Control the duty cycle of the continuous lighting on the smart camera, using labview

[Talal]

Good day,I am trying to control the light intensity by controlling the duty cycle on the smart camera NI 1744. I was able to do so using a fielpoint cFP-2120 and PF-PWM-520 but if I can do the same thing by just using the camera it will save me a lot of time and money. Till now I was not successful to find any way to control the light intensity using the camera. In max there is a way to set the maximum duty cycle only. I am using Labview 2009, RT 2009, NI Vision development module 2009, NI acquisition software 2009.any help will by very much appreciated ThanksTalal

[Talal]

I just want to clarify that I am using the strobe mode in the direct drive lighting, and not the continuous mode. Sorry for the confusion.  

[Kristen_K.]

Hi Talal,

Would you mind giving some more detail about your system?  It sounds like you were doing an inspection using the smart camera and sending the inspection data to the cFP, which output a PWM signal to the lighting component.  However, now you want to eliminate the "middle-man," the cFP.  Is this correct? Take a look at the LL Pulse Generation VI in teh Example Finder. 

Kristen H.

[Talal]

Hello Kristen,

Thank you for the reply,

I am using a cfp-PWM-520 to control the light intensity by changing the % of duty cycle and Yes i am trying to use only the camera without the fielpoint, the light are grow lights for plants so the light will stay on for few hours a day, the camera will take a picture and save it from time to time. My first question was, with the NI1744 smart camera lighting I/O can I control the duty cycle or do i have to change the intensity by changing the current only? My second question is: can I turn on/off the light without the camera running? 

Waiting for your kind reply

Talal Abboud 

Message Edited by Talal on 03-11-2010 10:13 AM

Message Edited by Talal on 03-11-2010 10:14 AM

[Kristen_K.]

Hi Talal,

Take a look at the LL Pulse Generation VI in the Example Finder.  You can run this VI to provide a PWM signal to the device that controls the light.  As far as doing PWM when the camera is off...by off do you mean powered down (No) or not acquiring images (Yes)?  You can write an application that only acquires an image only at particular time stamps or a regular interval or something like that.  You can have the pulse generation running continuously (or only at certain times, similar to the image acquisition).  Let me know if you have more questions.

Kristen H.