Pixelink- Format 7 (DCAM) multiple images

[richardkhoo]

Hi,
I ran into several issues when I develop a labview application with IMAQ.I hope you can help me out. Before get started, I hope you can go to http://expert.ics.purdue.edu/~tkhoo to access my issues with pictures.

PIC 1 & PIC 2 are shot by PIXELINK CAPTURE OEM software with 640X480 and 2208X3000 respectively. They are good pictures

In order for me to develop a labview application, i would need to use IIDC (DCAM) driver. I accessed the camera through Machine & Automation Explorer (MAX) in Labview.

PIC 3 is the image I got when I used FORMAT 7 which is scalable image size option. PIC 4 is the result of the capture. Can you please tell me why I got multiple images?

PIC 4 is the image from MAX using 640X480 resolution. May I know why the image is PIC4 is different from PIC 1 even there is no change of the camera postion?

For PIC 5. From the manual of the camera, I was told that I have several video MODES to choose from. However, why only did I get 640X480 and format 7 to choose from? Is it due to the camera or labview itself?

When I used GRAB setting in MAX and choose Format 7, I got TIMEOUT Error. Then, when I restart the GRAB, is running without any error. May I know the reason why?

PIC 8. This is the application I developed in LABVIEW. One thing odd is that when I change the video mode to 640X480 - 30fps (as shown in MAX), the frame rate is only 4fps in labview. Do you what is the problem?

That's all from me at this time. I hope you can help me to solve these issues as they are important settings for me to develop my application. Thanks a lot!

[allen_h]

Hello richardkhoo,

Format 7 (Partial Image format) allows the user to acquire any resolution available to the camera.  As such, many requirements reserved by the specification are loosened, and the user must define parameters of the acquisition and settings for the camera.  This oftentimes requires directly programming the camera’s registers.  This may be why you are seeing multiple images.  If this is the case, you will need to either read the camera's manual or contact the camera manufacturer on how to set up the camera for Format 7.

Format 7 can be tricky because it is by definition undefined.  I would suggest using the normal formats instead when possible.

MAX queries the firewire camera for its supported video modes, so I believe the video modes that MAX lists are all the video modes possible for the camera.  You can check the camera's manual to make sure.

There is also an example program that will allow you to dynamically select the video mode while grabbing images.  Open the Example Finder in LabVIEW by clicking Help>>Find Examples.  Then navigate to Hardware Input and Output>>IMAQ1394>>High-Level>>Grab and Select Mode.vi.

Allen H.