I want to get an image off my prosilica camera

[optikstudent]

We use the image aquisition wizard, but cannot get changes to the settings to stick through the setup.  We need to adjust the packetsize and aquisition time.  I have been using labview for only a week

[The_Chancenator]

Hi optikstudent,

First, are you using the Vision Acquisition Express VI within LabVIEW?  (It would be on the Vision and Motion Palette>> Vision Express>>Vision Acquisition). If so, are you able to see the image to the right when you hit "snap" or "grab"?  If you cannot see the image here, then you need to check which drivers you have.  You can do so by opening up Measurement and Automation Explorer and looking underneath the "software" tab.  Make sure that you have "IMAQdx" (not just IMAQ), listed. 

If you can see your image, then I assume that you would like to adjust the packet size to allow for larger packets.  To adjust the packet size, you will need to go into the device manager.  See the developer zone below for detailed instructions on how to do this: 

https://knowledge.ni.com/KnowledgeArticleDetails?id=kA03q000000x0UsCAI&l=en-US

Finally, how are you setting the acquisition time?  Is it going to be running for a set amount of time for every acquisition?  If so, you could use software timing and program the acquisition time into your LabVIEW VI.

I hope that this is helpful, please let me know if you have more questions. 

Cheers, 

[optikstudent]

Thanks, the camera is talking to labview now, but we are getting artifacts in the image.  The camera is a 12 bit camera, but we can only get it to work in 8 bit mode, how can we get a 12 bit image either with packed 8 or padded 16?

The image we get now is here http://www.postimage.org/image.php?v=gx1mELMS

[The_Chancenator]

Hello again,

First, lets make sure that you are actually losing packets.  Go to the Vision Palette>>IMAQdx>>Property Node.  Wire up the reference of your "open camera" to the input of the property node.  Click on the property and select Status Information>>Lost Packet Count.  Then attach an indicator to this (right click, create>>indicator).  Run your program again to see if you are losing packets.  

If you are using the Vision Acquisition Assistant, then these steps will not apply, so please let me know if you are. 

Finally, what type of camera are you using (Model #, etc)?  Some camera's account for and are able to retrieve lost packets; others are not: https://www.ni.com/en/shop/data-acquisition-and-control/add-ons-for-data-acquisition-and-control/wha... (see packet loss and resend section). 

Cheers

[optikstudent]

Hi again,

yes we are losing packets, I have a prosilica ge1910,  giGe format obviously.  How can I correct this, the reference you gave me is somewhat confusing.

Thanks

optikstudent

[The_Chancenator]

Hi optikstudent,

What frame rate are you using?  Try acquiring at a slower framerate; in the camera manual it specifies that you must go slower than 32.8fps if you are using the full resolution of the camera. 

If this doesn't work, how large are the jumbo frames that you are using?  To check this, go back to where you set JumboFrames (see instructions in previous reply).  They should be at least 4000. 

Finally, what internet/ethernet card do you have?  If your card cannot keep up with the acquisition, this could result in lost data. 

Thanks, 

Marti 

[pkozik]

Hello Optikstudent,

The image artifact in the link provided are almost certainly dropped data caused by a packet size mismatch.  Rather than incorporating custom steps using VIs in labview, i encourage you to use the camera with NI's Measurement and Automation Explorer.  This is a utility you originally received when you pruchased the NI Imaq driver.  Here is a reference link in case you are not sure what Im talking about.  

https://www.ni.com/en-us/shop/product/vision-acquisition-software.html

Here is the situation.  An ethernet adapter can support a particular packet size (also called MTU).  This can be increased to a limit, determined by the card.  You want to configure the packet size of the adapter to support the maximum packet size it can handle.  Adjusting this is done via the adapter properties in the device manager.  The camera on the other hand supports a very large packet size and is shipped out of the factory in this setting.  You want to adjust he camera packet size to be slightly smaller than what the adapter can support.  If the packet size of the the camera is too big, the adapter cant handle the data properly and dropps packets.  You can adjust the packet size for the camera via the Measurement and Automation Explorer (bottom of the screen, 'Acquisition Attributes' tab).

Once you are getting good images, you can save these settings to the Ni IIDC file which is automatically generated by NI and go back to your development environment having good confidence about your network architecture. 

[tk003k]

Hello again,

I have not worked on the camera for a week or so which ios why there was a delay in my response.  I am hoping to control the exposure time, but canot find the way to mark it with the atribute setting VI.  Also, when we go for a snap, the camerea works fine, but a grab and the camera loses packets.  I lowered the packet size in MAX, but dont have options on the properties area for the card to set the packet size on its end.  The only options I have are use for GigeVision only and all applications.

[tk003k]

Hello again,

I have not worked on the camera for a week or so which ios why there was a delay in my response.  I am hoping to control the exposure time, but canot find the way to mark it with the atribute setting VI.  Also, when we go for a snap, the camerea works fine, but a grab and the camera loses packets.  I lowered the packet size in MAX, but dont have options on the properties area for the card to set the packet size on its end.  The only options I have are use for GigeVision only and all application

[pkozik]

Sounds like you are using the NI performance driver, set the packet size to "All applications".  Use the Measurement and Automation explorer to verify camera operation and network configuration BEFORE writing any VIs.  Run a GRAB, the "Ethernet Attributes" tab should read "0" under the "Lost Packet Count".  Any time you experience potentail dropped data use the Measurement and Automation Explorer to verify the network configuration.