The PS3Eye Multicam Driver is here!!!

Finally, here is the long awaited PS3Eye multicam driver

After a lot of testing and optimization of the internal driver code, I finally am ready to release the first version of the PS3Eye multicam driver.
For your reference, below is the diagram of the internal components of the driver. For a single camera configuration the ‘Image Stitching’ component is bypassed.

The driver exports simple API that allows for full control of PS3Eye cameras.
I chose a C style export functions this time to allow for easier integration with different programming languages such as C#.
Here is the ‘PS3EyeMulticam.h’ file that you would normally include in your code:

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
//
// This library allows you to use multiple PS3Eye cameras in your own applications.
//
// For updates, more information and downloads visit: 
// http://www.alexpopovich.com or
// https://alexpopovich.wordpress.com/
//
// Copyright 2008,2009 (c) AlexP.  All rights reserved.
//
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
#pragma once
#include <windows .h>

#ifdef PS3EYEMULTICAM_EXPORTS
#define PS3EYEMULTICAM_API extern "C" __declspec(dllexport)
#else
#define PS3EYEMULTICAM_API extern "C" __declspec(dllimport)
#endif

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// PS3EyeMulticam API
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

typedef enum{ QVGA, VGA }Resolution;

// Camera information
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API int PS3EyeMulticamGetCameraCount();

// Library initialization
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API bool PS3EyeMulticamOpen(int camCnt, Resolution res, int frameRate);
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API void PS3EyeMulticamClose();

// Capture control
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API bool PS3EyeMulticamStart();
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API void PS3EyeMulticamStop();

// Settings control
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API bool PS3EyeMulticamLoadSettings(char* fileName="settings.xml");
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API bool PS3EyeMulticamSaveSettings(char* fileName="settings.xml");
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API void PS3EyeMulticamShowSettings();

// Processed frame image data retrieval
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API bool PS3EyeMulticamGetFrameDimensions(int &width, int &height);
PS3EYEMULTICAM_API bool PS3EyeMulticamGetFrame(PBYTE pData, int waitTimeout=2000);

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Included in the driver archive is a full source code of a simple ‘PS3EyeMulticamTest’ application that allows you to run and test the multicamera driver. This code could also serve as a good starting point for writing your own OpenCV image processing apps.
The PS3EyeMulticamTest app uses all of the API functions defined in ‘PS3EyeMulticam.h’ file.
Here is the ‘PS3EyeMulticamTest.cpp’ file:

//
// PS3EyeMulticamTest.cpp
//
// This is a quick test application for the 
// PS3EyeMulticam driver
//
// To build it, in VS2008 create en empty window app project
// and add all the files in this folder to it.
//
#include "stdafx.h"

#define WINDOW_NAME		"Capture Window"
bool bRunning = false;
int w, h;
 
// Capture thread
DWORD WINAPI Capture(LPVOID)
{
	IplImage *grayImage = cvCreateImage(cvSize(w, h), IPL_DEPTH_8U, 1);
	PS3EyeMulticamStart();
	while(bRunning)
	{
		PBYTE pBuffer = NULL;
		cvGetImageRawData(grayImage, &pBuffer);
		PS3EyeMulticamGetFrame(pBuffer);
		cvShowImage(WINDOW_NAME, grayImage);
	}
	PS3EyeMulticamStop();
	cvReleaseImage(&grayImage);
	return 0;
}

void Program()
{
	// Query driver for number of connected PS3Eye cameras
	int camCnt = PS3EyeMulticamGetCameraCount();
	printf("Found %d PS3Eye cameras\n", camCnt);
	if(camCnt == 0)
	{
		MessageBox(NULL,"No PS3Eye camera(s) found","PS3EyeMulticamTest", MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
		return;
	}
	// Open cameras
	if(!PS3EyeMulticamOpen(camCnt, VGA, 30))
	{
		MessageBox(NULL,"Could not open PS3Eye camera(s)","PS3EyeMulticamTest", MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
		return;
	}
	// Load the default camera settings 'settings.xml' file
	// If the file is not found it will be created
	PS3EyeMulticamLoadSettings("settings.xml");

	// Get output image dimensions
	PS3EyeMulticamGetFrameDimensions(w, h);
	printf("Image dimensions (%d, %d)\n", w, h);

	// Create OpenCV main window
	cvNamedWindow(WINDOW_NAME, CV_WINDOW_AUTOSIZE);
	cvMoveWindow(WINDOW_NAME, 0, 0);
	cvResizeWindow(WINDOW_NAME, w, h);

	// Start PS3Eye image capture thread
	HANDLE hThread = CreateThread(NULL, 0, Capture, NULL, 0, 0);
	if(hThread == NULL)
	{
		MessageBox(NULL,"Could not create capture thread","PS3EyeMulticamTest", MB_ICONEXCLAMATION);
		PS3EyeMulticamClose();
		return;
	}
	bRunning = true;
	// The '<esc>' key will exit the program
	// The 's' key will open camera settings dialog
	while(bRunning)
	{
		int key = cvWaitKey(0);
		switch(key)
		{
			case 's':
			case 'S':
				// Display settings
				PS3EyeMulticamShowSettings();
			break;
			case 0x1b:
				printf("Exiting...\n");
				// Stop the capture thread
				bRunning = false;
				// Wait for thread to exit
				WaitForSingleObject(hThread, 3000);
				printf("Thread exited\n");
			break;		
		}
	}
	// Save camera settings
	printf("Saving settings\n");
	PS3EyeMulticamSaveSettings();
	printf("Closing OpenCV window\n");
	cvDestroyWindow(WINDOW_NAME);
	PS3EyeMulticamClose();
}

// This is the program entry if you link with /SUBSYSTEM:CONSOLE option
int main(int argc, char *argv[])
{
	Program();
	return 0;
}

// This is the program entry if you link with /SUBSYSTEM:WINDOWS option
int WINAPI WinMain(HINSTANCE hInstance, HINSTANCE hPrevInstance, LPSTR lpCmdLine, int nShowCmd)
{
	Program();
	return 0;
}

Last but not least, here you will find the PS3EyeMulticam.rar file.
Enjoy!

~Alex

~ by Alexander Popovich on September 4, 2009.