MultiCam Boards Documentation > GRABLINK series Documentation > GRABLINK Base Handbook > Functional Specification > Strobe Control

Strobe Control

Each acquisition channel embeds one strobe controller. The strobe controller is capable to generate a strobe signal for a restricted set of camera operation classes.

For area-scan cameras (Imaging = AREA)

Short name

Camera operation class

PxxRC

Asynchronous progressive scan, camera-controlled exposure

PxxRG

Asynchronous progressive scan, grabber-controlled exposure

For line-scan cameras (Imaging = LINE)

Short name

Camera operation class

LxxxxRC

Grabber-controlled line scanning, camera controlled exposure

LxxxxRG

Grabber-controlled line-scanning, grabber controlled exposure

LxxxxRG2

Grabber-controlled line-scanning, grabber controlled exposure, dual signal

LxxxxRP

Grabber-controlled line-scanning, permanent exposure

For TDI line-scan cameras (Imaging = TDI)

Short name

Camera operation class

LxxxxRP

Grabber-controlled line-scanning, permanent exposure

Note. The strobe function is inoperative for PxxSC, LxxxxSC, and LxxxxSP camera operation modes; therefore, the StrobeMode parameter is filtered in MultiCam Studio for these classes of cameras.

Strobe Modes

This board provides one strobe output per camera. The strobe operation mode is controlled by StrobeMode:

StrobeMode

Description

NONE

The strobe function is disabled. No strobe line is allocated to the channel.

MAN

The strobe function is enabled with a manual timing control feature.

AUTO

The strobe function is enabled with an automatic timing control feature.

OFF

The designated strobe line is set to the inactive level; no more strobe pulses are issued.

The default and allowable values of StrobeMode are depending on the camera operation class:

Camera operation class

Allowed values

Default value

Grabber-controlled exposure

AUTO
OFF
NONE

AUTO

Uncontrolled exposure

MAN
OFF
NONE

MAN

Strobe Pulse Position and Duration

The strobe pulse duration is selectable by parameter StrobeDur. The strobe duration is adjustable by steps of 1% ranging from 0% up to 100% of the exposure time.

Note. There is no StrobeDur value. The effective strobe duration = Exposure time * (StrobeDur/100).

The default value of StrobeDur = 50 determines a default strobe duration of 1/2 Exposure time.

The strobe pulse position within the exposure time is selectable by parameter StrobePos. The strobe position is adjustable in 100 steps from leftmost to rightmost position within the exposure time

The default value of StrobeDur = 50 determines a default strobe position centered within the exposure time.

Electrical Style

The strobe line is issued on an optically-isolated pair pin. The + pin is the collector and the - pin is the emitter of an uncommitted phototransistor driven by LED-emitted light. The phototransistor remains OFF during the board initialization.

This board has no electrical style control. The StrobeCtl parameter is not applicable.

Line Selection

This board has one dedicated strobe output line per camera. The strobe output line is available on both the Internal IO and External IO connectors.

Camera

Connector/Pins name

N/A

External IO: IOUT1+/IOUT1-

Internal IO: IOUT1/IOUT1-

This board has no line selection control. The Strobeline parameter is not applicable.

Note. The strobe being always enabled by default, the IOUT1 output port is configured by default as a strobe output and driven by the strobe controller. To disconnect the IOUT1 output port from the strobe generator, set StrobeMode to OFF.