Another thought - 320x320 isn't a standard resolution, so that alone would suggest a custom camera chip. this application is unusual in that there is no natural orientation. If you look at sample mirocam footage on youtube, they clip to an octagonal window, presumably due to lens distortion at the corners.
Fascinating video, thanks Mike. Hilarious intro! I was well impressed by the oscilloscope work you did and had never seen that intensity grading feature before. Can't get my mind off the horrors of the pillcam recovery and cleanup process though.
The I2C interface on chip cameras is for setup only - you can't get video data on any that I've seen. It's possible it's a custom chip or MCU, but if so I'd expect it to only be doing power management, in particular the on/off control - it's hard to get at 3 of the pins but one of the accessible pins has the LED pulse on it. I'll attempt to probe the others at some point. Modifying an existing CMOS camera to add a manchester encoder and a frame count wouldn't be a huge expense.
OK "manchester-like" if you insist - I, and I'm sure many others refer to any code that uses this type of coding method as manchester coding even if not strictly true, as it has the same basic qualities of being DC free, and polarity agnostic and fixed bit-length, and manchester coding is probably the most widley understood term to describe this style of datastream.
There would be scope for lossless, or controlled-loss compression - the sensor and optics limit ultimate quality to below what you could jpeg with negligible loss, but it isn't really necessary for the camera-to-receiver link. Looking at overall bandwidth, the receiver will be doing some compression - 320 x 320 x 3fps x 12 hours = 12gbytes but it only has 4gbytes flash
The encoding looks like Differential Manchester / BMC (since it seems polarity doesn't matter, only transitions, and depending on the header frame count value the rest of the header can be inverted).
Yes definitely, but I didn't know that at the time, and I was very worried about damaging the flex as I really wanted to look at the data format - from the outside the bottom looked like it may have had a wire passed through and glued from the outside. I don't think building a decoder for the data via a direct connection as opposed to via the body would be at all difficult - could probably translate their code to a fast UART stream on a fast MCU of CPLD and throw it at a PC via USB.
Great breakdown. I'd love to have seen the output deciphered... As you say, it looked like raw line/pixel data and may have been interesting for other uses. And yes- assuming patients don't keep them as souvenirs (!) there must be tens of thousands of these floating around out there in medical waste incinerators - adding lithium and silver oxide to the environment. Cheers
I would have loved to see a decoded image off of this camera. Could that be done without the receiver by probing the test points and then decoding that data into an image on a PC or something.
Silver oxide cells often end up 'imbalanced'. The drop off in voltage when expired is very abrupt so that a slight capacity difference between two cells will see one dead and the other still ok, while the voltage has dropped below what the electronics needs and, depending on that, it may then draw relatively negligible current. The choice of Ag2O rather than any Li chemistry is probably down to safety, easy transport and the availability of lots of difference sizes and capacities (this is very limited for non-rechargeable Li where the classic coin cell has the wrong form factor to be useful for this pill shaped application and double the voltage).
Mike, You've outdone yourself - once again! This Pill Cam episode was brilliant! Can you tell us why you were you blurring the label on the receiver? Thanks for taking the time to produce and share these videos with us; coupled with your sense of humor and your electronics insights, they make for MUCH better edutainment than the "Discovery" channel . . .
I was thinking of adding some soundtrack tunes - Peter Gabriel's 'Digging in the dirt' and Screamin' Jay Hawkins 'constipation blues' (search CZcams for this) but decided against in the name of taste!
In the case of an obese person, would the increase in fat cause a greater resistance to current thus reducing the amount of detectable voltage at the electrode pads? (the camera to external electrode would also be more.) Also, there must be some sort of automatic gain control in the recorder beltpack. Would the radio transmitter brand be used instead in such cases?
The white wire may be some sort of antenna which picks up the surrounding EM noise in order to substract it from the electrode signal to get a better SNR. Seen this technique on a ECG.
Totally agree he didn't do anything wrong by checking the insides of the receiver. He didn't play with it, nor tampered it, nor tried to retrieve the data stored, etc. He knows electronics and knows what he's doing, so all you laymans better keep your opinions to things you actually understand.
Sorry I asked the $ before the end of the video :) You are a braver man than me opening the receiver up! I would be afraid of wiping the data somehow, slip of the screwdriver or some battery backup disconnected, case open alert, etc ;)
awww I real hope so, you was half way there with that video i listen to everything you said, and knew about you reading volts per div .. theat is a gd sope not seen one that can do all that, and I saw your thumb go over the light and seen the data packets change on the scope,, but to see it cranks an image of text or an object would be the best an first. well done! ,most impressed so far, from ur own skill would be the crack of cracks :)
you can't use jpeg or any other compression like that that in medical imagery, because it is going to loose quality and introduce artefacts. You need lossless compression, if any. Never mind the silicon die size, and power requirements.
Idea for a giveway - share the image data and a giveaway of your choice to first person who can recreate an image. (Also assume this comment was made 3yrs ago =P)
That being said, I can't imagine ever doing this! Dissecting the disposable transmitter, yes... Being tempted to dissect the receiver... sure. Actually doing it... not so much.
700 dollars for that thing i gotta say medical equipment is insanely expensive now days and theres probably only 50 dollars worth of electronics in that thing and add on 30 dollars manufacturing costs the medical conapnys just charge a lot so they can make a lot on money becaues they know prople still have to go to the hospital even if it is expensive and if you dont have health insurance going to the hospital costs way too much
There would be scope for lossless, or controlled-loss compression - the sensor and optics limit ultimate quality to below what you could jpeg with negligible loss, but it isn't really necessary for the camera-to-receiver link. Looking at overall bandwidth, the receiver will be doing some compression - 320x320x3fpsx12 hours = 12gbytes but it only has 4gbytes flash
27:55 XD dude, wow, you even dismantled the receiver unit that still needed to go back with data on it
Great video! I never knew you could get sophisticated video data out of body-contact electrodes !
AFAICT about $700 - not sure if this includes the doctor's markup
Ah man, you've got some unique and very interesting hardware teardowns on your channel. I love them, please keep them coming. :)
Another thought - 320x320 isn't a standard resolution, so that alone would suggest a custom camera chip. this application is unusual in that there is no natural orientation.
If you look at sample mirocam footage on youtube, they clip to an octagonal window, presumably due to lens distortion at the corners.
Panasonic HDC-SD20 camcorder - no additional lens or anything needed.
Fascinating video, thanks Mike. Hilarious intro! I was well impressed by the oscilloscope work you did and had never seen that intensity grading feature before. Can't get my mind off the horrors of the pillcam recovery and cleanup process though.
Very nice video as always! i sincerely enjoy your teardown videos!
You are a very smart, well informed man. Enjoy watching the madness. Thanks
The I2C interface on chip cameras is for setup only - you can't get video data on any that I've seen.
It's possible it's a custom chip or MCU, but if so I'd expect it to only be doing power management, in particular the on/off control - it's hard to get at 3 of the pins but one of the accessible pins has the LED pulse on it. I'll attempt to probe the others at some point.
Modifying an existing CMOS camera to add a manchester encoder and a frame count wouldn't be a huge expense.
OK "manchester-like" if you insist - I, and I'm sure many others refer to any code that uses this type of coding method as manchester coding even if not strictly true, as it has the same basic qualities of being DC free, and polarity agnostic and fixed bit-length, and manchester coding is probably the most widley understood term to describe this style of datastream.
The grunting and washing-up bit was priceless!
Nice teardown, yours are always interesting to watch.
Awesome! No one does teardowns as cool as yours!
Another great one Mike:)
A good one indeed, thanks for being so detailed!
There would be scope for lossless, or controlled-loss compression - the sensor and optics limit ultimate quality to below what you could jpeg with negligible loss, but it isn't really necessary for the camera-to-receiver link. Looking at overall bandwidth, the receiver will be doing some compression - 320 x 320 x 3fps x 12 hours = 12gbytes but it only has 4gbytes flash
Agilent MSO6034A - predecessor to the current MSOX range.
The encoding looks like Differential Manchester / BMC (since it seems polarity doesn't matter, only transitions, and depending on the header frame count value the rest of the header can be inverted).
This was a really interesting breakdown - Many thanks for doing this, an enjoyable watch :-)
i've read about manchester code in books.thats the first time i've seen it in use.luving that scope by the way .great tear down
I managed to scope the other hard-to-get-at pins - it only has LED waveforms on it, so probably a constant-current regulator/switch.
Yes definitely, but I didn't know that at the time, and I was very worried about damaging the flex as I really wanted to look at the data format - from the outside the bottom looked like it may have had a wire passed through and glued from the outside. I don't think building a decoder for the data via a direct connection as opposed to via the body would be at all difficult - could probably translate their code to a fast UART stream on a fast MCU of CPLD and throw it at a PC via USB.
Think about it.... the receiver had to go back before I had access to the camera.
Great breakdown.
I'd love to have seen the output deciphered... As you say, it looked like raw line/pixel data and may have been interesting for other uses.
And yes- assuming patients don't keep them as souvenirs (!) there must be tens of thousands of these floating around out there in medical waste incinerators - adding lithium and silver oxide to the environment.
Cheers
Dude, I love your oscilloscope!
I didn't even know these things existed. Great teardown.
I would have loved to see a decoded image off of this camera. Could that be done without the receiver by probing the test points and then decoding that data into an image on a PC or something.
I am curious why blur the info on the receiver?
Thx for a very interesing video lot of things i learn
Silver oxide cells often end up 'imbalanced'. The drop off in voltage when expired is very abrupt so that a slight capacity difference between two cells will see one dead and the other still ok, while the voltage has dropped below what the electronics needs and, depending on that, it may then draw relatively negligible current. The choice of Ag2O rather than any Li chemistry is probably down to safety, easy transport and the availability of lots of difference sizes and capacities (this is very limited for non-rechargeable Li where the classic coin cell has the wrong form factor to be useful for this pill shaped application and double the voltage).
Yeah, safety, yet they put a MERCURY reed switch in there...!
Mike, You've outdone yourself - once again! This Pill Cam episode was brilliant!
Can you tell us why you were you blurring the label on the receiver?
Thanks for taking the time to produce and share these videos with us; coupled with your sense of humor and your electronics insights, they make for MUCH better edutainment than the "Discovery" channel . . .
Looking at the insides of something designed to look at your insides... I call that revenge!
Do you know if you can some how reuse theses camera pills
I was thinking of adding some soundtrack tunes - Peter Gabriel's 'Digging in the dirt' and Screamin' Jay Hawkins 'constipation blues' (search CZcams for this) but decided against in the name of taste!
Which scope are you using?
That is so awesome!!
In the case of an obese person, would the increase in fat cause a greater resistance to current thus reducing the amount of detectable voltage at the electrode pads? (the camera to external electrode would also be more.) Also, there must be some sort of automatic gain control in the recorder beltpack. Would the radio transmitter brand be used instead in such cases?
The white wire may be some sort of antenna which picks up the surrounding EM noise in order to substract it from the electrode signal to get a better SNR. Seen this technique on a ECG.
HOW MUCH WHERE YOU YOU GET IT HOW DO YOU RECORD IT AND WHO WILL DO A REPORT ON IT FOR YOUR HEALTH?
Please clean it first! LOL! That would be a given! Great vid Mike. Really enjoyed it. Thanks for posting.
Why block the data plate??
Totally agree he didn't do anything wrong by checking the insides of the receiver. He didn't play with it, nor tampered it, nor tried to retrieve the data stored, etc. He knows electronics and knows what he's doing, so all you laymans better keep your opinions to things you actually understand.
Where to buy it
Anyone know how much they cost as a "throw away" item?
love the intro
Sorry I asked the $ before the end of the video :) You are a braver man than me opening the receiver up! I would be afraid of wiping the data somehow, slip of the screwdriver or some battery backup disconnected, case open alert, etc ;)
Every good electronics workshop will look pretty much the same, there's no way to avoid that.
Not waste incinerators - sewage works.
awww I real hope so, you was half way there with that video i listen to everything you said, and knew about you reading volts per div .. theat is a gd sope not seen one that can do all that, and I saw your thumb go over the light and seen the data packets change on the scope,, but to see it cranks an image of text or an object would be the best an first. well done! ,most impressed so far, from ur own skill would be the crack of cracks :)
you can't use jpeg or any other compression like that that in medical imagery, because it is going to loose quality and introduce artefacts. You need lossless compression, if any. Never mind the silicon die size, and power requirements.
sorry about typos i'm in dark lighting ;-)
i love when you tear down all that medical stuff...
Groovy!
impressive
I also am currious about Q1
Now we know why you got that electric wheelchair! Haha, ouch.
*squirt*... cool, electronics!
play nice with the equipments!
Awww, I wanted to see you decode the image format and make it see stuff
At the beginning you should have said, whats the crack here then!
Idea for a giveway - share the image data and a giveaway of your choice to first person who can recreate an image. (Also assume this comment was made 3yrs ago =P)
Stay tuned - it may well happen!
That being said, I can't imagine ever doing this! Dissecting the disposable transmitter, yes... Being tempted to dissect the receiver... sure. Actually doing it... not so much.
Hmm uTube486 asked the same thing 7 months ago; why did you block out the sticker?
cleaned up nice :)
26:38 "Modern iPhone style" XD
Ah, I see. Must have missed his mention of that. Thanks *pelrun*
For me it's always the last to watch, because I like to keep the best stuff for the end!
Very interesting. I would have called this an extreme tear down :-)
I ment to say.. Why block the data plate @26:40.
Looks like dave's workshop
700 dollars for that thing i gotta say medical equipment is insanely expensive now days and theres probably only 50 dollars worth of electronics in that thing and add on 30 dollars manufacturing costs the medical conapnys just charge a lot so they can make a lot on money becaues they know prople still have to go to the hospital even if it is expensive and if you dont have health insurance going to the hospital costs way too much
Inception...
he said the pill was about $700
Damn, this scares me somewhat of my ring being damaged)))))))))
$700 o_0!
That's pretty cheap given the level of engineering.
It was made in Korea...
NRZ
I would have worn gloves while handling that. ;)
bathroom humour
This channel is full of shit or shit byproducts.
Great channel Mick. I love it.
Keep it coming.
Ian.
:P
OMG IT'S USED EWWWW
His speaking is low volume and not pronounced well. holly
There would be scope for lossless, or controlled-loss compression - the sensor and optics limit ultimate quality to below what you could jpeg with negligible loss, but it isn't really necessary for the camera-to-receiver link. Looking at overall bandwidth, the receiver will be doing some compression - 320x320x3fpsx12 hours = 12gbytes but it only has 4gbytes flash