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IDS peak 2.8.0 / uEye+ firmware 3.33

Most IDS Vision cameras support using I/O signals as trigger for image acquisition. This mode is often called hardware trigger.

When the camera receives a trigger signal on the line, a single image is captured and transferred. During initialization time, trigger signals are ignored.

While exposure and read out are still active, the camera can typically not start a second acquisition unless it is able to handle overlapping triggers. The latter means, that the next exposure can start while the previous read out is still active.

In hardware trigger mode, the AcquisitionFrameRate turns to read-only access and returns the maximum trigger frequency. If triggers are sent faster and the camera is not ready to apply the trigger, the trigger is missed.

Fig. 66: Camera timing in hardware trigger mode with sequential frames

Fig. 66: Camera timing in hardware trigger mode with sequential frames

Fig. 67: Camera timing in hardware trigger mode with overlapping frames

Fig. 67: Camera timing in hardware trigger mode with overlapping frames

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The timing diagrams refer to global shutter sensors. With rolling shutters, the timing slightly differs. You find detailed timing diagrams for rolling shutters here: Signals and events from rolling shutter sensors

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Note on I/O pinning and circuits

For I/O pin assignment and circuit information for your camera model, refer to the technical manual of the respective camera family.

Configuration

First make sure, you have chosen the AcquisitionMode "Continuous".

AcquisitionMode = Continuous;

Then activate the "ExposureStart" trigger.

TriggerSelector = ExposureStart;
TriggerMode = On;

As TriggerSource for the "ExposureStart" trigger, select the I/O line that holds the trigger signal.

TriggerSource = Line0;

Now the image acquisition is ready to be started. See Preparing image acquisition: create buffer and Starting and stopping image acquisition.

AcquisitionStart();

Alternatives and variations: Using the falling edge of the I/O signal

Instead of using the rising edge, you can also connect the "ExposureStart" trigger to the falling edge of your I/O signal. Make sure, the TriggerSelector is set correctly first. Then change the TriggerActivation according to the selected edge type.

TriggerSelector = ExposureStart;
TriggerActivation = FallingEdge;

Fig. 68: Trigger activation on the falling edge of the input line

Fig. 68: Trigger activation on the falling edge of the input line

Alternatives and variations: Trigger delay

Some applications require, that the I/O signal triggers the image with a certain delay to synchronize different components in the process. Make sure, the TriggerSelector is set correctly first. Then change the TriggerDelay according to your application.

TriggerSelector = ExposureStart;
TriggerDelay = 100.0;

Fig. 69: Trigger delay

Fig. 69: Trigger delay

Alternatives and variations: Skipping trigger signals

Especially with high frequent trigger signal sources, some applications require to skip trigger signals. If the TriggerDivider is set to 2, only every second trigger signal is causing the capture of an image. If TriggerDivider is set to 10, only every 10th signal triggers an image, and so on.

Make sure, the TriggerSelector is set correctly first. Then change the TriggerDivider according to your application.

TriggerSelector = ExposureStart;
TriggerDivider = 2;

Fig. 70: Skipping every second trigger signal with TriggerDivider=2

Fig. 70: Skipping every second trigger signal with TriggerDivider=2

Additional information

IDS peak: code examples

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