37U Mono / Color: Not supported (no compatible format)
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33U / 38U Mono: Not supported (no compatible format)
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33U / 38U Color: Supported (via YUY2 or RGB24)
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Q: Why does the Camera app work but not the Control Panel?
The Windows Camera app may apply more advanced or robust camera configuration than the Control Panel, which can lead to the Camera app working even when the Control Panel does not.
Note:
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Linux x86 and Linux ARM support all TIS cameras via UVC.
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macOS should provide a similar support like Windows.
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Android should provide similar support like Linux.