User`s manual

Basic Operation & Standard Features
BASLER A600f 3-7
DRAFT
Software Trigger / Continuous-Shot Operation
In Software Trigger/Continuous-shot operation, a “Continuous Shot Command” is used to prepare
the camera to capture multiple images. In this mode, exposure will begin when the
Software_Trigger register is set to 1. To use this method of operation, follow this sequence:
1. Set the Shutter control register for your desired exposure time (see page 4-9).
2. Set the Iso_En/Continuous_Shot control register to 1.
3. Check the state of the TrigRdy signal:
a) If TrigRdy is high, you can set the Software_Trigger register to 1 when desired.
b) If TrigRdy is low, wait until TrigRdy goes high and then set the Software_Trigger register
to 1 when desired.
4. When the Software_Trigger register is set to 1, exposure will begin.
5. The Software_Trigger register will self clear shortly after exposure begins. Exposure will
continue for the length of time specified in the Shutter control register.
6. At the end of the specified exposure time, readout and transmission of the captured image
will take place.
7. Repeat steps 3 and 4 each time that you want to begin exposure and capture an image.
8. Image exposure and transmission will stop when the Iso_En/Continuous_Shot control
register is set to 0.
Why Use the Software Trigger?
At first glance, using the software trigger feature to start image exposure appears to be equivalent
to just issuing a one-shot command as described in Section 3.2.3. The difference is in the way
that the camera reacts to each method. With a one-shot command, there will be some delay
between the One_Shot control register being set to 1 and the actual start of exposure time. This
delay is required so that the camera can be properly set up to react to the receipt of the one-shot
command. With the software trigger method, there is no delay between the Software_Trigger
register being set to 1 and the start of exposure. Exposure begins immediately when the register
is set. So the advantage of the software trigger feature is that it gives you more precise control of
the start of exposure.
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The Software_Trigger register and the Trigger_Source field in the Trigger_Mode con-
trol register are defined in version 1.31 of the IIDC specification.
Because the software trigger feature is so new, the Basler BCAM 1394 Driver does not
yet include a method call to access this feature. As a work-around, you can use the
techniques described in the tutorial for the Basler Smart Features Framework Soft-
ware to directly read from or write to the Software_Trigger and Trigger_mode regis-
ters. The Smart Features Framework Software is available on the Basler web site. To
download the software go to:
http://www.baslerweb.com/popups/popup_en_1825.php
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On A600f cameras, exposure of a new image can begin while the previous image is
being read out. This is commonly referred to as “overlap mode.” Following the recom-
mended method for exposure start in Section 3.2.6 will allow you to overlap exposure
with readout and achieve the camera’s maximum frame rate.