Jaap's Psion II Page

EVR software for use with CCD-FX300E/FX400E/FX500E

This manual is about using the Psion organiser and the Sony LISA interface to control the settings of a particular Sony camcorder. Go to the Sony LISA Manuals page for a list of all similar manuals available on this site.


SONY®

EVR Service Software
for the
LISA ADAPTER

Applicable models:
CCD-FX300E
CCD-FX400E
CCD-FX500E

vs. 7.0

J. Devenyns

User Manual


Table of Contents

1. Starting the program 2. Top menu 2.1. LANC-CONTROL 2.2. EMG_Inhibit 3. Service menu 3.1. EVR-Adjust 3.2. Alignments 3.3. Test modes 3.4. Data handling 4. Camera Adjustments 4.1. General 4.2. Adjustments 5. Ending the program 6. Suggestions


1. Starting the program

Be sure to remove other EVR software datapacks before you insert this one. The names of the procedures that are used in the programs are the same, but they have a different function. Therefore the Organiser could get confused and could crash.

So make sure that different EVR datapacks are never plugged into the Organiser at the same time.

You will see that a new option, called "FX400" is now added to the Organiser's top level menu. If you did not insert the datapack properly, a "Device Load Error" may be reported. This is caused by trying to load a program when only the hardware interface (and no software) is available. If you select the "FX400" option from the top level menu, a title screen "SONY SERVICE CENTRE EUROPE" will be displayed. This means the program has now started.

If, at any time during the execution of the program, you get an " OUT OF MEMORY " message, there is not enough internal memory left on your Organiser to load the EVR Alignments software. You can try to clear some memory (delete any non-vital files or records; use the Tidy option in the Diary), but the best thing to do is to save your files on a datapack and erase them on A:.

Even if you have enough memory left, it is still recommended to save all important files you may have on the PSION to a datapack before running the EVR software, to cover you for the unlikely event that a serious error might damage your files.

The EVR program is mainly constructed by using menus, so you only have to select the application you want from the menu. There are two ways to select an item from a menu:

  1. Run through the menu using the four arrow keys (= cursor keys) until the cursor is positioned at the first letter of the item you want. Then press the EXE key.
  2. Press the key corresponding to the first letter of the option required.
Menu diagram

Important note: never unplug the interface, or remove the EVR datapack while the Organiser is switched on. This could cause electrical damage to the Organiser.


2. Top menu

When the program is started and the title screen is displayed, a key press (any other key than ON/CLEAR, which will end the program) will cause the following menu to be displayed:

LANC_CONTROL   EMG_Inhibit

In further explanations, this menu will be referred to as the "top menu". Pressing the ON/CLEAR key when you are in this menu will end the program and you will be returned to the Organiser top level menu (FX400, Find, Save, Diary, ...). This is also the only way out, so you will always have to return to this top menu to be able to quit the program.

The three items that are presented in the top menu are now briefly described.

2.1. LANC-CONTROL

As the title indicates, in this mode the Organiser will communicate with the camcorder through LANC (asynchronous data transfer via the remote terminal). The Organiser will be able to perform all of the adjustment facilities that the RM-95 has, plus automatic alignments.

The moment you select this option, you should make sure all the necessary preparations are made:

If something has been forgotten, the Organiser will detect it and display the adequate error message:

If everything is OK, the following "service menu" will be displayed:

EVR-Adjust   Alignments Test_modes Data-handling

Only the items in the rectangle are initially displayed, the other items can be reached by scrolling through the menu, or can immediately be selected by pressing the first character.

2.2. EMG_Inhibit

This option is used to set the Emergency inhibit mode, in which no emergencies, except for TAPE/TOP.END, are detected. This means that even if the battery is ended, the set will not be switched off (unless the voltage drops below approx. 4.5V).

This feature could be very useful for camcorders that have had a faulty battery down adjustment. In this case, the camcorder will always display the battery end sign and switch off seconds after the power on, even if your power source supplies as much as 8V.

To invoke the Emergency Inhibit mode, connect the LISA to the 'Remote' terminal of the set, and make sure that the switch on the LISA is set to 'Serv'. Follow the instructions of the Organiser: power on the camcorder and the Emergency Inhibit mode will be set immediately. This mode is automatically cancelled the next time you switch off the camcorder.


3. Service menu

3.1. EVR-Adjust

This service mode is for adjustment of the camera block through EVR (Electronic Variable Resistors). Of course the Organiser can only start the EVR access if the right adjust mode is set. If it is not, the necessary indications to set it will be displayed.

Possible key presses when you are in the EVR mode are:

3.2. Alignments

Upon selection of this item, two options are displayed:

CAMERA_ADJ.   BATT_DOWN_ADJ.

3.2.1. Camera Alignments

The different camera alignments are described in section 4.

3.2.2. Battery Down Adjustment

It may be useful to set the Emergency Inhibit mode (see above) before running this adjustment. This will eliminate the possibility that the camcorder switches off in the middle of the alignment (of course, if you let the variable power source drop below 4.5V, it will switch off anyway).

Preparations:

If you should neglect to set the voltage to 5.58V when the Organiser tells you so, the Battery Down Adjustment will be faulty and the camcorder will switch off even with a fully charged battery. So be sure to follow the procedure correctly.

3.3. Test modes

Under this title, two features are included:

Motor_Check   Emergency Code

3.3.1. Motor Check

Loading motor, drum motor and capstan motor can be operated separately, independent from each other.

Loading motor:

If you are controlling the loading motor and you have selected 'forward', you should stop this action as soon as the tape guides have reached their extreme upper position. If you don't, the loading motor may strain the drive gear assemblies so hard that they are damaged.

If 'Reverse' is selected while the loading motor is controlled, and you let the mechanism unload completely, the cassette lid will be opened and all further action (closing the lid, activating the loading motor) will be impossible. The only way to restore the test mode is to switch off the main power supply, and after a couple of seconds, switch it on again. Next, close the cassette lid.

Drum motor:

This motor can be controlled even if the cassette compartment is open.

Capstan motor:

Depending on the condition of the loading motor, it is possible that, although the capstan motor is activated, the driven reel does not rotate.

3.3.2. Emergency codes

Here, the codes representing the First and Last Emergencies are displayed.

Emg Code: 01   Mode Code: 30

The meaning of these codes are explained in the following table:

 Code 00  No failure.
01Loading motor failure.
02Reel failure during unloading.
03Other reel failure.
04Capstan failure.
05FG failure when drum was started.
06No PG detection when drum was started.
07FG failure when drum is in regular condition.
08No PG detection when drum is in regular condition.
09Phase lock failure when drum is in regular condition.
Table 1. Emergency code list

 

CodeError condition
00BEFOR INITIALIZE
01EJECTED
02NORMAL STOP
03FF
04NORMAL REC
06NORMAL PB
07PB PAUSE
12LOADING
14REC PAUSE
26X1
271/5 SLOW
31UNLOADING
36X1
371/5 SLOW
46CUE
471/10 SLOW
56REVIEW
571/10 SLOW
CodeError condition
62STOP TAPE END
66X2
67FRAME
72STOP TAPE TOP
76X2
77FRAME
83REWIND
85REC REVIEW(+)
95REC REVIEW()
A2EMERGENCY STOP
A5EDIT SEARCH(+)
B1EMERGENCY UNLOADING
B2STOP EMERGENCY 1
B5EDIT SEARCH(-)
C2STOP EMERGENCY 2
E2STOP NO CASSETTE
F5EDIT PAUSE
Table 2. Mode code

The first emergency code is the most important one, as this one tells you what the original problem is. The last emergency code is updated every time a new emergency is generated, so it doesn't necessarily give any information about the actual cause.

As a third option in this menu, you can clear both emergencies (clearing only one is not possible).

3.4. Data handling

The EVR data of the camcorder can be handled as a file that can be transferred between the camera and the Organiser in three ways:

Save Restore   Preprogram

3.4.1 Save

Before changing the EVR data, it is recommended to save the original data. That gives you a backup in case the EVR data gets altered by accident.

Information of two camcorders can be stored in the internal memory of the Organiser, so you can first save the data of pages D and F of a "defective" camera, then save the data of a "good" camera and restore this data to the defective one. If required, the original data of the "defective" camera can always be restored.

When you select "Save", you will be asked to give an "Identity" to the file. This will enable you to recognise it later for restoring. The first time you used this option, the Psion will default the identity to "CAM1". You can change this to something more explanatory by simple entering another name. If at least one file is already in the Organiser's memory, you can switch to another "Identity" by pressing either the <MODE> key or one of the arrow keys. You'll see that the default identity for the second file is "CAM2".

If you have entered the identity (end by pressing <EXE>) you can choose which page to save: D or F. After all the addresses are read, the information is written to an internal file for future reference.

3.4.2. Restore

When you choose "Restore", the Psion will look previously saved files in its internal memory. If it finds any, the identity and the page number of that file will be displayed. You can select the EVR data you want by pressing one of the arrow keys to browse through the available list (maximum: 4 files).

Be sure, however, not to restore data from another camera type. The program cannot stop you from saving the EVR data from a CCD-FX300E, and restoring this data to a CCD-FX500E. Therefore, you will be warned that the current EVR data of the camcorder will be overwritten, and asked to reconfirm you really want to restore:

RESTORE   Are you sure?Y/N

Only if you answer 'Y' to this question, the Organiser will start restoring.

Once the restoring has started, it is impossible to stop this process, so pressing any key is useless. You just have to wait until every address is restored with the data in memory.

3.4.3. Preprogram

If one of the EEPROM's is replaced, you must write initial values to the addresses of page D or F before you can start adjusting the camcorder. You can put initial values into the EEPROM using the 'Preprogram' option. If you do so, you will have to select which camera type you want to initialize. Again, the program cannot stop you from selecting another camera type than the one you actually preprogram. So please be careful when using this option.

When the camcorder type is selected, you will be asked to choose the page you want to preprogram.

To avoid unwanted preprogramming as much as possible, you will be warned and asked to confirm the process.

PREPROGRAM   Are you sure?Y/N

Only if you answer 'Y' to this question, the Organiser will start preprogramming page F.

Once the preprogramming has started, it is impossible to stop this process, so pressing any key is useless. You just have to wait until every address is initialized with the data in memory.


4. Camera Adjustments

4.1. General

Every time a specific action is required, the adequate messages will be displayed. The Organiser takes care of setting the EVR addresses and data, reading the DDS display data and performs all the required calculations.

Once a certain alignment is selected, some messages will be displayed telling you how to prepare that adjustment. You can skip to the next message by pressing any key. If you want to quit the alignment, press the ON/CLEAR key. You will then be returned to the adjustment menu.

When the Organiser is active on the LANC-bus, the message "Working..." will be displayed. Pressing the ON/CLEAR key at that moment will not stop the adjustment. Generally, it is recommendable not to press any key while the Organiser is busy with external I/O.

Sometimes the program allows you to escape in the middle of an adjustment, when some addresses are already set to a temporary mode. If you want to quit then, a warning is displayed, telling you that the adjustment is not completed, and you are asked to confirm you want to quit the program. If you answer N (or anything else but Y), the program continues; answering Y will return you to the adjustment menu. You must keep in mind then that some addresses must be reset to their original value. However, you must always assume that the camera is misadjusted if you have stopped the alignment in the middle of its execution, and you should do that specific alignment all over again.

Note: If a serious error occurs while programming is busy, such as POWER OFF, or a connector is pulled out, obviously the program may "hang", has to be cold started again, and the adjustment which was busy at that moment will have to be started from scratch!

4.2. Adjustments

The following menu will appear.

Hall_Adj.   Flange_Back_Adj. A/D_Offset Iris_IN/OUT AWB_Adj. Linear_Matrix

4.2.1. Hall adjustment

First, you have to choose on which camera type you want to perform the alignment:

CCD-FX300E   CCD-FX400E CCD-FX500E

After that, the alignment starts immediately.

4.2.2. Flange Back adjustment

Preparations:

Prepare a Flange Back chart as described in the Service Manual: combine a white A0 size paper with a black one as shown below. Use non-reflecting, non-glazing paper.

Flange Back Chart

This chart must be placed at exactly 1m from the front of the lens, and the picture on the monitor screen (or the EVF) must show an equal amount of black and white in both TELE and WIDE positions of the lens.

Possible errors:

4.2.3. A/D Offset adjustment

Preparations: none

Possible errors: none

4.2.4. Iris IN/OUT adjustment

Preparations: Pattern box at 1.5m from the front side of the lens, white pattern standard picture frame.

Possible errors: none

4.2.5. Auto White Balance adjustment

Preparations:

Possible errors:

4.2.6. Linear Matrix adjustment

Preparations:

Possible errors: none


5. Ending the program

If the alignment is finished, or if you have stopped the adjustment procedure, you will be returned to the adjustment menu. However, when an error (illegal AF data read or results are not within limits) has occurred, you will be returned to the top menu.

To go back to the previous menu, press ON/CLEAR. The only way to leave the EVR program is by pressing ON/CLEAR when you are in the top menu. Then the Organiser's own top level menu will be displayed.

To remove the LISA interface and the EVR datapack:

The software will still be stored in memory, however. To remove this:

You will see that the "FX400" option is removed from the top level menu.

Now the EVR software is removed, and the memory used by it freed for other uses.


6. Suggestions

For any questions and/or suggestions regarding the use of this software, please contact:

Mr. J. Devenyns Sony Service Centre (Europe) N.V. Technologielaan 7 1840 Londerzeel Belgium Tel.: (052) 307.307 Fax: (052) 307.490


Sony Service Centre (Europe) N.V.
Technologielaan 7
1840 Londerzeel
Belgium



Printed in Belgium