Shot in the dark - digital camera modules

[newguy]

I've tried googling every combination of the words "digital camera module" along with quite a few others, but I haven't been able to find the information that I'm looking for. That's why I'm asking here.

I have an application that requires several seconds of video to be recorded at a time. I'm leaning toward using a standard (low res) NTSC camera module hooked up to a vcr or dvd recorder to do the job. Every site that sells the bare modules I've been looking at also sells bare digital camera modules with a higher res than the analog ones. Higher res is better for my application, by the way.

The problem? I don't have even the beginnings of a sniff of a clue how to interpret/store/whatever the digital signals coming out of those cameras.

Does anyone know of a good website or textbook that would clear things up for me?

Thanks.

[John Morley]

Newguy,

In order for us to help you, we must know which PIC you are using, and what version of the compiler you have !! Please post your code!
_________________
John Morley

[SherpaDoug]

Or more appropriate in this case might be to tell us which camera module you are considering, with a link to its datasheet.
_________________
The search for better is endless. Instead simply find very good and get the job done.

[newguy]

Sorry for being unclear. What I'm not understanding is how to convert the output of a digital camera module (like this one: http://www.electronic-kits-and-projects.com/kit-files/cameras/d-c3188a.pdf, and here is the link to its' sensor chip: http://www.electronic-kits-and-projects.com/kit-files/ovt/OV7620_OV7120_v1.2whole.pdf) into a regular old composite video signal that can be displayed on any TV or recorded by a regular VCR or a DVD recorder.

I don't think that this is a project that can be done by a pic - I'm sure that there is a standard chip, or set of chips that can convert the output of cameras of this type into a regular old composite video signal. That's what I'm after.

[SherpaDoug]

Composite video is too fast for a PIC to handle at any decent resolution. Buy if you wanted to store frames on a digital media you might get a PIC to do that.
_________________
The search for better is endless. Instead simply find very good and get the job done.

[PCM programmer]

You could buy one and see what chip they use. Here's one example.
There might be cheaper ones available at some other website.
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=CCD302

[newguy]

PCM - thanks for the link. I have come to the conclusion that I'll have to buy one just to see how the manufacturer does it (as you suggested).

Thanks everyone, for all the help.