Acquisition Control
Acquisition and Frame Rate
There are three acquisition modes:
Continuous - acquires images continuously. This is the default mode.
Multi Frame - acquires a specified number of images before stopping acquisition.
Single Frame - acquires 1 image before stopping acquisition.
Use AcquisitionMode to select your mode. If you select MultiFrame, use AcquisitionFrameCount to specify the number of images to acquire.
Use AcquistionStart and AcquisitionStop to start and stop acquiring images with the selected mode.
The Acquisition Frame Rate can be manually or automatically controlled. Use AcquisitionFrameRateEnable to set this On (manual control) or Off (automatic control). By default, this is Off. If you select manual control, use AcquisitionFrameRate to specify a frame rate.
The ResultingFrameRate reports the actual frame rate at which the camera is streaming. If this does not equal the Acquisition Frame Rate it is because the Exposure Time is greater than the frame time.
Buffered Burst Mode
The acquisition frame rate is normally limited by the device link throughput as images are acquired and transferred to memory at the throughput rate. With Buffered Burst mode, images can be acquired faster than the throughput rate and temporarily stored in the image buffer. The image buffer then transfers the images to the host at the throughput rate while continuing to acquire new images. Buffered Burst acquisition is limited by the image buffer size, rather than the throughput.
Use the BufferedBurstMode to enable or disable Buffered Burst.
Note: This feature is enabled by default and the AcquisitionFrameRate is set to a manual rate appropriate for the camera using other default settings. If changing the camera's configuration, verify this frame rate is still attainable or frames may be dropped.
The BufferedBurstFrameCountMax gives an estimation of the number of images that can be acquired before the image buffer is full. If the number of images exceeds this amount, frames may be dropped.
Exposure Time Modes
There are two exposure time modes:
Timed - exposure time is a specified value. This is the default mode.
TriggerWidth - exposure time is controlled by the trigger signal.
Use ExposureMode to make a selection.
When ExposureMode is set to Timed, exposure time can be manually or automatically controlled.
For manual control, set ExposureAuto to Off. Use the ExposureTime control to set the exposure time in microseconds.
For automatic control, set ExposureAuto to Once or Continuous. The camera automatically adjusts the exposure to maximize the dynamic range. Once briefly enables automatic exposure to adapt the device and then sets exposure to manual control (Off). Continuous constantly adapts the device. Continuous is the default setting.
Note: For the Auto Exposure feature, gain and/or exposure time must be set to Continuous.
Trigger Features
Triggering allows you to acquire images at specific times when an event occurs. Triggering works with the acquisition modes and settings. By default, triggering is set to Off. To enable triggering, set TriggerMode to On.
Trigger Type - three options to control the start of triggering. Use TriggerSelector to select an option.
Acquisition Start - A trigger starts acquisition in the selected AcquisitionMode.
In Single Frame mode, the trigger acquires one image.
In Multi Frame mode, the trigger acquires the specified number of images.
In Continuous mode, the trigger acquires images until you stop acquisition.
Frame Start - A trigger is required for each individual image that is acquired.
In Single Frame mode, the trigger acquires one image. For each subsequent trigger you first must use AcquisitionStart to receive more images.
In Multi Frame mode, the trigger acquires the specified number of images. For each subsequent trigger you first must use AcquisitionStart to receive more images.
In Continuous mode, the trigger acquires one image. You do not have to start acquisition again for subsequent triggers.
Frame Burst Start - A trigger acquires a specified number of images. You do not have to start acquisition again for subsequent triggers. This mode is primarily used in Continuous mode, as Single Frame and Multi Frame settings overwrite the burst count. Use AcquisitionBurstFrameCount to specify the number of images to be acquired.
In Single Frame mode, the trigger acquires one image.
In Multi Frame mode, the trigger acquires the number of images specified in AcquisitionFrameCount.
In Continuous mode, the trigger acquires the number of images specified in AcquisitionBurstFrameCount.
Trigger Source - Use TriggerSource to specify the source that can signal the acquisition to acquire images. A trigger source can be one of the physical Line Inputs, User Outputs, Counters, Logic Blocks, and Software.
Trigger Activation - Use TriggerActivation to specify what voltage level or transition that activates a trigger. Trigger activation can be Level Low, Level High, Falling Edge, Rising Edge, or Any Edge.
Trigger Overlap - Use TriggerOverlap to specify whether a trigger responds while the readout of a previously acquired image is still occurring. There are two options: When set to Off, a trigger is disregarded during readout. When set to ReadOut, a trigger acquires another image during readout.
Trigger Delay - Use TriggerDelay to specify the time in microseconds between when the camera receives a trigger and when exposure begins for the image.
Trigger Software - If your trigger source is set to Software, use TriggerSoftware to perform a software trigger.
Summary Table
| Name | Interface | Access | Visibility | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acquisition Mode | IEnumeration | Beginner | Sets the acquisition mode of the device. Continuous: acquires images continuously. Multi Frame: acquires a specified number of images before stopping acquisition. Single Frame: acquires 1 image before stopping acquisition. | |
| Acquisition Start | ICommand | Beginner | This command starts the acquisition of images. | |
| Acquisition Stop | ICommand | Beginner | This command stops the acquisition of images. | |
| Acquisition Frame Count | IInteger | Beginner | Number of images to acquire during a multi frame acquisition. | |
| Acquisition Burst Frame Count | IInteger | Beginner | This feature is used only if the FrameBurstStart trigger is enabled and the FrameBurstEnd trigger is disabled. Note that the total number of frames captured is also conditioned by AcquisitionFrameCount if AcquisitionMode is MultiFrame and ignored if AcquisitionMode is Single. | |
| Buffered Burst Frame Count Max | IInteger | Beginner | Number of images that can be acquired in buffered burst mode without transfer overflow. | |
| Exposure Mode | IEnumeration | RW | Beginner | Sets the operation mode of the Exposure. |
| Exposure Time | IFloat | Beginner | Exposure time in microseconds when Exposure Mode is Timed. | |
| Exposure Auto | IEnumeration | Beginner | Sets the automatic exposure mode | |
| Acquisition Frame Rate | IFloat | Beginner | User controlled acquisition frame rate in Hertz | |
| Resulting Frame Rate | IFloat | RO | Beginner | Resulting frame rate in Hertz. If this does not equal the Acquisition Frame Rate it is because the Exposure Time is greater than the frame time. |
| Transfer Frame Rate | IFloat | RO | Beginner | Transfer frame rate in Hertz. If this does not equal the Acquisition Frame Rate it is because the Exposure Time is greater than the frame time. |
| Acquisition Frame Rate Enable | IBoolean | RW | Beginner | If enabled, AcquisitionFrameRate can be used to manually control the frame rate. |
| Acquisition Frame Rate Persistence | IBoolean | RW | Beginner | If enabled, the camera will try to preserve the frame rate to what is entered when changed by other features. |
| Buffered Burst Mode | IBoolean | Beginner | If enabled, sensor is able to be triggered at sensor maximum frame rate. Device link throughtput will be ignored in calculating sensor maximum frame rate. | |
| Acquisition Line Rate | IFloat | Beginner | Controls the rate (in Hertz) at which the Lines in a Frame are captured. | |
| Trigger Selector | IEnumeration | RW | Beginner | Selects the type of trigger to configure. |
| Trigger Mode [Trigger Selector] | IEnumeration | RW | Beginner | Controls whether or not trigger is active. |
| Trigger Software [Trigger Selector] | ICommand | WO | Beginner | Generates an internal trigger if Trigger Source is set to Software. |
| Trigger Source [Trigger Selector] | IEnumeration | RW | Beginner | Specifies the internal signal or physical input line to use as the trigger source. |
| Trigger Activation [Trigger Selector] | IEnumeration | RW | Beginner | Specifies the activation mode of the trigger. |
| Trigger Overlap [Trigger Selector] | IEnumeration | RW | Beginner | Specifies the overlap mode of the trigger. |
| Trigger Delay [Trigger Selector] | IFloat | Expert | Specifies the delay in microseconds (µs) to apply after the trigger reception before activating it. | |
| Image Timestamp | IEnumeration | RW | Expert | Sets acquisition image timestamp mode. |
| Sensor Shutter Mode | IEnumeration | RW | Guru | Sets the shutter mode of the device. |
Acquisition Control Features
Acquisition Mode
Sets the acquisition mode of the device. Continuous: acquires images continuously. Multi Frame: acquires a specified number of images before stopping acquisition. Single Frame: acquires 1 image before stopping acquisition.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionMode |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| Continuous |
| SingleFrame |
| MultiFrame |
Acquisition Start
This command starts the acquisition of images.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionStart |
| Interface | ICommand |
| Access | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Acquisition Stop
This command stops the acquisition of images.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionStop |
| Interface | ICommand |
| Access | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Acquisition Frame Count
Number of images to acquire during a multi frame acquisition.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionFrameCount |
| Interface | IInteger |
| Access | |
| Unit | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Acquisition Burst Frame Count
This feature is used only if the FrameBurstStart trigger is enabled and the FrameBurstEnd trigger is disabled. Note that the total number of frames captured is also conditioned by AcquisitionFrameCount if AcquisitionMode is MultiFrame and ignored if AcquisitionMode is Single.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionBurstFrameCount |
| Interface | IInteger |
| Access | |
| Unit | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Buffered Burst Frame Count Max
Number of images that can be acquired in buffered burst mode without transfer overflow.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | BufferedBurstFrameCountMax |
| Interface | IInteger |
| Access | |
| Unit | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Exposure Mode
Sets the operation mode of the Exposure.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | ExposureMode |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| Timed |
| TriggerWidth |
Exposure Time
Exposure time in microseconds when Exposure Mode is Timed.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | ExposureTime |
| Interface | IFloat |
| Access | |
| Unit | us |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Exposure Auto
Sets the automatic exposure mode
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | ExposureAuto |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| Off |
| Once |
| Continuous |
Acquisition Frame Rate
User controlled acquisition frame rate in Hertz
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionFrameRate |
| Interface | IFloat |
| Access | |
| Unit | Hz |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Resulting Frame Rate
Resulting frame rate in Hertz. If this does not equal the Acquisition Frame Rate it is because the Exposure Time is greater than the frame time.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionResultingFrameRate |
| Interface | IFloat |
| Access | RO |
| Unit | Hz |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Transfer Frame Rate
Transfer frame rate in Hertz. If this does not equal the Acquisition Frame Rate it is because the Exposure Time is greater than the frame time.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionTransferFrameRate |
| Interface | IFloat |
| Access | RO |
| Unit | Hz |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Acquisition Frame Rate Enable
If enabled, AcquisitionFrameRate can be used to manually control the frame rate.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionFrameRateEnable |
| Interface | IBoolean |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Acquisition Frame Rate Persistence
If enabled, the camera will try to preserve the frame rate to what is entered when changed by other features.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionFrameRatePersistence |
| Interface | IBoolean |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Buffered Burst Mode
If enabled, sensor is able to be triggered at sensor maximum frame rate. Device link throughtput will be ignored in calculating sensor maximum frame rate.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | BufferedBurstMode |
| Interface | IBoolean |
| Access | |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Acquisition Line Rate
Controls the rate (in Hertz) at which the Lines in a Frame are captured.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionLineRate |
| Interface | IFloat |
| Access | |
| Unit | Hz |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Trigger Selector
Selects the type of trigger to configure.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | TriggerSelector |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| AcquisitionStart |
| FrameStart |
| FrameBurstStart |
Trigger Mode
Controls whether or not trigger is active.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | TriggerMode [Trigger Selector] |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| Off |
| On |
Trigger Software
Generates an internal trigger if Trigger Source is set to Software.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | TriggerSoftware [Trigger Selector] |
| Interface | ICommand |
| Access | WO |
| Visibility | Beginner |
Trigger Source
Specifies the internal signal or physical input line to use as the trigger source.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | TriggerSource [Trigger Selector] |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| Software |
| Line0 |
| Line1 |
| Line2 |
| Line3 |
| UserOutput0 |
| UserOutput1 |
| UserOutput2 |
| UserOutput3 |
| Counter0Start |
| Counter1Start |
| Counter0End |
| Counter1End |
| LogicBlock0 |
| LogicBlock1 |
| Action0 |
Trigger Activation
Specifies the activation mode of the trigger.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | TriggerActivation [Trigger Selector] |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| LevelLow |
| LevelHigh |
| FallingEdge |
| RisingEdge |
| AnyEdge |
Trigger Overlap
Specifies the overlap mode of the trigger.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | TriggerOverlap [Trigger Selector] |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Beginner |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| Off |
| ReadOut |
| PreviousFrame |
Trigger Delay
Specifies the delay in microseconds (µs) to apply after the trigger reception before activating it.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | TriggerDelay [Trigger Selector] |
| Interface | IFloat |
| Access | |
| Unit | us |
| Visibility | Expert |
Image Timestamp
Sets acquisition image timestamp mode.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | AcquisitionImageTimestamp |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Expert |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| EndOfExposure |
| StartOfExposure |
Sensor Shutter Mode
Sets the shutter mode of the device.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | SensorShutterMode |
| Interface | IEnumeration |
| Access | RW |
| Visibility | Guru |
| Enumeration Values |
|---|
| Global |
