Signal generation and LED flash with simultaneous image capture.

[Danbubbles]

Hi everyone.

I'm a total LABVIEW beginner. I have: access to either a USB 6008 and USB 6211 DAQ assistant. I also have a Pixelink PL B742F camera. My aim is to generate a square wave which can be adjusted to give a variety of amplitudes, duty cycles, frequencies etc. This wave is then to be used to make an LED flash at the peak of the wave and for the duration of it. Simultaneously, the signal is to be used to cause a trigger for the Pixelink camera to take an image.

The set up currently has the DAQ connected to a  PC via USB. The Pixelink camera is connected to the PC via firewire. The LED is then wired into the DAQ, as is the camera. Ports 6 and 7 of the camera's "control" port are used to connect to the DAQ.

So far I have managed to create the LED flash. However when I try to use the wave to trigger the camera, I hit endless errors. Hopefully someone can point me in the right direction. If code plus wiring advice could be given, even better.

Thanks in advance all. 

[Danbubbles]

Forgot to mention, ideally would prefer the USB 6008 to be used but it's not essential. Thanks again all.

[Ali_Bailey]

Hi Danbubbles,

Would you be able to provide details of the type of trigger that the camera needs?

Also, if you can attach your code and include images of the errors that you are getting that would be great.

[Danbubbles]

Hi Ali.

Not entirely sure how much help I can be. The code attached simply makes an LED flash using the USB 6211 daq assistant. I've also attached a screenshot of the camera software (pixelink capture OEM). There are several modes that can be chosen and i'm not entirely sure which one is needed. The manual attached also shows the ports of the camera. I wire ports 6 and 7 into the daq. As I said i'm a total beginner so if you can provide any code suggestions, I can test them and let you know the results.

Thanks.

Dan. 

[Ali_Bailey]

Hi Danbubbles,

Apologies, I have been away.

I have looked at the datasheet and the screenshot.  It seems that there are two wires in the connector on the camera that can be used for the triggereing.  Unfortanately, those two pins could need a wide variety of different signal types for the trigger.  Could you perhaps tell me what the options for the trigger "Mode" "Type" and "Polarity" are in the software? (I hope that it will shed some light over what signal it needs to receive at those pins).