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Camera Control Methods

The Coaxlink frame grabber uses three fundamental camera control methods designated by the acronyms RG, RC, and NC:

  • The first letter R designates asynchronous Reset camera control
  • The second letter C designates Camera-controlled exposure
  • The second letter G designates Grabber-controlled exposure

Note: RC and RG are acronyms inherited from MultiCam.

RG camera control method

The RG camera control method targets asynchronous reset cameras where both the camera cycle rate and the exposure duration are controlled by the frame grabber.

The real-time control is performed through a single upstream signal named Camera Trigger issued by the Camera and Illumination Controller (CIC) of Coaxlink.

The CIC produces one single Camera Trigger pulse every camera cycle:

  • The Camera Trigger leading edge triggers a new camera cycle and initiates a new exposure period
  • The Camera Trigger falling edge terminates the exposure period and triggers the readout

RC camera control method

The RC camera control methods targets asynchronous reset cameras where only the camera cycle rate is controlled by the frame grabber. The exposure duration is controlled by the camera.

The real-time control is performed through a single upstream signal named "Camera Trigger" issued by the Camera and Illumination Controller (CIC) of Coaxlink.

The CIC produces one single Camera Trigger pulse every camera cycle:

  • The Camera Trigger leading edge triggers a new camera cycle and initiates a new exposure period
  • The Camera Trigger falling edge is ignored by the camera

NC camera control method

The NC camera control methods targets cameras that are NOT controlled by the frame grabber. This includes

  • Free-run cameras not using any external trigger signal
  • Asynchronous-reset cameras using an external trigger signal not delivered by the frame grabber.

There are no real-time control of the camera by the frame grabber. The Camera and Illumination Controller (CIC) of Coaxlink is not used.

See also in the Reference

CameraControlMethod