Overview

The following ON Semiconductor PYTHON 5000 sensor models are available for the VisionCam XM:

Supported PYTHON 5000 sensors
Sensor name	Type	eFG_CAMERA_TYPE	Number of pixels	Pixel size	Optical format
NOIP3SN5000A	Monochrome	FG_CAMERA_TYPE_2592_2048_IMAGO_VCx_NOIP3SN5000A	2592 x 2048	4.8 µm x 4.8 µm	1"
NOIP3SE5000A	Color	FG_CAMERA_TYPE_2592_2048_IMAGO_VCx_NOIP3SE5000A	2592 x 2048	4.8 µm x 4.8 µm	1"

Supported pixel formats

The supported pixel formats and maximum frame rates are listed below:

Supported pixel types
Sensor type	eFG_PIXEL_TYPE	Output format	AOI size	Max. frame rate
NOIP3SN5000A (Monochrome)	FG_PIXEL_TYPE_Y_8	1 byte per pixel	2592 x 2048	40 fps
			1280 x 1024	140 fps
			640 x 480	460 fps
NOIP3SE5000A (Color)	FG_PIXEL_TYPE_Y_8	Raw bayer, 1 byte per pixel	2592 x 2048	40 fps
			1280 x 1024	140 fps
			640 x 480	460 fps

Hardware Demosaicing is not supported for this sensor.

Special features

The sensor supports the following special features, see also section Configure special features for additional features:

Special features
Property name	Description	FGCamera.so
ImageMode	Sets the image mode: 0: Video output 1: Moving bit, every two columns [... 0x01 0x01 0x02 0x02 0x04 0x04 ...]	≥ 1.0.1.0
SequencerNumberOfActiveSets	Sets the number of active sequencer sets / AOI windows. A value of 1 disables the sequencer, the maximum value is 16. The sequencer can be used only in triggered modes (FG_TRIGGER_MODE_SOFTWARE or FG_TRIGGER_MODE_HARDWARE). After success, the sequencer will start with window ID 0 for the next frame.
SequencerIndex	Sets the sequencer window ID for setting or reading the parameters SequencerOffsetX and SequencerOffsetY. The allowed range is 1 to 15. Use the library functions FG_set_aoi() / FG_get_aoi() for ID 0.
SequencerOffsetX / SequencerOffsetY	Set the start coordinate/position of the captured region. The AOI size can't be changed from sequencer step to step and must be previously configured by FG_set_aoi(). For the sequencer offsets, there are the same limitations/rules as for the main AOI. A call to FG_set_aoi() (re)sets any sequencer offset to the same given values. See AOI Sequencer for a more detailed example about the sequencer AOI.

AOI Sequencer

The maximum frame rate can be increased by capturing a smaller area of interest (AOI).
The AOI sequencer allows to use different window positions for a sequence of trigger events. After the predefined window positions are configured, the positioning is done by hardware for each subsequent frame. The used AOI window ID repeatedly cycles through (0 ... N-1) for consecutive trigger events.

The picture below shows a typical use case:

The AOI sequencer has the following requirements:

A maximum of 16 AOI positions can be defined.
The image size is equal for every AOI.
The sequencer can only be used in triggered mode (software or hardware).
Using different AOIs from the same exposure is not implemented.

The returned FG_IMAGE contains a single AOI window. The AOI window ID of the image is contained in the pixel data. It is stored within the four LSBs of the first pixel within the second line. See the example below for reading the window ID.

Calling FG_set_trigger_mode(FG_TRIGGER_MODE_FREERUN) or FG_set_special_option("SequencerNumberOfActiveSets", 1) disables the sequencer.

Sequencer example

The following example code illustrates how to capture an endless series of 3 different regions:

    
    UINT32 fgResult;
    UINT32 AOIWidth = 864, AOIHeight = 480;
 
    //> prepare ...
    /***********************************************************/
    // open and init the camera (auto type detection)
    fgResult = FG_install_camera(FG_CAMERA_TYPE_X_X_IMAGO_VCx_AUTO);
 
    // optional, change default values
    fgResult = FG_set_trigger_mode(FG_TRIGGER_MODE_SOFTWARE);
    fgResult = FG_set_shutter_time(10*1000/*ms*/);
 
    //configure the AOIs
    //AOI 0 (define the size for all regions)
    fgResult = FG_set_aoi(672/*x1*/, 272/*y1*/, 672+AOIWidth-1 /*x2*/, 272+AOIHeight-1/*y2*/, FG_PIXEL_TYPE_Y_8);
    //AOI 1
    fgResult = FG_set_special_option("SequencerIndex", 1);
    fgResult = FG_set_special_option("SequencerOffsetX", 768);
    fgResult = FG_set_special_option("SequencerOffsetY", 652);
    //AOI 2
    fgResult = FG_set_special_option("SequencerIndex", 2);
    fgResult = FG_set_special_option("SequencerOffsetX", 352);
    fgResult = FG_set_special_option("SequencerOffsetY", 1360);
    //enable the sequencer with 3 AOIs
    fgResult = FG_set_special_option("SequencerNumberOfActiveSets", 3);
 
    // alloc and one buffer
    FG_IMAGE CamImg;
    fgResult = FG_alloc_image(&CamImg);
    fgResult = FG_append_image(&CamImg);
 
 
    //> capture images
    /***********************************************************/
    while (1)
    {
        // trigger the camera [default tigger mode is FG_TRIGGER_MODE_SOFTWARE]
        fgResult = FG_trigger_image();
 
        // wait for the image
        FG_IMAGE NewCameraImg;
        if (FG_get_image(&NewCameraImg, 1000/*ms*/) == FG_ERROR_CODE_NoError)
        {
            // Get the AOI window ID (stored in the first pixel of the second line)
            unsigned char aoiWindow = NewCameraImg.pixel_ptr[AOIWidth] & 0xf;
 
            // work with the image data
            // . . .
 
            // append the image again
            fgResult = FG_append_image(&CamImg);
        }
    }
 
 
    //> clean up
    /***********************************************************/
    // abort grabbing
    fgResult = FG_stop_image();
 
    // free buffer and camera
    fgResult = FG_free_image(&CamImg);
    fgResult = FG_uninstall_camera();
 
    // . . .
 

Table of Contents

Overview

Supported pixel formats

Special features

AOI Sequencer