Canon camera hardware information - Ixus 60/65 Schematics and CCD info. - General Discussion and Assistance - CHDK Forum

Canon camera hardware information - Ixus 60/65 Schematics and CCD info.

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Offline ahull

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I was looking for some info about a faulty ixus 60 I picked up recently, and came across the site detailed below.

They have a lot of interesting camera hardware resources including detailed hardware diagrams of some IXUS and PowerShot models.

For example there are complete block circuit diagram and electronic hardware schematic of the various boards of the SD600/ ixus 60 and SD630/ixus 65 style cameras (and others), including gpio pin designations, motor control details,  and the optocoupler feedback design of the zoom unit etc.

For the Ixus 60/65 diagram, start here...

http://photo-parts.com.ua/parts/Datasheets/MB39C303Ixus%2065.pdf

General link for most Ixus models, including flash charger circuit info, CCD info, battery and LCD connectors and some circuit diagrams.

http://photo-parts.com.ua/parts/dbphp.php?part=ixus

The GPIO designations would in theory allow us fine control of the motors for focus, ND filter and shutter, and allow direct interaction with other aspects of the hardware (LEDs, CCD, speaker, video etc). 

The risks of exposing the magic smoke are now a little higher, but the possibilities are endless. 
« Last Edit: 06 / April / 2012, 08:52:59 by ahull »

Re: Canon camera hardware information.
« Reply #1 on: 03 / April / 2012, 19:20:51 »
Thanks for that.

The IXUS65 is the only model that I have ever seen complete details for.

Strangely, a lot of the other circuits are by Samsung.


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Offline ahull

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Re: Canon camera hardware information.
« Reply #2 on: 04 / April / 2012, 08:33:52 »
..."Only seen the Ixus 65"..., in that case its your lucky day, here is the S3 revealed in all its glory..

http://photo-parts.com.ua/parts/Datasheets/Digic%20II%20CK4-1059S3%20IS.pdf

As you will see, this includes some interesting info about the iris, image stabaliser, shutter and so forth.

... and if you search the site simply for "canon" you see a lot more data sheets and details of the other canon families.

The site does seem a little random, some of the links are for individual chip data sheets, and others link seem to link  to cameras which share the same CCD, and thus reveal some more details of how the CCD works, so it does pay to do a bit of exploring.
« Last Edit: 04 / April / 2012, 08:39:56 by ahull »

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Offline ahull

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Re: Canon camera hardware information - Ixus 60/65 Schematics.
« Reply #3 on: 06 / April / 2012, 07:10:41 »
After much "Google trawling" I came up with some limited info about the Sony CCD sensors used in some of these cameras.

For example www.unibrain.com/download/pdfs/ub1394cam/ICX445AQA.pdf

Since most of the pin designations match those on the Ixus 60 diagram, I think we can be sure the two sensors are closely related cousins.

Of particular interest is this..

"Supports following modes

All-pixel scan mode (15 frame/s, 12.5 frame/s, 22.5 frame/s: MAX)

Center cut-out mode (30 frame/s, 25 frame/s)"

This suggests that the maximum video frame rate for this particular sensor is 30fps, however it also suggests it may be possible to clock the chip at different rates below this, (and potentially overclock it above this), as the CCD is controlled by a variant of this little chap...

http://www.analog.com/en/audiovideo-products/cameracamcorder-analog-front-ends/ad9923/products/product.html

Datasheet.

http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/data_sheets/AD9923A.pdf

The datasheet suggests the timing chip has a maximum resolution of 8192 px by 4096 lines which equates to a whopping 33,554,432 pixels, or 33 Megapixels, so there is every chance that some variant of this chip is used in most of the canon digic cameras. It is used in both of the schematics I posted about previously,  indeed, it seems to be a common chip in other manufacturers offerings too.

If this is the case, then learning to control the timing of this device (and possibly also the Analog to Digital controller) either directly or through the existing firmware leads to some intersting possibilities, for example slower and faster video rates, higher video resolutions, sqeezing more info from the CCD and so forth.
 
I hope this helps fire the imagination of a few of the developers.  ;)
BTW: The SD600 that lead me on this quest had a blown fuse on the power board, which I tracked down very quickly with the aid of the schematic. My SMD soldering technique could do with some practice, but I managed to replace it  :D  I now have another little toy in my collection.
« Last Edit: 06 / April / 2012, 08:26:51 by ahull »

dangerous territory, you go first  ....

See this http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=7938.msg83768#msg83768

You have to ask, if Canon could increase the framerate why have their engineers decided not to ?

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Offline ahull

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dangerous territory, you go first  ....

See this http://chdk.setepontos.com/index.php?topic=7938.msg83768#msg83768

You have to ask, if Canon could increase the framerate why have their engineers decided not to ?

"Me go first...", and release the magic smoke from my (not so) new Ixus 60, I'll have you know that it cost me a whole £4.04, from fleabay (not including P+P and the SMD fuse), you want me to risk such a massive investment in the hope of further enhancing CHDK... OK, no problem, where do I sign :¬)

Actually, the most likely reason they didn't increase the frame rate is either that the Digic II cant keep up, or perhaps more likely, beause nobody who buys a point and shoot camera wants to make movies that look like 1920s films when played back using Media Player. People who use CHDK on the other hand DO want to be able to slowmo and fast action capture, but cant afford the million dollar price tag. "Dont forget what the 'H' stands for ..." :D


« Last Edit: 06 / April / 2012, 10:47:05 by ahull »

 

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