Let Us Identify Parts and Connections of a Document Camera

A Document Camera is made up of number of parts that can vary as per the document camera model you are using. Let us identify the parts of a Document Camera below one by one:

The arm of document camera or camera stand
Document cameras usually have one of two kinds of camera stand which functions to connect the document camera's camera to its base stand. A gooseneck camera stand has a flexible column which can be bent and flexed to position in order to view the subject material. A rigid camera stand has a fixed column .Modern document camera models use gooseneck camera stand.

The base of the document camera
the base of a document camera serves two main functions. First it provides the stage to place the subject material being present. Secondly, it also contains I/O connections, operation panel and power connection. Some Document camera base has a backlight to illuminate the object from behind. The backlight is used to display transparencies and negatives.

The camera of the document camera
the integral part of any document camera is its camera and determines the level of image quality that the document camera is able to display. The camera uses either CMOS (Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor) or CCD (charge-coupled device) as image sensor technology.CCD document cameras products high-quality images with high resolution and is expensive. On the other hand, CMOS document cameras products low quality images, low resolution and are less expensive as compared to CCD document cameras.

The document camera's operation panel
Document camera operation panels are designed with pushable buttons providing control of functions to presenters. Desktop document cameras models have an operation panel that is located either on its head or at the front of the base stage. The type of functions that the document camera can perform determines the size and number of controls of operational panel.

The document camera's input and output connections
A document camera's input and output connections panel are located at the rear or at the side of the document camera's base stand. Some common I/O connections in document camera are15 pin RGB Connector,4-pin mini-DIN Connector for S-Video, RCA or BNC connector for composite video and USB 2.0 for Connectivity to a PC.

Functions of a Document Camera

Document Camera is a powerful visual presentation tool for teachers, trainers and presenters. Let us know about the digital functions of document camera one by one:

Auto Focus and Auto Iris

Auto focus and Auto Iris are most common document camera function. Auto Focus means document camera automatically bring the image into focus. On the other hand, Auto iris means your document camera automatically adjust itself to get the best picture under given lighting conditions. This function is applicable in the environments where light condition varies continuously.

Auto White Balance

Auto White Balance function of document camera manipulates the color temperature in order to show the true color image on your display device.

Zoom Function

This is the most powerful function of document camera. Document cameras allow teachers, trainers and presenters to zoom in or zoom out parts of an object or text optically and digitally. Zoom Function is also termed as magnifying power of document camera.Document Cameras uses optical zoom and digital Zoom. Optical zoom magnifies the image with better photo quality than digital zoom. Digital zoom enlarge a photo in a graphics program resulting in loss of quality and image resolution.

Image Save/Recall

Document cameras allow presenters to store images in its internal memory and computer through USB. The images can be recalled at any time of your presentation. You can save upto 85 images in internal memory depending upon the model and manufacturer of document camera.There is no limitation for computer but depends upon size of drive on computer.This eliminates the need for a scanner or photocopier.

Split Function

Split Function of document camera allows you to compare two images by splitting the image into half either horizontally or vertically.

Freeze Function

Freeze Function allow presenter to pause the current image that your document camera is displaying on the screen.

Negative / Positive/ B&W Function

This document camera function allows you to convert negative image to positive image and vice versa. It is used when displaying X-ray slides, 35 mm slides.

Video Capture

Some document cameras allow you to capture videos such as science lab demos,chemical reaction and many more.They allow you to set the frame rate of video to make slow motion video.They capture videos as AVI or MOV film clips.They also support audio recording.

Image Rotation

You can rotate the subject being viewed by horizontal/vertical by motorised camera head without physically moving the subject material.

Mirror Image or Flip Function

Some document camera allows you to view the mirror image of an object.

VGA Out
VGA (Video Graphics Array) refers to basic standard for the 640x480 resolution in computer monitors.Document cameras have the ability to display at a higher resolution than 640x480.

DVI Out
Document cameras supports DVI (Digital Visual Interface) that is a video interface standard for the visual quality of digital display devices such as LCD computer displays and digital projectors.

Composite Out
Document Cameras supports composite video format allowing you to display on television set.

S-Video Out
Document cameras allow you to send your video image to s-video capable devices using a special cord.

Types of Document Cameras

Do you want to know about types of document cameras? There are basically four types of  document cameras:-

1. Portable Document Cameras
2. Ceiling Mounted Document Cameras
3. Desktop Document Cameras
4. Document Cameras with Inbuilt Projector

Let us know about them one by one.

Portable Document Cameras

Portable document cameras as the name suggests can be moved very easily between a number of different locations. It is excellent portable visualiser for teacher, trainer and presenter. Portable document cameras are compact in size and have a light weight construction as compared to standard document cameras. A portable document camera comes with a flexible goose neck column to which the camera lens is attached. This flexible goose neck column allows the presenter to carry the camera easily and to set it up even in locations with minimal workspace. Many models can even be folded up in protective carry cases, providing smooth and scratch free transportation.

Ceiling Mounted Document Cameras

Ceiling document cameras are as the name suggests designed to be mounted on or in a ceiling just like a multimedia projector. Once can use ceiling document cameras for conferencing rooms, meeting rooms, training rooms and classrooms where you have to hide the document camera. Since no work surface or table and cables are required, the interaction between presenter and audience is not disrupted. The zoom capability of a ceiling document camera's camera lens is generally much more advanced than those of portable document cameras or desktop document cameras because the distance between the ceiling document camera's camera lens and the object on the table or work surface is much greater. The positioning of object under ceiling mounted document cameras must be accurate in order for a proper view of image.

Desktop Document Cameras

Desktop document cameras have larger work surface and are used on a desk or table. Unlike portable document cameras, they are heavy in weight and have fixed set up. One of prime benefits of desktop document cameras is their advance features and functions. The image quality of desktop document camera will range from SVGA to HDTV resolution. Another important feature of desktop document camera is that base stage has a backlight built with the help of which you can view transparencies similar to an overhead projector. The backlight size varies from a 35mm slide to A4 paper size. These types of document cameras also have a close up lens to focus and magnify 2D or 3D objects that are positioned very short distances away and vice versa. Some desktop document cameras have inbuilt small LCD screen (3 to 6 inches) that shows how the image will look like before being shown on TV or projection making it easier to focus and position the object at right place.

Document Cameras with Inbuilt Projector

Whenever teacher, trainer and presenter have to conduct sessions with document camera, they need to carry both projector and document camera separately. The whole set up requires space and time. The simple solution to this is document camera with inbuilt projector that combines the features of a document camera with that of a projector. Document Cameras with Inbuilt Projector are efficient, effective and portable for your presentation requirements.