Disclosed herein is a camera system and camera controller having a
modularized design. Camera control functions within the controller are
distributed among a number of modules, each module performing a component
task of controlling a camera. Individual modules can perform tasks such
as generating clock signals, digitizing an analog video signal, and
providing multiplexed digital video output. Modules communicate with each
other over a common bus sufficient to carry the signals necessary to
control the camera. The system implements a RAM-based digital sequencer
that provides the capability of loading bit patterns into memory and
using these patterns to generate waveforms for clocking a CCD. Clock and
readout sequences can be composed in a high level language, compiled and
uploaded into the controller. Adjustable clamp and sample signal delays
used in digitizing an analog video signal provide the capability to
optimize the performance of the system in a given application.