General Uvc Webcam Software

Webcam Drivers If the operating system does not detect the camera, you must first make sure that the camera drivers are installed. In addition, do not forget that manufacturers of webcams strongly recommend installing the latest drivers. If the operating system does not detect the camera, you must first make sure that the camera drivers are installed. In addition, do not forget that manufacturers of webcams strongly recommend installing the latest drivers. If you do not have the CD and installation files for your webcam, first of all, try to find them on the. Apache USB PC Camera (Vimicro301 Neptune) - Shareware. Vimicro USB2.0 UVC PC Camera is a popular Z-Star Microelectronics Corp Miscellaneous drivers. You can download the Vimicro USB2.0 UVC PC Camera to fix your driver problems. Uvc Camera software, free download - IP Camera Viewer, Bluetooth Software Ver.6.0.1.4900.zip, Nokia Software Updater, and many more programs.

Webcam software is important to use your webcam in a more personalized way. The in-built webcam software of the Windows system is not so good to be used for various purposes. You can get a webcam software for your system and start using the webcam to make videos, click pictures, video chat with friends and family and do many other exciting things. In this article, you will get a list of top 7 free webcam software using which you can use your webcam in a handy way.

Webcam software has made taking pictures with add-ons, creating videos, and many other things very easy. For making the better use of the camera, it is very important to select a good webcam software. Webcam has become a very important business tool for video conferencing, face-to-face communication and many more. It has not only reduced the cost of travel and set-up for interviews and meetings but also saved time and labor. Webcam is playing a very important role in this technically advanced world. For using your webcam in a more influencing and innovative way, read about the best webcam software in this article with its features and compatibility.

Pro tip: If you take an important recording with a webcam, make sure to save it safely. In case of accidental data loss, don’t hesitate to use a Photo Recovery Software to get them back.

Top 1. Logitech Webcam Software

Logitech Webcam Software is the best webcam software which you can get directly from your Windows app store. It was previously known as Quickcam Express and it is the most popular software used by webcam users of Windows. If you are using Logitech Webcam, then you have to download this software to use it. Moreover, you can unlock many superlative features using both webcam and webcam software of Logitech together. Update your hard drives and other apps before using this software. This will ensure that your hardware is protected and there is no chance for it to get corrupted.

Features of Logitech Webcam Software:

  1. It is a suitable webcam software for the device to work properly and maintain its stability.
  2. You can go for Logitech webcam to function this software in a feasible manner.
  3. It comes for all compatible version of Windows for free.
  4. You can easily customize your recording settings with this software.
  5. You can go for high-quality video chat and can record the video in 720p or 1080p. Moreover, you can also take snapshots, record audio, take high-resolution images and perform other effective tasks quickly and easily.

Compatibility: Windows 7 and later

Top 2. MyCam

With various awesome functions and features, MyCam has also become popular as an advanced webcam software. It is a cool app with many easy-to-use tabs and options adding utilities to the webcam. You can send the recorded files to your mobile phone with the “Album” feature. Once the installation of this software gets finished, it will automatically detect your webcam and make its access very handy.

Features of MyCam:

  1. It enables the user to apply various filter and effects while clicking pictures or recording the video using a webcam.
  2. You can save the video and images in your computer in preferred file formats. It supports JPG, PNG, GIF and MP4 formats.
  3. You can broadcast the media to the stream server or share it to your smartphone easily.
  4. You can use the webcam to scan barcode or QR code as well.
  5. It supports GPU image processing to give a high-quality image and video without any lag.
  6. You can add amazing sound effects and video effects to your recorded video using this software.
  7. It also supports video broadcasting.
  8. You can create an album of photos and media for easy access.

Compatibility: Windows 7, 8/8.1,10, Vista SP2

Top 3. ManyCam

Here comes another quality webcam ManyCam which will add up more features and other superb functions to your webcam. You can add up many effects and personalize the settings of the webcam with this software. ManyCam comes with two versions, i.e., paid and free. You will get two options: ManyCam Pro and ManyCam Enterprise if you will go for the paid version. You can select any version of this software as per your requirement or choice.

Features of ManyCam:

  1. You can apply many filters, effects and can change the resolution of the camera easily.
  2. This software supports IP camera streaming which brings security and surveillance handy.
  3. You can record your computer’s screen while working or doing video chat using a webcam.
  4. It enables the user to record video in 4k high-quality without customizing the settings in an advanced way.
  5. You can automatically adjust the bitrate settings of the webcam using ManyCam.
  6. It is also used for easy video broadcasting and came streaming.
  7. You can select various website to run together by splitting the screen using it.
  8. ManyCam will always run in the background. You can use its pre-defined hotkeys to put the effects directly.

Compatibility: Windows 7/8/8.1/10, MacOS, Android, iOS

Top 4. SplitCam

SplitCam is a freeware which you can add up new functions and utilities to the webcam. This webcam software can be used fully without paying a single penny. It has all the features which you can find in other webcam software. Moreover, you can its application for video streaming on your Windows PC as well.

Features of SplitCam:

  1. This software supports the system as a video streaming software. You can broadcast your PC’s screen without any hassle.
  2. You can easily select the resolution of the video while streaming and recording video. You need not to personalize the settings every time for selecting.
  3. It provides perfect tools for easy pictures, recording, screenshots and many other tasks.

Compatibility: Windows 7, 8/8.1,10, Vista SP2

Top 5. CyberLink YouCam

YouCam is a widely-used webcam software developed by CyberLink. It is perfectly designed for crisp and clear video communication. It is completely free of cost and is of high-utility. Moreover, it is very easy to use and comes with many hotkeys which can be used for quick access.

Features of CyberLink YouCam:

  1. It enables the user to add up filters, stickers and other effects while video chat.
  2. It also has makeup and other beauty tools which can be used while taking pictures, recording video and during video chat.
  3. You can use all of its features and tools while using messaging platforms like Yahoo Messenger, AOL IM, Skype, Windows live messenger and many more.
  4. The software is featured with augmented reality effects.
  5. You can record your video and take pictures in high-quality picture resolution.

Compatibility: Windows 7, 8/8.1,10, Vista SP2

Top 6. IP Camera Viewer

The webcam has been discovered as a major part of the surveillance with advanced tools. IP Camera Viewer is an advanced webcam software plays an important role in security using IP cameras.

Features of IP Camera Viewer:

  1. It enables the user to easily customize and configure camera basic settings.
  2. It is compatible with more than 1800 IP camera models.
  3. You can record video in HD quality and easily adjust its resolution.
  4. It allows the user to do digital zoom as well.

Compatibility: Windows 10, 8,7, Vista, XP.

Top 7. Windows Camera

Windows camera is an efficient webcam software which does not require any additional software or application to edit and customize the video. It has a very simple and user-friendly interface. It possesses all the necessary features of the webcam software.

Features of the Windows Camera:

  1. It comes with two aspect ratios and four framing grid options for taking pictures.
  2. It supports HD and full HD resolution for video recording.
  3. This webcam software is perfect for taking burst shot and multiple shots with the help of its time-lapse mode.

Compatibility: Windows 10

Verdict

In this article, we have gone through a total of 7 tested and verified webcam software which you can use for video streaming, video recording, taking pictures, video chats and surveillance. After that, you may download photos and videos from camera to computer for further work. If you have any questions or queries, then ask us by writing it into the comments section.

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Windows 10 provides an inbox USB Video Class (UVC) driver for devices compliant with USB Video Class specification (versions 1.0 to 1.5). This driver supports color and sensor type cameras. This document outlines how to expose certain capabilities of a UVC compliant camera to the applications through the inbox driver.

Terminology

KeywordDescription
UVCUSB Video Class
UVC driverUSBVideo.sys driver that ships with the OS
IRInfrared
Color cameraThe camera that outputs color streams (for example, RGB or YUV cameras)
Sensor cameraThe camera that outputs non-color streams (for example, IR or Depth cameras)
BOSBinary Device Object Store
MS OS 2.0 DescriptorMicrosoft platform specific BOS device capability descriptor

Sensor Cameras

Windows supports two categories of cameras. One is a color camera and the other one is a non-color sensor camera. RGB or YUV cameras are categorized as color cameras and non-color cameras like gray scale, IR and Depth cameras are categorized as sensor cameras. The UVC driver supports both types of cameras. We recommend the camera firmware specify a value based on which the UVC driver would register the camera under one or both supported categories.

A camera that supports color only format types should be registered under KSCATEGORY_VIDEO_CAMERA. A camera that supports IR or Depth-only format types should be registered under KSCATEGORY_SENSOR_CAMERA. A camera that supports both color and non-color format types should be registered under KSCATEGORY_VIDEO_CAMERA and KSCATEGORY_SENSOR_CAMERA. This categorization helps applications to select the camera that they want to work with.

A UVC camera can specify its category preference through attributes, SensorCameraMode and SkipCameraEnumeration, in its BOS MS OS 2.0 Descriptor detailed in following sections.

The attribute SensorCameraMode takes a value 1 or 2.

A value of 1, will register the device under KSCATEGORY_SENSOR_CAMERA. In addition to this specify a value of 1 for SkipCameraEnumeration to make the camera available to applications looking only for sensor cameras. A camera that exposes only sensor camera media types should use this value.

A value of 2 for SensorCameraMode, will register the device under KSCATEGORY_SENSOR_CAMERA & KSCATEGORY_VIDEO_CAMERA. This will make the camera available for applications looking for either sensor and color cameras. A camera that exposes both sensor camera and color camera media types should use this value.

We recommend you specify the above-mentioned registry value using the BOS descriptor. Refer to the Example composite device section below for a sample BOS descriptor with a platform specific MS OS 2.0 descriptor.

If you cannot update the device firmware as described above, you can use a custom INF and specify that your camera need to be registered as a sensor camera by specifying a value for SensorCameraMode and SkipCameraEnumeration as follows:

A custom INF file (based on the inbox UVC driver) must include the following AddReg entries:

SensorCameraMode: REG_DWORD: 1 (to register as a sensor camera)

SkipCameraEnumeration: REG_DWORD: 1 (make it available only for IR applications)

An example of the custom INF section is as follows:

If the SensorCameraMode and SkipCameraEnumeration attributes are not specified in the firmware or the INF, the camera will be registered as a color camera and will be visible only to color camera aware applications.

IR stream

The Windows inbox USB video class (UVC) driver supports cameras that capture the scene in YUV format and transmit the pixel data over USB as uncompressed YUV or as compressed MJPEG frames.

The following format type GUIDs should be specified in the stream video format descriptor, as defined in the WDK ksmedia.h header file:

TypeDescription
KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_L8_IRUncompressed 8 bit luma plane. This type maps to MFVideoFormat_L8.
KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_L16_IRUncompressed 16 bit luma plane. This type maps to MFVideoFormat_L16.
KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_MJPG_IRCompressed MJPEG frames. Media Foundation converts this into NV12 uncompressed frames and uses only the luma plane.

When these format type GUIDs are specified in the guidFormat field of the frame descriptor, the Media Foundation capture pipeline marks the stream as IR stream. Applications written with Media Foundation FrameReader API will be able to consume the IR stream. No scaling or conversions of the IR frames are supported by the pipeline for IR streams.

A stream exposing IR format types must not expose RGB or Depth format types.

Note

IR streams will show up as regular capture streams in DShow.

Depth stream

Windows inbox USB Video Class driver supports cameras that produce Depth streams. These cameras capture the depth information (For example, time of flight) of the scene and transmit the depth map as uncompressed YUV frames over USB. The following format type GUID should be specified in the stream video format descriptor, as defined in the WDK ksmedia.h header file:

TypeDescription
KSDATAFORMAT_SUBTYPE_D1616 bit depth map values. This type is identical to MFVideoFormat_D16. The values are in millimeters.

When the format type GUID is specified in the guidFormat member of the frame descriptor, the Media Foundation capture pipeline marks the stream as depth stream. Applications written with FrameReader API will be able to consume the depth stream. No scaling or conversions of the depth frames are supported by the pipeline for depth streams.

A stream exposing Depth format types must not expose RGB or IR format types.

Note

Depth streams show up as regular capture streams in DShow.

Grouping cameras

Windows supports grouping of cameras based on their container ID to aid applications work with related cameras. For example, an IR camera and a Color camera present on the same physical device can be exposed to the OS as related cameras. This will make applications like Windows Hello to make use of the related cameras for their scenarios.

The relation between the camera functions could be specified in the camera's BOS descriptor in firmware. The UVC driver will make use of this information and expose these camera functions as related. This will make the OS camera stack expose them as a related group of cameras to the applications.

The camera firmware must specify a UVC-FSSensorGroupID, which is a GUID in string form with the curly parenthesis. The cameras that have the same UVC-FSSensorGroupID will be grouped together.

The sensor group can be given a name by specifying UVC-FSSensorGroupName, a Unicode string, in the firmware.

Refer to the Example composite device section below for an illustrative example BOS that specifies UVC-FSSensorGroupID and UVC-FSSensorGroupName.

If you cannot update the device firmware as described above, you can use a custom INF and specify that your camera is part of a sensor group by specifying a sensor group ID and name as follows. The custom INF file (based on the inbox UVC driver) must include the following AddReg entries:

FSSensorGroupID: REG_SZ: '{your sensor group ID GUID}'

FSSensorGroupName: REG_SZ: 'your sensor group friendly name'

An example for the custom INF section would be as follows:

Uvc Pc Camera Software

Note

Sensor Groups are not supported in DShow capture pipeline.

Method 2 or Method 3 still capture support

UVC specification does provide a mechanism to specify if the video streaming interface supports Method 1/2/3 type still image capture. To make the OS take advantage of the device's Method 2/3 still image capture support, through UVC driver, the device firmware could specify a value in the BOS descriptor.

The value to specify to enable Method 2/3 still image capture is a DWORD named UVC-EnableDependentStillPinCapture. Specify its value using the BOS descriptor. The Example composite device below illustrates enabling still image capture with an example BOS descriptor.

If you cannot update the device firmware as described above, you can use a custom INF to specify that your camera supports Method 2 or Method 3 still capture method.

The custom INF file (based on either custom UVC driver or inbox UVC driver) must include the following AddReg entry:

EnableDependentStillPinCapture: REG_DWORD: 0x0 (Disabled) to 0x1 (Enabled)

When this entry is set to Enabled (0x1), the capture pipeline will leverage Method 2/3 for still image capture (assuming the firmware also advertises support for Method 2/3 as specified by UVC spec).

An example for the custom INF section is as follows:

Device MFT Chaining

Device MFT is the recommended user mode plugin mechanism for IHVs and OEMs to extend the camera functionality on Windows. Prior to Windows 10, version 1703, the camera pipeline supported only one DMFT extension plugin. Starting with Windows 10, version 1703, the Windows camera pipeline supports an optional chain of DMFTs with maximum of three DMFTs. This provides greater flexibility for OEMs and IHVs to provide value-add in the form of post processing camera streams. For example, a device could use PDMFT along with an IHV DMFT and an OEM DMFT. Following figure illustrates the architecture involving a chain of DMFTs.

Capture samples flow from camera driver to DevProxy, then go through the DMFT chains. Every DMFT in the chain has a chance to process the sample. If the DMFT doesn't want to process the sample, it can act as a pass-through just pass the sample to next DMFT.

For controls like KsProperty, the call will go up stream – the last DMFT in the chain will get the call first, the call can be handled there or get passed to previous DMFT in the chain.

Errors will be propagated from DMFT to DTM then to applications. For IHV/OEM DMFTs, any one of the DMFT fails to instantiate will be a fatal error for DTM.

Requirements on DMFTs:

  • The input pin count of the DMFT must match with the output pin count of previous DMFT, otherwise DTM would fail during initialization. However, the input and output pin counts of same DMFT do not need to match.

  • DMFT needs to support interfaces - IMFDeviceTransform, IMFShutdown, IMFRealTimeClientEx, IKsControl and IMFMediaEventGenerator; IMFTransform may need to be supported if there is MFT0 configured or the next DMFT in the chain requires IMFTransform support.

  • On 64-bit systems that do not make use of Frame Server, both 32-bit and 64-bit DMFTs must be registered. Given that a USB camera might get plugged into an arbitrary system, for 'external' (or non-inbox) USB cameras, the USB camera vendor should supply both 32-bit and 64-bit DMFTs.

Configuring the DMFT chain

A camera device can optionally supply a DMFT COM object in a DLL using a custom INF file that uses sections of the inbox USBVideo.INF.

In the custom .INF file's 'Interface AddReg' section, specify the DMFT CLSIDs by adding following registry entry:

CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain (REG_MULTI_SZ) %Dmft0.CLSID%,%Dmft.CLSID%,%Dmft2.CLSID%

As shown in the sample INF settings below (replace the %Dmft0.CLSID% and % Dmft1.CLSID% with the actual CLSID strings you are using for your DMFTs), there are maximum of 2 CLSIDs allowed in Windows 10, version 1703, and the first one is closest to DevProxy and the last one is the last DMFT in the chain.

Platform DMFT CLSID is {3D096DDE-8971-4AD5-98F9-C74F56492630}.

General

Some example CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain settings:

  • No IHV/OEM DMFT or Platform DMFT

    • CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain = ' (or no need to specify this registry entry)
  • IHV/OEM DMFT

    • CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain = %Dmft.CLSID%
  • Platform DMFT <-> IHV/OEM DMFT

    • CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain = '{3D096DDE-8971-4AD5-98F9-C74F56492630}',%Dmft.CLSID%

    • Here is a screen shot of the result registry key for an USB camera with Platform DMFT and an DMFT (with GUID {D671BE6C-FDB8-424F-81D7-03F5B1CE2CC7}) in the chain.

Note

The CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain can have a maximum 2 of CLSIDs.

If CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain is configured, the legacy CameraDeviceMftCLSID settings will be skipped by DTM.

If CameraDeviceMftCLSIDChain is not configured and the legacy CameraDeviceMftCLSID is configured, then the chain would look like (if its USB camera and supported by Platform DMFT and Platform DMFT is enabled) DevProxy <–> Platform DMFT <–> OEM/IHV DMFT or (if the camera is not supported by Platform DMFT or Platform DMFT is disabled) DevProxy <-> OEM/IHV DMFT.

Example INF file settings:

Platform Device MFT

Starting in Windows 10, version 1703, Windows provides an inbox Device MFT for UVC cameras known as Platform DMFT (PDMFT) on an opt-in basis. This DMFT allows IHVs and OEMs to take advantage of Windows provided post processing algorithms.

Features supported by Platform DMFTWindows Release
Enables face-based Region of Interest (ROI) for 3A adjustments in ROI-capable USB cameras.Windows 10, version 1703

Note

If the camera does not support UVC 1.5 based ROI, then the PDMFT will not load even if the device opted in to use PDMFT.

A UVC camera could opt-in to use platform DMFT by specifying the EnablePlatformDmft through BOS descriptor.

The value to specify to enable Platform DMFT is a DWORD by name UVC-EnablePlatformDmft and specify its value using the BOS descriptor. The Example composite device section below illustrates enabling Platform DMFT with an example BOS descriptor.

If you cannot update the device firmware as described above, you can use a custom INF file to enable Platform DMFT for the device.

The custom INF file (based on either custom UVC driver or inbox UVC driver) must include the following AddReg entry:

EnablePlatformDmft: REG_DWORD: 0x0 (Disabled) to 0x1 (Enabled)

When this entry is set to Enabled (0x1), the capture pipeline will use inbox Platform DMFT for the device. The following shows an example of this custom INF section:

In Windows 10, version 1703, if a device opts in to use PDMFT then all features that are supported by the PDMFT are enabled (based on the device capabilities). Granular configuration of PDMFT features is not supported.

Face Auth Profile via MS OS Descriptors

Windows 10 RS5 now enforces a Face Auth Profile V2 requirement for any camera with Windows Hello support. For MIPI based systems with custom camera driver stack, this support can be published either via an INF (or an Extension INF) or through a user mode plug in (Device MFT).

However, for USB Video devices, a constraint with UVC based cameras is that for Windows 10 19H1, custom camera drivers are not allowed. All UVC based cameras must use the inbox USB Video Class driver and any vendor extensions must be implemented in the form of a Device MFT.

For many OEM/ODMs, the preferred approach for camera modules is to implement much of the functionality within the module's firmware, i.e. via Microsoft OS Descriptors.

The following cameras are supported for publish Face Auth Profile via the MSOS Descriptors (also called BOS descriptors):

  • RGB only camera to be used in Sensor Group with a separate IR camera.
  • IR only camera to be used in a Sensor Group with a separate RGB camera.
  • RGB+IR camera with separate IR and RGB pins.

Note:If the camera firmware cannot meet one of the three requirements detailed above, the ODM/OEM must use an Extension INF to declare Camera Profile V2.

Example Microsoft OS Descriptor Layout

Examples are included below for the following specifications:

  • Microsoft OS extended descriptors specification 1.0
  • Microsoft OS 2.0 descriptors specification

Microsoft OS Extended Descriptor 1.0 Specification

The extended properties OS descriptor has two components

  • A fixed-length header section
  • One or more variable length custom properties sections, which follows the header section

Microsoft OS 1.0 Descriptor Header Section

The Header Section describes a single custom property (Face Auth Profile).

OffsetFieldSize (bytes)ValueDescription
0dwLength4<>
4bcdVersion20x0100Version 1.0
6wIndex20x0005Extended property OS descriptor
8wCount20x0001One custom property

Microsoft OS 1.0 Descriptor Custom Property Section

OffsetFieldSize (bytes)ValueDescription
0dwSize40x00000036 (54)Total size (in bytes) for this property.
4dwPropertyDataType40x00000004REG_DWORD_LITTLE_ENDIAN
8wPropertyNameLength20x00000024 (36)Size (in bytes) of the property name.
10bPropertyName36UVC-CPV2FaceAuth'UVC-CPV2FaceAuth' string in Unicode.
46dwPropertyDataLength40x000000044 bytes for property data (sizeof(DWORD)).
50bPropertyData4See Data Schema BelowSee Data Schema Below.
Payload Schema

The UVC-CPV2FaceAuth data payload is a 32-bit unsigned integer. The high order 16-bit represents the 0 based index of the media type list exposed by the RGB pin. The low order 16-bit represents the 0 based index of the media type list exposed by the IR pin.

For example, a Type 3 Camera which exposes the following media types, in the order declared from the RGB pin:

  • YUY2, 640x480@30fps
  • MJPG, 1280x720@30fps
  • MJPG, 800x600@30fps
  • MJPG, 1920x1080@30fps

And the following media type for IR:

  • L8, 480x480@30fps
  • L8, 480x480@15fps
  • L8, 480x480@10fps

A payload value of 0x00010000, will result in the following Face Auth Profile being published:

Pin0:(RES1280,720;FRT30,1;SUTMJPG)// Second media type (0x0001)
Pin1:(RES480,480;FRT30,1;SUTL8)// First media type (0x0000)

Note: At the time of this writing, Windows Hello has a minimum requirement of 480x480@7.5fps for the RGB stream and 340x340@15fps for the IR stream. IHV/OEMs are required to select media types that satisfy this requirement when enabling Face Auth Profile.

Type 1 Camera Sample

For a Type 1 Camera, since there is no IR pin (with the expectation that a Type 1 Camera will be paired to a Type 2 Camera on the machine in a Sensor Group), only the RGB media type index is published. For the IR media type index, the low order 16-bit value of the payload must be set to 0xFFFF.

For example, if a Type 1 Camera exposed the following list of media types:

  • YUY2, 640x480@30fps
  • MJPG, 1280x720@30fps
  • MJPG, 800x600@30fps
  • MJPG, 1920x1080@30fps

To publish the CPV2FaceAuth using the MJPG, 1280x720@30fps media type, the payload must be set to 0x0001FFFF.

Type 2 Camera Sample

For a Type 2 Camera, the high order 16-bit must be set to 0xFFFF, with the low order 16-bit indicating the IR media type to be used.

For example, for a Type 2 Camera with the following media types:

  • L8, 480x480@30fps
  • L8, 480x480@15fps
  • L8, 480x480@10fps

If the first media type is used for Face Auth, the value must be: 0xFFFF0000.

Microsoft OS Extended Descriptor 2.0 Specification

MSOS Extended Descriptor 2.0 can be used to define the registry values to add Face Auth Profile support. This is done using the Microsoft OS 2.0 Registry Property Descriptor.

For the UVC-CPV2FaceAuth registry entry, the following shows a sample MSOS 2.0 descriptor set:

When UVC-CPV2FaceAuth registry entry is added, devices do not need to publish the EnableDshowRedirection registry entry as described in DShow Bridge implementation guidance for UVC devices.

However, if the device vendor must support older versions of Windows and/or need to enable MJPEG decompression within Frame Server, the EnableDshowRedirection registry entry must be added.

Sensor Group Generation

When OEMs build systems using Type 1 and Type 2 Cameras to provide both RGB and IR streams for Windows Hello support, OEMs must declare the two cameras to be part of a synthesized Sensor Group.

This is done by declaring a FSSensorGroupId and FSSensorGroupName tag in an Extension INF to be created under the device interface property for each camera.

However, if Extension INF is not provided, ODMs may use the same MSOS Descriptors to publish the FSSensorGroupId and FSSensorGroupName values. The inbox Windows 10 USB Video Class driver will automatically take any MSOS Descriptor whose Payload Name has been prefixed with 'UVC-' and migrate the tag into the device interface property store (removing the 'UVC-' prefix).

So a Type 1 and Type 2 Camera which publishes the following will allow the OS to synthesize the cameras into a multi-device Sensor Group for use with Windows Hello:

UVC-FSSensorGroupId
UVC-FSSensorGroupName

The payload for each tag must be a Unicode String. The UVC-FSSensorGroupId payload must be a GUID string in the following format:

{XXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX}

The value of the GUID must be the same between the Type 1 and Type 2 Cameras and both cameras must be added to the same physical chassis. For built in cameras, the physical chassis is the computer itself. For external cameras, both Type 1 and Type 2 Camera modules must be built into the same physical device connected to the computer.

Custom Device Interface Categories for Sensor Groups

Starting in 19H1, Windows is providing an IHV/OEM specified extension mechanism to allow publishing synthesized Sensor Groups into any custom or pre-defined category. Generation of a Sensor Group is defined by IHV/OEMs providing a Sensor Group ID key in the custom INF:

FSSensorGroupId: {Custom GUID}
FSSensorGroupName: <Friendly Name used for Sensor Group>

In addition to the two above AddReg entries in the INF, a new AddReg entry is defined for custom categories:

FSSensorGroupCategoryList: {GUID};{GUID};…;{GUID}

Multiple categories are defined using a semi-colon (;) delimited GUID list.

Each device declaring a matching FSSensorGroupId, must declare the same FSSensorGroupCategoryList. If the list does not match, all lists will be ignored and the Sensor Group will be published by default into KSCATEGORY_SENSOR_GROUP as if no custom categories were defined.

Camera Rotation

General Uvc Webcam Software Logitech

See Camera Device Orientation

UVC Control Cache

See UVC Control Cache

BOS and MS OS 2.0 descriptor

General Uvc Webcam Software Windows 10

UVC compliant camera can specify Windows specific device configuration values in a platform capability BOS descriptor in its firmware using Microsoft OS 2.0 Descriptors. Please refer the documentation on MS OS 2.0 descriptor to understand how to specify a valid BOS descriptor that conveys the device configuration to the OS.

Microsoft OS 2.0 Descriptor Set Header

OffsetFieldSize (bytes)Description
0wLength2Length in bytes of this header, must be 10.
2wDescriptorType2MSOS20_SET_HEADER_DESCRIPTOR
4dwWindowsVersion4Windows version.
8wTotalLength2The size of the entire MS OS 2.0 descriptor set including this header size.

Microsoft OS 2.0 Registry Property Descriptor

OffsetFieldSize (bytes)Description
0wLength2Length in bytes of this descriptor
2wDescriptorType2MS_OS_20_FEATURE_REG_PROPERTY
4wPropertyDataType20x04 (REG_DWORD_LITTLE_ENDIAN)
6wPropertyNameLength2The length of the property name.
8PropertyNameVariableThe name of the registry property.
8+MwPropertyDataLength2The length of the property data.
10+MPropertyDataVariableProperty Data

When a valid MS OS 2.0 descriptor is specified in the firmware, the USB stack copies the configuration values into the device HW registry key show below:

UVC driver reads the configuration values from the device HW registry key and configures the device on the OS accordingly. For example, if the firmware specifies the device to be registered as a sensor camera using a configuration value, UVC driver registers the device just under that category.

Configuring UVC devices through platform BOS descriptor is a mechanism that was enabled in Windows 10, version 1703 to help UVC device vendors to configure the device without the need of an INF file on Windows OS.

Configuring UVC devices through custom INF is still supported and that takes precedence over BOS descriptor based mechanism. While specifying device properties through INF, you do not need to add the prefix 'UVC-'. This prefix is only needed for device properties that are specified through BOS descriptor and that are per interface instance specific. If your device needs user mode plugins like DMFT, then you need to supply an INF for installing the DMFT. It cannot be configured using firmware.

Currently supported configuration values through BOS descriptor

Configuration nameTypeDescription
SensorCameraModeREG_DWORDRegister the camera under a specific category.
UVC-FSSensorGroupID
UVC-FSSensorGroupName
REG_SZGroup cameras with the same UVC-FSSensorGroupID
UVC-EnableDependentStillPinCaptureREG_DWORDTo enable still capture Method 2/3
UVC-EnablePlatformDmftREG_DWORDTo enable Platform DMFT

When UVC driver sees the registry values with prefix 'UVC-', it populates the device's category interface instance registry key, with the same values without the prefix. The driver will do this for any variable specified by the firmware, not just the ones listed above.

For the OS to make use of the BOS Platform Device Capability and MS OS 2.0 descriptors, the device descriptor must specify the bcdUSB version to be 0x0210 or greater.

Example composite device

This section provides a BOS descriptor and a MS OS 2.0 descriptor for an example composite device with two camera functions. One function is a UVC color camera and the second function is a UVC IR camera.

The sample descriptors are as follows:

  1. Register the color camera function under KSCATEGORY_VIDEO_CAMERA
  2. Register the IR camera function under KSCATEGORY_SENSOR_CAMERA
  3. Enable color camera function still image capture
  4. Associates the color and IR camera functions as a group

Upon device enumeration, the USB stack retrieves the BOS descriptor from the device. Following the BOS descriptor is a platform specific device capability.

The BOS platform capability descriptor specifies:

  1. MS OS 2.0 descriptor platform capability GUID
  2. A vendor control code bMS_VendorCode (here is it set to 1. It can take any value the vendor prefers) to retrieve the MS OS 2.0 descriptor.
  3. This BOS descriptor is applicable for OS version Windows 10 and later.

After seeing the BOS descriptor, the USB stack will issue the vendor specific control request to retrieve the MS OS 2.0 descriptor.

Format of the control request to retrieve MS OS 2.0 vendor-specific descriptor:

bmRequestTypeBRequestwValueWIndexwLengthData
1100 0000BbMS_VendorCode0x000x07LengthReturned MS OS 2.0 Descriptor Set blob

bmRequestType

  • Data Transfer Direction – Device to Host
  • Type – Vendor
  • Recipient - Device

bRequest

The bMS_VendorCode value returned in the descriptor set information structure.

General Uvc Software

wValue

Set to 0x00.

General Uvc Camera

wIndex

General Uvc Webcam Software

0x7 for MS_OS_20_DESCRIPTOR_INDEX.

wLength

Length of the MS OS 2.0 descriptor set, as returned in the BOS descriptor. 0x25C (604) in this example.

The device is expected to return the MS OS 2.0 descriptor like the one specified in USBVideoMSOS20DescriptorSet.

Uvc Webcam Software Windows 10

The USBVideoMSOS20DescriptorSet describes the color and IR functions. It specifies the following MS OS 2.0 Descriptor values:

General Uvc Drivers Download

  1. Set Header
  2. Configuration Subset Header
  3. Color Camera Function Subset Header
  4. Registry Value Feature Descriptor for sensor group ID
  5. Registry Value Feature Descriptor for sensor group name
  6. Registry Value Feature Descriptor for enabling still image capture
  7. Registry Value Feature Descriptor for enabling Platform DMFT
  8. IR Camera Function Subset Header
  9. Registry Value Feature Descriptor for sensor group ID
  10. Registry Value Feature Descriptor for sensor group name
  11. Registry Value Feature Descriptor for registering the camera as a sensor camera

The firmware will have a handler for the vendor request that will return the following MS OS 2.0 descriptor for the imaginary device described at the beginning of this section.