 | Acquire Image (Smart Camera) Controls |
The following controls are available on all tabs.
| Control Name |
Description |
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Acquires and displays a single image from the NI Smart Camera. When you click this button, the step acquires and displays the next image provided by the camera. If the camera is in a triggered mode, the step waits for the next trigger signal to acquire and display an image. |
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Performs a continuous acquisition, or a triggered grab if the camera is in a triggered mode, and displays the image. When you click this button, the step starts the continuous acquisition and display of images. If the camera is in a triggered mode, the step waits for the next trigger signal to acquire and display a new image for each iteration. Click this button a second time to stop the continuous image acquisition. |
Main Tab
The following controls are available on the Main tab.
| Control Name |
Description |
| Step Name |
Name to give the step. |
| Exposure Time |
Time during which the camera sensor is exposed to light. Exposure Time can be adjusted in 31.2µs increments. |
| Gain |
Adjusts the gain of an image. |
Trigger Tab
The following controls are available on the Trigger tab.
| Control Name |
Description |
| Triggered Acquisition |
Enables the Trigger Mode control and its associated controls. When enabled, you can synchronize an image acquisition with events external to the smart camera, such as receiving a pulse from a detector that indicates the position of an item on an assembly line. The trigger signal must be connected to the trigger input of the smart camera. |
| Trigger Polarity |
Specifies if you reset the camera and start the acquisition of a new image on the rising or falling edge of the trigger signal. |
| Exposure Delay |
Specifies the amount of time to delay the exposure of the smart camera sensor after receiving a trigger signal. |
| Delay Unit |
Specifies the units for Exposure Delay.
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Note The Encoder Counts option is only available for smart cameras that support quadrature encoders. |
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| Timeout |
Specifies the amount of time, in milliseconds, to wait for the trigger signal before returning a timeout error. |
| Acquisition Mode |
Specifies whether the step returns the image currently being acquired or the last completely acquired image.
- Wait for Next Image—Waits for the next available image before transferring an image. The step acquires a single image when the step executes and returns the acquired image.
- Immediate—Immediately transfers the current image if it is newer than the image that was last acquired. The step continuously acquires images and returns the current image when the step runs only if it is newer than the previous image.
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Lighting Tab
The following controls are available on the Lighting tab.
| Control Name |
Description |
| Enable Direct Drive Lighting |
When enabled, this control allows you to use the smart camera internal lighting controller. Direct Drive lighting is not available on NI 1722 Smart Cameras. |
| Direct Drive Lighting Mode |
Specifies the operation mode for the Direct Drive lighting controller. The following values are valid:
- Continuous—Continuously powers the connected light.
- Strobe—Drives the connected light only when the smart camera sensor is exposed. Strobe mode allows you to temporarily overdrive the light.
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| Desired Current Level |
Specifies the amount of current, in milliamperes, to use to drive the light. If the specified current is greater than the maximum current level for the connected light, the actual current level is lowered to protect the light. |
| Configure Light |
Launches the Configure Light dialog box. Use the controls in the dialog box to configure your light. |
| 5 V TTL Strobe |
When enabled, the NI Smart Camera generates a 5 V TTL strobe signal for use with an external lighting controller. |
| 24 V Strobe |
When enabled, the NI Smart Camera generates a 24 V strobe signal for use with an external lighting controller. |
| Polarity |
Specifies whether the strobe pulse is high or low while the smart camera is acquiring. In the rising mode, the strobe pulse is high when the camera is acquiring. In the falling mode, the strobe pulse is low when the camera is acquiring. |
Advanced Tab
The following controls are available on the Advanced tab.
| Control Name |
Description |
| Show Attribute Help |
When enabled, information about the selected attribute is displayed. |
| Attribute |
List of the attributes for the smart camera. |
| Attribute Help |
Displays information about the selected attribute returned by the camera. |
| Value |
Specifies the value for the currently selected attribute. |