Instruction manual

Chapter 5. Programmers Reference

5.1. Overview

5.1.1. Introduction

Frame Grabber configuration tools is the software foundation for ELTEC Elektronik AG frame grabber

family.

It is the unified interface used across all frame grabber products.

Frame Grabber configuration tools is one of the most powerful low-level frame grabber interfaces

available on the market.

It combines three essential advantages:

• Fast and optimized access to the frame grabber hardware.

• Relieves the program developer from all hardware dependent stuff.

• Unifies the frame grabber interface to switch between the grabber family members.

Special care has been taken to simplify the use of complex camera features like restart-reset modes or

acquisition of image sequences.

Applications ranging from simple single image grabbing, up to programming your frame grabber to

become a real image sequence machine, are all easily supported by Frame Grabber configuration tools.

5.1.2. Main Features

• Generic software interface for the grabber product line.

• Real-time image acquisition

• Configuration and setup utility included

• Easy setup file handling to store different configurations.

• Powerful virtual to physical memory management during run-time.

• Makes handling of image sequences as easy as single images.

• DLL with complete frame grabber control.

5.1.3. Technical Details

The heart of each frame grabber is ist PCI DMA controller.

All boards work without the need of a frame buffer on-board. Image data is stored directly in the PC s

main memory. ELTEC Elektronik AG is using one of the most sophisticated PCI DMA controllers

available. ELTEC Elektronik AG frame grabber DMA means FAST & FLEXIBLE. Flexible DMA schemes

(scatter-gather DMA - known from UNIX network drivers) allow the acquisition of complete sequences

without CPU intervention and without missing a single frame. So, the main advantage of the PCI bus, fast