Mikrotron MC136, MC137 Reference Manual

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MC136x/MC137x

HighSpeed Memory Camera With GigEVision Interface

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MC136x/MC137x Camera Manual Rev. 1.0

Mikrotron GmbH

Landshuter Str. 20-22 D-85716 Unterschleissheim Germany

Tel.: +49 89 726342 00 Fax: +49 89 726342 99

info@mikrotron.de

www.mikrotron.de

Table of contents

1. Introduction

..........................................................................................................................3

1.1. General Target.......................................................................................................................3

1.2. GENCAM Specification...................................................................................................4

1.3. Interface Type .......................................................................................................................4

2. Feature description

........................................................................................................5

2.1. Camera Information .............................................................................................................5

2.2. Image Size Controls.............................................................................................................8

2.3. Acquisition and Trigger Controls......................................................................................12

2.4. Record Controls..................................................................................................................16

2.5. Stream Controls..................................................................................................................19

2.6. Analog Controls...................................................................................................................21

2.7. Camera State......................................................................................................................24

3. General Programming Guide

..............................................................................25

3.1. Camera States....................................................................................................................25

3.2. State Transformations........................................................................................................26

4. Record Programming Guide

................................................................................27

4.1. Continuous Recording, single sequence........................................................................27

4.2. Continuous Recording with more than one sequence..................................................29

4.3. Single Recording................................................................................................................30

4.4. Triggered Recording...........................................................................................................30

5. Streaming Programming Guide

.........................................................................31

6. Summarize of the features

.....................................................................................33

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

1. Introduction

Today's digital cameras are packed with much more functionality than just delivering an image. Processing the image and appending the results to the image data stream, controlling external hardware, and doing the real-time part of the application have become common tasks for machine vision cameras. As a result, the programming interface for cameras has become more and more complex.

The goal of GenICam is to provide a generic programming interface for all kinds of cameras. No matter what interface technology (GigE Vision, Camera Link, 1394 DCAM, USB, etc.) they are using or what features they are implementing, the application programming interface (API) should be always the same.

GENCAM as a standard for the definition of software and hardware (cameras) is becoming increasingly important.

Our cameras of the production line MC136x and MC137x are GigE Vision complient cameras. The GigE Vision standard uses Ethernet as the hardware interface to connect a camera to its host. GigE Vision is based on GENCAM which ensures compatibility to a wide range of programming interfaces and applications.

The description of this manual covers the Mikrotron cameras from the series

MC136x and MC137x

1.1. General Target

The configuration, status and control capabilities of the cameras are accessible by a number of camera 'features'. This manual gives you an overview of the features defined in the MC136x and MC137x. Special functions of the cameras will be descriped in detail to give you all informations you may need to realize your software projects with our cameras.

There are a number of standard features, wich are common to all GigE Vision complient cameras. For example, there areare features to configure the communication over the Ethernet interface. Not all of this features are descriped in this manual. They are descriped in detail in the document 'GENCAM Standard Features Naming Convention' which can be downloaded from the homepage of the GENCAM organisation (http://www.genicam.org/).

Please use a GEV-Viewer to show all possible features of the camera ( e.g. GEVPlayer from Pleora).

This specification provides the definitions of all camera related features and show you how to use

them for your programming.

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

1.2. GENCAM Specification

This manual is based on the GENCAM Standard Features Naming Convention, Version 1.2.1, 2008-08-19 from the GENCAM Organisation at www.genicam.org.

1.3. Interface Type

Each feature is accessible by a specific interface. Each interface has a number of attributes descriping the current value/state and capabilities (e.g. value range) of a feature. The following interfaces are currently defined in the GenICam standard (each one is given with the typical widget used to map it on a graphical user interface):

Interface Type Widget

IInteger maps to a slider with value, min, max, and increment IFloat maps to a slider with value, min, and max plus a physical unit IString maps to an edit box showing a string IEnumeration maps to a drop down box ICommand maps to a command button IBoolean maps to a check box IRegister maps to an edit box showing a hex string ICategory maps to an entry in a tree structuring the camera's features IPort maps to the camera port and is typically not shown graphically

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

2. Feature description

This chapter describes the features from the feature list in chapter 2 in detail. The methods you may use to read from and write to the features depend on the functions provided

by the API of the GigE Vision SDK of your choice. Because the GigE Vision interface is standardize there are a number of different SDK's from different vendors you can use to communicate with the camera.

The following description of the features gives you the 'raw' format for the commands and values you will send to the camera or you will get from it. Each write command to the camera is receipt by an ACK (0x06). Each read command returns the current value of the requested features followed by a trailing ACK. If a command fails a NACK (0x15) is returned.

The format of the values you will get from the functions of the API of your choice may be differ from this description. Please read the documentation of your SDK for details how they handle read/write commands to the camera.

2.1. Camera Information

DeviceVendorName

This feature provides the manufacturer name.

Feature name

DeviceVendorName

Access Read only Interface IString Unit

Range

Response „Mikrotron GmbH\0“ Note the string is limited by a trailing „\0“

DeviceModelName

This feature provides the model name.

Feature name

DeviceModelName

Access Read only Interface IString Unit -Range -Response e.g. „MC1366\0“ Note the string is limited by a trailing „\0“

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

DeviceManufacturerInfo

This feature provides extended manufacturer information. Here it is the position of Mikrotron GmbH.

Feature name

DeviceManufacturerInfo

Access Read only Interface IString Unit

Range

Response „85716 Unterschleissheim, Germany\0“ Note the string is limited by a trailing „\0“

DeviceVersion

This feature provides the version.

Feature name

DeviceVersion

Access Read only Interface IString Unit

Range

Response e.g. „Version 1.0.0\0“ Note the string is limited by a trailing „\0“

DeviceID

This feature provides the serial numbe.

Feature name

DeviceID

Access Read only Interface IString Unit

Range

Response e.g. „01234\0“ Note the string is limited by a trailing „\0“

DeviceScanType

This feature specifies the scan type of the sensor.

Feature name

DeviceScanType

Access Read only Interface IEnumeration Unit

Range Areascan or Linescan Response 0 Note Areascan

Linescan

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

CameraHeadReset

This feature ist used to reset the camera and to put it in its power up state.

Feature name

CameraHeadReset

Access Write only Interface ICommand Unit -Range -Response Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

2.2. Image Size Controls

SensorWidth

This feature indicates the effective width of the sensor in pixels.

Feature name

SensorWidth

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit pixel Range -Response 1280 Note

SensorHeight

This feature indicates the effective height of the sensor in pixels.

Feature name

SensorHeight

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit pixel (hex) Range -Response 1024 Note

WidthMax

This feature represents the maximum width (in pixels) of the image after horizontal binning, decimation or any other function changing the horizontal dimensions of the image.

Feature name

WidthMax

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit pixel Range -Response 1280 Note

HeightMax

This feature represents the maximum height (in pixels) of the image after vertical binning, decimation or any other function changing the vertical dimensions of the image.

Feature name

HeightMax

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit pixel Range -Response 1024 Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

Width

This feature represents the actual image width expelled by the camera (in pixels).

Feature name

Width

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit pixel Range 96...1280 Response 1280 Invalidation

RecordMaxFrames, RecordMaxFramesPerSequence, AcquisitionFrameRateMax, AcquisitionFrameRateRaw, ExposureTimeMax, AcquisitionSource

Precondition

CameraState = Idle

Note •The value must be 96 modulo. (decimal 96,192,...)

• Additionally Width can be set to the full sensor width which is 1280 pixel.

•Width + OffsetX ≤ WidthMax

Height

This feature represents the actual image height expelled by the camera (in pixels).

Feature name

Height

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit pixel Range 1... 1024 Response e.g. 0400 Invalidation

RecordMaxFrames, RecordMaxFramesPerSequence, AcquisitionFrameRateMax, AcquisitionFrameRateRaw, ExposureTimeMax, AcquisitionSource

Precondition

CameraState = Idle

Note

Height + OffsetY ≤ HeightMax

OffsetX

This feature represents the horizontal offset from the origin to the AOI – Area Of Interest (in pixels).

Feature name

OffsetX

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit pixel Range 0... 1152 Response e.g. 0 Invalidation

RecordMaxFrames, RecordMaxFramesPerSequence, AcquisitionFrameRateMax, AcquisitionFrameRateRaw, ExposureTimeMax, AcquisitionSource

Precondition

CameraState = Idle

Note - The value must be 96 modulo. (decimal 0,96......1152)

- Width + OffsetX ≤ WidthMax

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

OffsetY

This Feature represents the vertical offset from the origin to the AOI – Area Of Interest (in pixels).

Feature name

OffsetY

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit pixel Range 0... 1022 Response e.g. 0 Invalidation

RecordMaxFrames, RecordMaxFramesPerSequence, AcquisitionFrameRateMax, AcquisitionFrameRateRaw, ExposureTimeMax, AcquisitionSource

Precondition

CameraState = Idle

Note

Height + OffsetY ≤ HeightMax

PixelFormat

This feature indicates the format of the pixel to use during the acquisition.

Feature name

PixelFormat

Access Read only Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range -Response Note

Mono8 ← monocrome BayerGR8 ← color

PixelCoding

This feature indicates the coding of the pixels in the image. The camera returns frame data in raw format, that means in the native format of the sensor. The color version of the camera uses a 'Bayer Filter' in front of the sensor. The data returned by this camera type includes the color information in coded form, so the user has to convert the image to RGB by himself, This value must always be coherent with the PixelFormat register.

Feature name

PixelCoding

Access Read only Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range -Response Note Mono <- monochrome

Raw <- color

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

PixelSize

This feature indicates the total size in bits of a pixel of the image. This value must always be coherent with the PixelFormat register.

Feature name

PixelSize

Access Read only Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range -Response Note Bpp8

PixelColorFilter

This feature indicates the type of color filter that is applied to the image. This value must always be coherent with the PixelFormat register.

Feature name

PixelColorFilter

Access Read only Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range -Response Note

None ← monochrome

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

2.3. Acquisition and Trigger Controls

AcquisitionMode

This feature controls the acquisition mode of the device. It defines the number of frames to capture during an acquisition and the way the acquisition stops. Actually only the acquisition mode 'Continuous Mode' is supported.

In Continuous Mode frames are captured continuously without stopping. Acquisition can be stopped by an AcquistionStop command.

Feature name

AcquisitionMode

Access Read/Write Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range Continuous Response Continuous Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle

Note

AcquisitionSource

This feature defines the streaming source of frame data from the camera.

Feature name

AcquisitionSource

Access Read/Write Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range Live, Memory Response e.g. 00 Invalidation

AcquisitionStart

Precondition

CameraState = Idle

Note Live

Frame data is streamed directly from the camera to host without buffering.

Memory Frame data is streamed from the camera internal frame buffer to the host.

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

AcquisitionFrameRateMax

This feature represents the upper limit of the frame rate(in hertz) of the camera in dependency of the current camera settings.

Feature name

AcquisitionFrameRateMax

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit Hz (fps – frame per second) Range -Response e.g. 500 Invalidation

AcquisitionFrameRateRaw

Note

AcquisitionFrameRateRaw

This feature defines the current frame rate (in hertz) of the camera.

Feature name

AcquisitionFrameRateRaw

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit Hz (fps – frame per second) Range

1... AcquisitionFrameRateMax Response e.g. 500 Invalidation

ExposureTimeRaw, ExposureTimeMax

Precondition

CameraState = Idle, AcquisitionFrameRateMax

Note

ExposureMode

This feature is used to set the exposure mode of the camera. Currently there is only Timed exposure available. The exposure duration time is defined by the feature ExposureTimeAbs,

The camera MC136x and MC137x suport only the Timed mode now. Default value is Timed.

Feature name

ExposureMode

Access Read/Write Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range Timed Response Timed Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle

Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

ExposureTimeMax

This feature represents the upper limit Exposure time (in us) at which the Frames can be captured.

Feature name

ExposureTimeMax

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit microseconds - us Range

Response e.g. 1944 Invalidation

ExposureTimeRaw

Note

ExposureTimeRaw

This feature is used to set the Exposure time (in microseconds). This controls the duration where the photosensitive cells are exposed to light.

Feature name

ExposureTimeRaw

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit microseconds - us Range

2… ExposureTimeMax Response e.g. 2 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or LIVE, ExposureTimeMax Note

AcquisitionStart

This feature starts the frame acquisition. The frame source is specified by AcquisitionSource.

Feature name

AcquisitionStart

Access Write only Interface ICommand Unit

Range

Response -Invalidation

CameraState

Precondition

CameraState = Idle, AcquisitionSource Note

if AcquisitionSource is LIVE, then CameraState become:

IdleAcquisitionStartLive

if AcquisitionSource is MEMORY, then

IdleAcquisitionStartStreaming

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

AcquisitionStop

This feature stops the Acquisition of the device at the end of the current frame. If no Acquisition is in progress, the command is ignored.

Feature name

AcquisitionStop

Access Write only Interface ICommand Unit

Range

Response -Invalidation

CameraState

Precondition

CameraState = Live or Recording or Streaming Note

CameraState  Idle

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

2.4. Record Controls

RecordMode

This feature defines the record operation mode. There are two modes:

-single recording In this mode the cameras internal buffer is filled with frames untill the end of the buffer is reached. Afterwards, the camera stopps recording.

-continuous recording In this mode the cameras internal buffer is filled with frames. When the end of the buffer is reached recording continuous at the start of the buffer.

Feature name

RecordMode

Access Read/Write Interface IEnumeration Unit -Range Single, Continuous Response Continuous Invalidation

RecordNumberOfSequences, RecordMaxFrames,

RecordMaxFramesPerSequence

Precondition

CameraState = Idle Note Single

Continuous(default)

if single recording, RecordNumberOfSequences is set to1

sequence automatically

RecordNumberOfSequences

This feature defines the number of different sequences that will be recorded. The default value is one sequence. Possible values are 1, 2, 4 or 8 sequences.

Feature name

RecordNumberOfSequences

Access Read/Write Interface IEnumeration Unit Range One, Two, Four, Eight Response e.g. One Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

RecordTrailer

This feature defines the number of frames to record after a record stop trigger is detected. The default value is 0.

Feature name

RecordTrailer

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range

0… (RecordMaxFramesPerSequence-1) Response e.g. 0 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle, RecordMaxFramesPerSequence Note

RecordMaxFrames

This feature indicates the maximal number of frames that can be recorded in sum of all defined sequences.

Feature name

RecordMaxFrames

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range -Response e.g. 3274 Note

RecordNumberOfFrames

This feature indicates the number of recorded frames in sum off all defined sequences.

Feature name

RecordNumerOfFrames

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range -Response e.g. 3274 Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

RecordMaxFramesPerSequence

This feature indicates the maximal number of frames, that can be recorded in one sequence.

Feature name

RecordMaxFramesPerSequence

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range -Response e.g. 3274 Note

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

This feature indicates the number of recorded frames in one sequence.

Feature name

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range -Response e.g. 3274 Note

RecordStart

This feature starts the recording to the camera internal buffer. Recording will start at the first of the number of defined sequences.

Feature name

RecordStart

Access Write only Interface ICommand Unit -Range -Response -Invalidation

CameraState

Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live, Note

RecordStop

This feature stops the recording mode.

Feature name

RecordStop

Access Write only Interface ICommand Unit -Range -Response -Invalidation CameraState Precondition CameraState = Recording Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

2.5. Stream Controls

StreamSequenceSelector

If streaming from the camera to the host is selected, this feature defines the index of the sequence the frames are read from.

Feature name

StreamSequenceSelector

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit Range 0 .. 7 Response e.g. 0 Invalidation

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence, StreamStartNumber,

StreamEndNumber

Precondition

CameraState = Idle Note

StreamStartNumber

This feature defines the frame start number at which streaming from a sequence buffer to the host should start. The frame number is relative to each buffer and starts with 0.

Feature name

StreamStartNumber

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range

0... StreamEndNumber Response e.g. 0 Invalidation

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence, StreamStartNumber, StreamEndNumber

Precondition

CameraState = Idle, StreamSequenceSelector, StreamEndNumber

Note

StreamStartNumber ≤ StreamEndNumber

StreamEndNumber

This feature is used to set the number of the last frame for stream.

Feature name

StreamEndNumber

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range

StreamStartNumber... RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence Response e.g. 0 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle, StreamSequenceSelector,

StreamStartNumber, RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

Note

StreamStartNumber ≤ StreamEndNumber ≤

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

StreamSingleFrame

This feature is used to read a single frame from a sequence buffer. The frame to read is absolutely addressed by its frame number. To read a frame set this feature to the requested frame number.

Feature name

StreamSingleFrame

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit number of picture Range

0... RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence-1 Response e.g. 0 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle, StreamSequenceSelector, StreamStartNumber, RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

Note

StreamSingleFrame ≤ RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence-1

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

2.6. Analog Controls

GainRaw

This feature is used to set the digital gain of the camera.

Feature name

GainRaw

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit Range 0…600 Response e.g. 0 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live,

Note

BlackLevelRaw

This feature is used to set the black level of the camera.

Feature name

BlackLevelRaw

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit Range 50…200 Response e.g. 50 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live

Note

SlopsMode

This feature is used to set the mode of the multiple slope feature of the camera. The multiple slope mode used to extend the dynamic range of the camera.

Feature name

SlopsMode

Access Read/Write Interface IEnumeration Unit Range NormalShutter, DualSlope, TripleSlope Response e.g. NormalShutter Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live

Note NormalShutter – disable slops

DualSlope – dual slope enable TripleSlope – triple slope enable

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

SlopsDualRaw

This feature is used to set the dual slope of the camera.

Feature name

SlopsDualRaw

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit Range

SlopsdualMin…SlopsDualMax Response e.g. 1 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live, SlopsMode = DualSlope or

TripleSlope Note

SlopsDualMin

This feature indicates the minimum of the dual slope.

Feature name

SlopsDualMin

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit Range -Response 1 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live, SlopsMode = DualSlope or

TripleSlope Note

SlopsDualMax

This feature indicates the maximum of the dual slope.

Feature name

SlopsDualMax

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit Range -Response e.g. 63 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live, SlopsMode = DualSlope or

TripleSlope Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

SlopsTripleRaw

This feature is used to set the triple slope of the camera.

Feature name

SlopsTripleRaw

Access Read/Write Interface IInteger Unit Range

SlopsTripleMin…SlopsTripleMax Response e.g. 1 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live, SlopsMode = TripleSlope Note

SlopsTripleMin

This feature indicates the minimum of the triple slope.

Feature name

SlopsTripleMin

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit Range -Response e.g. 2 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live, SlopsMode = TripleSlope Note

SlopsTripleMax

This feature indicates the maximum of the triple slope.

Feature name

SlopsTripleMax

Access Read only Interface IInteger Unit Range -Response e.g. 63 Invalidation Precondition

CameraState = Idle or Live, SlopsMode = TripleSlope Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

2.7. Camera State

CameraState

This feature indicates the state of the camera.

Feature name

CameraState

Access Read only Interface IEnumeration Unit Range -Response Idle, Live, Streaming, Recording Invalidation IdleLive: --

IdleStreaming:--

IdleRecording: RecordNumberOfFrames,

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequences

LiveIdle: --

LiveRecording: RecordNumberOfFrames,

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequences

RecordingIdle: RecordNumberOfFrames,

RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequences

StreamingIdle: -Precondition

CameraState = Idle, StreamSequenceSelector,

StreamStartNumber, RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

Note

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

3. General Programming Guide

3.1. Camera States

The feature CameraState indicates der current state of the camera. The camera has 4 states:

•IDLE the camera is in IDLE state

•LIVE the camera is streaming live frames from the camera to the host

•RECORDING the camera is in recording mode. Recorded frames will be stored in the cameras internal buffer. If LIVE streaming was enabled when recording starts, a live image stream is send to the host while recording is running.

•STREAMING the camera is streams recorded frame data from the cameras internal buffer to the host.

The accessibility of camera features depends on the current camera state. The table below shows this dependencies.

available unavailable IDLE all states LIVE

•all „read only“ features

•CameraHeadReset

•ExposureTimeRaw

•GainRaw

•BlackLevelRaw

•SlopsMode

•SlopsDualRaw

•SlopsTripleRaw

•AcquisitionStop

•RecordStart

others

RECORDING

•all „read only“ features

•CameraHeadReset

•AcquisitionStop

•RecordStop

others

STREAMING

•all „read only“ features

•CameraHeadReset

•AcquisitionStop

others

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

3.2. State Transformations

The camera goes to the IDLE state automatically after the power-up. The diagramm below shows the state transitions between the different camera states:

IDLE RECORDING

LIVE STREAMING

Possible state transitions:

Transition Precondition Transition trigger IDLE  LIVE

AcquisitionSource = Live AcquisitionMode = Continuous

AcquisitionStart

LIVE  IDLE --

AcquisitionStop

IDLE  RECORDING

RecordStart or trigger button on camera

RECORDING  IDLE

RecorStop or trigger button on camera

LIVE  RECORDING --

RecordStart or trigger butto on camera

IDLE  STREAMING

AcquisitionSource = Memory AcquisitionStart or

AcquisitionStart and StreamSingleFrame

STREAMING  IDLE

AcquisitionStop or transmition ended

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

4. Record Programming Guide

The camera is capable to record frames directly in the internal memory of the camera at full speed. The memory can be configured as one large buffer or can be devided in up to 8 regions of equal size, called sequences. Recording is controlled by the RecordStart, RecordStop features and hardware trigger button on the back side of the camera.

The table below gives you an overview of the possible recording modes of the camera. The method to start and stop recording depends on the used recording mode.

Record Mode Start Stop Continuous Recording single sequence

RecordStart RecordStop or trigger button

on camera Continuous Recording more than one sequence

RecordStart

RecordStop or trigger button

on camera

(„Sequence jump“ only with

trigger button on camera) Single Recording

RecordStart RecordStop or trigger button

on camera Triggered Recording trigger button on camera trigger button on camera

The different recording mode will be discussed in detail in the chapters below.

4.1. Continuous Recording, single sequence

In continuous mode the camera fills the internal buffer circularly with frames. It starts recording at the beginning of the buffer and fills it with frames untill the end of the buffer is reached. After reaching the end of the buffer recording starts again at the beginning of the buffer and so on, Recording Stopp when the command „RecordStop“ is given or the trigger button on the camera is pressed.

stop

Memory

start

first picture

The RecordMode, RecordNumberOfSequences and RecordTrailer features must be set before recording is started.

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

There is an additional feature for defining a record sequence, called 'RecordTrailer'.

Memory

trailer

stopstart real stop

trailer

The trailer value defines the number of recorded frames after a stop event initiated by the trigger button or a RecordStop command. The trailer value is only meaningful in continuous recording mode and continuous recording mode with more sequences.

Example:

We want to record 100 pictures after a trigger event. So the feature RecordTrailer has to be set to 100 before the start of recording. The dafault value of the RecordTrailer is 0.

The record activity is started with the feature RecordStart. As long as recording is running the Trigger-LED on the camera is blinking and the feature CameraState returns the state „Recording“.

Recording gets stopped with the feature RecordStop or the trigger button on the back side of the camera. After the record stop event is given recording continuous until the additional number of frames (RecordTrailer) are recorded to the buffer. Now the camera state changes to „Idle“ and the trigger-LED will stop blinking.

Please note: If recording is stopped by the trigger button, you have to give the camera an additional RecordStop command after the hardware trigger.

The programming flow for a continuous recording to a single frame is:

•RecordMode = Continuous

•RecordNumberOfSequences = One

•RecordTrailer = x (Range: 0.....RecordMaxFramesPerSequence-1)

•RecordStart

•...

•RecordStop or trigger buttom (then RecordStop)

•Read the RecordNumberOfFrames and RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

4.2. Continuous Recording with more than one sequence

The camera internal buffer can be subdevided into 2, 4 or 8 record sequences. Each recording to a sequence buffer is done as descriped in the mode 'Continuous Recording, single buffer' above.

The difference to a single buffer recording is descriped by an example with 2 sequences in the example below:

Sequence 1

trigger

start

Sequence 2

stop

Sequence 1

full

trigger

start

first picture

Sequence 2

stop

first picture

not full

The start of recording must be done per software(RecordStart), and the end of the recording can be done per software or per trigger buttom. But if the trigger buttom is used, you must give the camera a RecordStop after the trigger event. The jump from one sequence to the next can only be done by the hardware trigger button of the camera.

The programming flow of a continuous recording with more sequences is:

•RecordMode = Continuous

•RecordNumberOfSequences = Two,Four or Eight sequences

•RecordTrailer = x (Range: 0.....RecordMaxFramesPerSequence-1)

•RecordStart

•...

•RecordStop or trigger button (then RecordStop)

•After the camera state changes to 'idle' the number of recorded frames can be read. You can read

the sum of all recorded frames of all sequences (RecordNumberOfFrames) or the number of recorded frames in a specific sequence ( RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence). To get the number of recorded frames in a specific sequence, you have to select the sequence with the feature StreamSequenceSelector before.

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

4.3. Single Recording

Single recording means, that the recording starts at the beginning of the memory and stops automatically at the end of the buffer. Recording can be stopped prematurely using the command feature „RecordStop“.

If the camera is stopped automatically by reaching the end of the buffer, an additional RecordStop must be send to the camera.

Single recording mode is only availabe for one sequence. So, if the RecordMode is set to single the RecordNumberOfSequences will be set to one automatically.

The single recording mode does not support the feature RecordTrailer. The programming flow for the single recording mode is:

•RecordMode = Single

•RecordNumberOfSequences = One

•RecordStart

•...

•RecordStop or trigger button (then RecordStop)

•Read the number of recorded frames form the feature nRecordNumberOfFrames which sould be

equal to RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence.

4.4. Triggered Recording

Triggered recording means, that recording is started with the trigger button of the camera. A possibly running data transfer from the camera to the host has to be stopped by command AquisitionStop before recording starts. Recording is done in continuous recording mode. Stopping recording is also done with the trigger buttom of the camera. There is no live picture available for triggered recording.

The programming flow of a triggered recording is:

•RecordMode = Continuous

•Camera must be in 'idle' state

•Wait until the feature CameraState changes from state 'idle' to state 'recording'

The state changes because of a trigger signal generated by the hardware button of the camera.

•Wait until CameraState gets 'Idle' again. Now send a RecordStop to the camera.

•Read the RecordNumberOfFrames and RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence to get the

number of recorded frames.

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

5. Streaming Programming Guide

After recording is stopped the internal buffer of the camera is filled with a number of recorded frames.To enable streaming from the camera buffer to the host, the feature AcquisitionSource must be set to 'Memory'.

The streamrate is fix 30Mb/s, So if the picture is bigger, the framerate is smaller. Reading recorded frames from the camera to the host can be done in two different modes:

Single Frame Mode

Before reading a frame in 'Single Frame Mode' you must set StreamStartNumber and SreamEndNumber to 0. Activate streaming by performing the command AcquisitionStart. Now

the camera will send one frame which has to be discarded. Now single frames can be read from the camera just by setting their frame number in the feature StreamSingleFrame. After setting the frame number, streaming of the frame data to the host computer will start immediately.

A frame is addressed by its frame number which is the index of the frame in the camera internal frame buffer. The frame number starts with 0 for the first frame and goes up to RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence-1 for the last frame. If you did recording in multi sequence mode, you must select the sequence you want to read from with the feature StreamSequenceSelector before reading.

The programming flow:

•StreamSequenceSelector = 0 or 1 or….

•Read the feature RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

•StreamStartNumber = StreamEndNumber = 0

•AcquisitionSource = Memory

•Perform AcquisitionStart

•Discard the next frame from the camera

•Set StreamSingleFrame to the requested frame number

Frame Burst Mode

In 'Frame Burst Mode' you can read a number of consecutive frames from the camera by defining a frame start number with the feature StreamStartNumber and the number of the last frame to read by the feature StreamEndNumber. The address of the frame start number has to be less or equal than the frame end number. The address range for StreamStartNumber is 0 up to the value of StreamEndNumber. The range StreamEndNumber is StreamStartNumber up to RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence-1. To start streaming the defined sequence perform the command AcquisitionStart. Data transmission stops automatically after the last frame of the sequence. Wihle data transmission is running, the camera state changes to 'streaming' and will be set to 'idle' after streaming ends. Select the sequence from where you want to read by setting the StreamSequenceSelector before reading,

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

The programming flow of a streaming is:

•StreamSequenceSelector = 0 or 1 or….

•Read the feature RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence

•StreamEndNumber = x (Range: StreamStartNumber

…RecordNumberOfFramesPerSequence-1)

•StreamStartNumber = x (Range: 0…. StreamEndNumber)

•AcquisitionSource = Memory

•Perform AcquisitionStart (CameraState gets Streaming)

•The feature CameraState will be set automatically to Idle after streaming ends.

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

6. Summarize of the features

Feature Name Access

Write Parameter Response Interface

Camera Information

DeviceVendorName

R -- Mikrotron GmbH IString

DeviceModelName

R -- e.g. MC1366 IString

DeviceManufacturerInfo

R -- 85716

Unterschleißheim, Germany

IString

DeviceVersion

R -- e.g. Version 1.0.0 IString

CameraHeadReset

W -- ICommand

Image Size Controls

SensorWidth

R -- 1280 IInteger

SensorHeight

R -- 1024 IInteger

WidthMax

R -- 1280 IInteger

HeightMax

R -- 1024 IInteger

Width

R/W Range: 96…1280 IInteger

Height

R/W Range: 1…1024 IInteger

OffsetX

R/W Range: 0…1152 IInteger

OffsetY

R/W Range: 0…1022 IInteger

PixelFormat

R -- e.g. Mono8 IEnumeration

PixelCoding

R -- e.g. Mono IEnumeration

PixelSize

R -- e.g. Bpp8 IEnumeration

PixelColorFilter

R -- e.g. None IEnumeration

Acquisition and Trigger Controls

AcquisitionMode

R/W Continuous IEnumeration

AcquisitionSource

R/W Live, Memory IEnumeration

AcquisitionFrameRateMax

R -- IInteger

AcquisitionFrameRateRaw

R/W

Range : 1…

AcquisitionFrameRateMax

IInteger

ExposureMode

R/W Timed IEnumeration

ExposureTimeMax

R -- IInteger

ExposureTimeRaw

R/W

Range: 2…

ExposureTimeMax

IInteger

AcquisitionStart

W -- ICommand

AcquisitionStop

W -- ICommand

Record Controls

RecordMode

R/W Continuous or Single IEnumeration

RecordNumberOfSequences

R/W One, Two, Four, Eight IEnumeration

RecordTrailer

R/W Range : 0…

RecordMaxFramesPerSequence -1

IInteger

RecordMaxFrames

R -- IInteger

RecordNumberOfFrames

R -- IInteger

RecordMaxFramesPerSequenc e

R -- IInteger

RecordNumberOf FramesPerSequence

R -- IInteger

RecordStart

W -- ICommand

RecordStop

W -- ICommand

Stream Controls

StreamSequenceSelector

R/W 0.....7 IInteger

MC136x/MC137x GenICam Reference Manual

StreamStartNumber

R/W

Range: 0…

StreamEndNumber

IInteger

StreamEndNumber

R/W

StreamStartNumber … Seqrecpicnum-1

IInteger

StreamSingleFrame

R/W

Range: 0…

StreamEndNumber

IInteger

Analog Controls

GainRaw

R/W 0....600 IInteger

BlackLevelRaw

R/W 50…200 IInteger

SlopsMode

R/W NormalShutter, DualSlpoe, TripleSlope IEnumeration

SlopsDualRaw

R/W SlopsDualMin...SlopsDualMax IInteger

SlopsDualMin

R -- IInteger

SlopsDualMax

R -- IInteger

SlopsTripleRaw

R/W SlopsTripleMin...SlopsTripleMax IInteger

SlopsTripleMin

R -- IInteger

SlopsTripleMax

R -- IInteger

Camera State

CameraState

R -- Idle, Live,

Streaming, Recording

IEnumeration

Mikrotron MC136, MC137 Reference Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual