Camera Properties

The classification of the cameras is based on the following Channel class MultiCam parameters: Imaging, Spectrum, DataLink, and ColorMethod.

The enumerated parameter Imaging specifies the geometry of the camera sensor; possible values are:

Value	Description
AREA	The camera is an area-scan model. An area-scan camera is based on a 2D imaging sensor; it delivers individual image frames composed of a fixed amount of lines, each containing a fixed amount of pixels.
LINE	The camera is a line-scan model. A line-scan camera is based on 1D imaging sensor; it delivers individual image lines composed of a fixed amount of pixels.
TDI	The camera is a TDI line-scan model. A particular type of line-scan camera using the Time Delayed Integration technology (TDI). It is based on a 2D imaging sensor having a small amount of lines; like any other line-scan camera, it delivers individual image lines composed of a fixed amount of pixels.

Note. The board's behavior is the same when Imaging is TDI instead of LINE; however TDI cameras exhibit less operational modes since they lack an electronic shutter.

The enumerated parameter Spectrum specifies the spectral sensitivity of the camera; possible values are:

Value	Description
BW	The camera delivers a monochrome image obtained from an image sensor operating in the human visible domain of the light spectrum.
IR	The camera delivers a monochrome image obtained from an image sensor operating in the infra-red domain of the light spectrum.
COLOR	The camera delivers a color image.

Note. The board's behavior is exactly the same when Spectrum is IR instead of BW.

The enumerated parameter DataLink specifies the data transfer method used by the camera; the unique possible value is:

Value	Description
CAMERALINK	The camera delivers a digital video signal complying to the Camera Link standard.

The enumerated parameter ColorMethod specifies the color analysis method used by the camera; possible values are:

Value	Description
NONE	The camera delivers a monochrome image.
BAYER	The camera uses a single imaging sensor coated with a Bayer Color Filter Array and delivers the raw Bayer CFA data as a single video data stream embedding the RGB information.
PRISM	The camera uses a wavelength-separating prism to feed three distinct imaging sensors. The color information is available as three R, G, B video data streams.
RGB	The camera uses a coated sensor and an internal processor to reconstruct the full color information. The color information is available as three R, G, B video data streams.
TRILINEAR	The camera uses three parallel sensing linear arrays of pixels exhibiting different wavelength sensitivities. The color information is available as three R, G, B video data streams.

Notes

This board provides a limited support of TRILINEAR cameras since the scan-delay compensation function is not available.
The board's behavior is the same when ColorMethod is TRILINEAR instead of RGB.
The board's behavior is exactly the same when ColorMethod is PRISM instead of RGB.

The MultiCam channel must be configured for the appropriate class of camera by assigning the appropriate values to the following three parameters: Imaging, Spectrum, and ColorMethod. The valid combinations of values are listed hereafter:

Imaging	Spectrum	ColorMethod	Camera class
AREA	BW	NONE	Monochrome area-scan cameras – Visible spectrum
	IR	NONE	Monochrome area-scan cameras – Infra-red spectrum
	COLOR	BAYER	Color area-scan cameras –Raw BAYER data output
		RGB	Color area-scan cameras – RGB data output
		PRISM	3-CCD Color area-scan cameras – RGB data output
LINE	BW	NONE	Monochrome line-scan cameras – Visible spectrum
	IR	NONE	Monochrome line-scan cameras – Infra-red spectrum
	COLOR	BAYER(*)	Color line-scan cameras –Raw BAYER data output
		RGB	Color line-scan cameras – RGB data output
		PRISM	3-CCD Color line-scan cameras – RGB data output
		TRILINEAR	Color line-scan cameras – 1 tri-linear sensor – RGB data output
TDI	BW	NONE	Monochrome Time-Delay-Integration line-scan cameras – Visible spectrum
	IR	NONE	Monochrome Time-Delay-Integration line-scan cameras – Infrared spectrum
	COLOR	PRISM	3-CCD Color Time-Delay-Integration line-scan cameras – 3 sensors with filters – RGB data output

(*) Refer to the release notes for availability.