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Programming camera's GPIO control block for digital I/O

I have a camera (JAI TMC6740GE) with a gpio control block cosisting of a LUT and pulse generators. How do I access this GPIO Control block in NI MAX or from LabVIEW 8.2?
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Hi Dewey,
 
For GigE Vision cameras the cameras self-describe all their features and how they work using an XML file provided on the camera. When you click on the camera in MAX (or open it within your application) all the available attributes will self-populate.
 
In MAX after clicking on the camera you'll see a Camera Attributes tab that contains all the available properties you can change. The LUT/pulse generation capabilities that are exposed by the camera will show up there. While some camera features are common enough to be standardized with common names and behavior between manufacturers, complex functionality like that camera's GPIO options is going to be vendor-specific. You'll have to browse through the attributes in MAX and look at the descriptions or go through the user's manual to see how to operate the available features.
 
To access those same features through a programming environment like LabVIEW, look through the IMAQdx documentation or examples to see how to access attributes using the property node. If you have any specific questions, let me know.
 
Lastly, if for some reason your camera doesn't list any of the GPIO features in the attributes tab, you may need to contact your distributor or JAI to see if there is a firmware update to enable those features.
 
-Eric
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Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I looked at the firmware and found this in the GigE Vision Release Notes:

"...Known bugs and limitations: Currently the Programmable Logic Controller is not exposed thru GenICam so to enable external trigger signal you will have control the PLC by  using the non-GenICam method (Click on Select and pick the approriate camera then click on Connect instead of 'use GenAPI')...."

 

It seems I must connect to the camera "using the non-GenICam method".  But when I power on my camera, MAX connects to it automatically.

Question: Does anyone know how to control the way MAX opens/connects to the camera?

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Hi Dewey,
 
By the non-GenICam method it is probably talking about using their own API/software. Your camera supports both a proprietary protocol that will only work with their software as well as the standardized GigE Vision mechanism (which does use GenICam). There is no way to _not_  use GenICam with NI's software as that is part of the standard and is how the camera describes features like those GPIO functions. If their API had wrappers for LabVIEW you may be able to use it, but you're far better off going the standardized route.
 
You should try talking to JAI and see if they have an updated firmware that supports the PLC functionality via GenICam. I'd be very surprised if they didn't have it released or close to released at this point.
 
-Eric
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Eric,

Great advice! Thanks alot. That is exactly what I needed to do. I contacted JAI and they emailed the latest version of the firmware that is not even released yet. I now have access to my camera's PLC.

Thanks again!

~Dewey

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