GenICam™ and advanced features

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Device Control
• Image Format Control
• Acquisition Control
• Counter And Timer Control
• Analog Control
• Color Transformation Control
• Event Control
• Chunk Data Control
• File Access Control
• Digital I/O Control
• Transport Layer Control
• User Set Control
• Action Control
• mv Serial Interface Control
• mv Auto Feature Control

Introduction

For new applications or to set the device via ImpactControlCenter we recommend to use the GenICam interface layout as it allows the most flexible access to the device features.

After you've set the interface layout to GenICam (either programmed or using ImpactControlCenter), all GenICam controls of the device are available.

Note

It depends on the device, which controls are supported. To clarify if your device supports a specific control or property, you can use the interactive "Product Comparison" chapter. Just select the wanted property and click on the button "Rebuild Comparison Table".

In ImpactControlCenter, you can see them in "Setting → Base → Camera → GenICam":

Figure 1: ImpactControlCenter - GenICam™ controls (depends on device and FW version)

As you can see, there are some controls with and without the prefix "mv".

• "mv" prefix features are unique non-standard features developed by Balluff/MATRIX VISION.
• Without "mv" are standard features as known from the Standard Features Naming Convention of GenICam™ properties (SFNC).

All those features are "camera based / device based" features which can also be accessed using the camera with other GenICam / GigE Vision compliant third-party software.

Note

In GigE Vision™ timestamps are denoted in "device ticks" but for Balluff/MATRIX VISION devices this equals microseconds.

Do not mix up the camera based / device based features with the features available in "Setting → Base → Image Processing". Theses features are driver based features which are processed by the software and therefore need CPU load.

Device Control

The "Device Control" contains the features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
DeviceType	deviceType	Returns the device type.
DeviceScanType	deviceScanType	Scan type of the sensor of the device.
DeviceVendorName	deviceVendorName	Name of the manufacturer of the device.
DeviceModelName	deviceModelName	Name of the device model.
DeviceManufacturerInfo	deviceManufacturerInfo	Manufacturer information about the device.
DeviceVersion	deviceVersion	Version of the device.
DeviceFirmwareVersion	deviceFirmwareVersion	Firmware version of the device.
DeviceSerialNumber	deviceSerialNumber	Serial number of the device.
DeviceUserID	deviceUserID	User-programmable device identifier.
DeviceTLVersionMajor	deviceTLVersionMajor	Major version of the transport layer of the device.
DeviceTLVersionMinor	deviceTLVersionMinor	Minor version of the transport layer of the device.
DeviceLinkSpeed	deviceLinkSpeed	Indicates the speed of transmission negotiated on the specified Link.
DeviceTemperature	deviceTemperature	Device temperature.
etc.

related to the device and its sensor.

This control provides a bandwidth control feature . You have to select DeviceLinkThroughputLimit. Here you can set the maximum bandwidth in KBps.

Balluff offers also some information properties about the

• FPGA
  • mvDeviceFPGAVersion
• and the image sensor
  • mvDeviceSensorColorMode

A further use case related to the "Device Control" is:

• Disabling the heartbeat

Image Format Control

The "Image Format Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
SensorWidth	sensorWidth	Effective width of the sensor in pixels.
SensorHeight	sensorHeight	Effective height of the sensor in pixels.
SensorName	sensorName	Name of the sensor.
Width	width	Width of the image provided by the device (in pixels).
Height	height	Height of the image provided by the device (in pixels).
BinningHorizontal, BinningVertical	binningHorizontal, binningVertical	Number of horizontal/vertical photo-sensitive cells to combine together.
DecimationHorizontal, DecimationVertical	decimationHorizontal, decimationVertical	Sub-sampling of the image. This reduces the resolution (width) of the image by the specified decimation factor.
TestPattern	testPattern	Selects the type of test image that is sent by the device.
etc.

related to the format of the transmitted image.

With TestPattern, for example, you can select the type of test image that is sent by the device. Here two special types are available:

• mvBayerRaw (the Bayer mosaic raw image)
• mvFFCImage (the flat-field correction image)

Additionally, Balluff offers numerous additional features like:

• mvMultiAreaMode
  which can be used to define multiple AOIs (Areas of Interests) in one image.

  See also

  The use case Working with multiple AOIs (mv Multi Area Mode) shows how this feature works.

Acquisition Control

The "Acquisition Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
AcquisitionMode	acquisitionMode	Sets the acquisition mode of the device. The different modes configures a device to send exactly one image ("SingleFrame"), exactly the set number of frames ("MultiFrame") or images constantly until an application explicitly stops the acquisition again ("Continuous"). and can be used for asynchronously grabbing and sending image(s). It works with internal and external hardware trigger where the edge is selectable. The external trigger uses ImageRequestTimeout (ms) to time out. The chapter "How To See The First Image" in the "Impact Acquire SDK GUI Applications" manual shows how to acquire images with ImpactControlCenter. The use case Acquiring a number of images shows how to acquire a number of images; also triggered externally.
AcquisitionStart	acquisitionStart	Starts the acquisition of the device.
AcquisitionStop	acquisitionStop	Stops the acquisition of the device at the end of the current Frame.
AcquisitionAbort	acquisitionAbort	Aborts the acquisition immediately.
AcquisitionFrameRate	acquisitionFrameRate	Controls the acquisition rate (in Hertz) at which the frames are captured. Some cameras support a special internal trigger mode that allows more exact frame rates. This feature keeps the frame rate constant to an accuracy of +/-0.005 fps at 200 fps. This is achieved using frames with a length difference of up to 1 us. Please check in the sensor summary if this feature exists for the requested sensor.
TriggerSelector	triggerSelector	Selects the type of trigger to configure. A possible option is mvTimestampReset. The use case about mvTimestampReset is available.
TriggerOverlap[TriggerSelector]	triggerOverlap	Specifies the type trigger overlap permitted with the previous frame. TriggerOverlap is only intended for external trigger (which is usually non-overlapped: i.e. exposure and readout are sequentially). This leads to minimal latency / jitter between trigger and exposure. However, the camera accepts a new trigger (the exposure time earlier) before the end of the transmission of the current image. Maximum frame rate in triggered mode = frame rate of continuous mode This however leads to higher latency / jitter between trigger and exposure. A trigger will be not latched if it occurs before this moment (trigger is accurate in time). See also Principles of overlapped and pipelined trigger.
ExposureMode	exposureMode	Sets the operation mode of the exposure (or shutter).
ExposureTime	exposureTime	Sets the exposure time (in microseconds) when ExposureMode is Timed and ExposureAuto is Off.
ExposureAuto	exposureAuto	Sets the automatic exposure mode when ExposureMode is Timed.
etc.

related to the image acquisition, including the triggering mode.

Additionally, Balluff offers numerous additional features like:

• mvShutterMode
  which selects the shutter mode of the CMOS sensors like rolling shutter or global shutter.
• mvDefectivePixelEnable
  which activates the sensor's defective pixel correction.

  See also

  https://www.balluff.com/de-en/whitepapers/color-correction-of

• mvExposureAutoSpeed
  which determines the increment or decrement size of exposure value from frame to frame.
• mvExposureAutoDelayImages
  the number of frames that the AEC must skip before updating the exposure register.
• mvExposureAutoAverageGrey
  common desired average grey value (in percent) used for Auto Gain Control (AGC) and Auto Exposure Control (AEC).
• mvExposureAutoAOIMode
  common AutoControl AOI used for Auto Gain Control (AGC), Auto Exposure Control (AEC) and Auto White Balance (AWB).
• mvAcquisitionMemoryMode
  Balluff offers three additional acquisition modes which use the internal memory of the camera:
  • mvPretrigger
    which stores frames in memory to be transferred after trigger.
    To define the number of frames to acquire before the occurrence of an AcquisitionStart or AcquisitionActive trigger, you can use mvPretriggerFrameCount.

    See also

    The use case Recording sequences with pre-trigger shows how this feature works.

• mvAcquisitionMemoryMaxFrameCount
  which shows the maximum of frames the internal memory can save.

  See also

  The use case Working with burst mode buffer lists some maximum frame counts of some camera models.

• mvSmearReduction
  smear reduction in triggered and non-overlapped mode.

Since

FW Revision 2.40.2546.0

Common properties for AutoExposureControl, AutoGainControl , and AutoWhiteBalance are available via mv Auto Feature Control.

For "Exposure Auto Mode", in ImpactControlCenter just select in "Exposure Auto" "Continuous". Afterwards, you have the possibility to set lower and upper limit, average gray combined with AOI setting:

Figure 2: Acquire Control → Exposure Auto

• mvSmartFrameRecallFrameSkipRatio
  When set to a value != 0, the smaller frames get thinned out. AOI requests can still be done for all frames.
• mvSmartFrameRecallTimestampLookupAccuracy
  is needed for the SkipRatio feature since you don't know the timestamps of the internal frames. This value defines the strictness of the timestamp-check for the recalled image (given in us).

Counter And Timer Control

The "Counter And Timer Control" is a powerful feature which Balluff/MATRIX VISION customers already know under the name Hardware Real-Time Controller (HRTC). Balluff/MATRIX VISION cameras provide:

• 4 counters for counting events or external signals (compare number of triggers vs. number of frames; overtrigger) and
• 2 timers.

Counter and Timers can be used, for example,

• for pulse width modulation (PWM) and
• to generate output signals of variable length, depending on conditions in camera.

This achieves complete HRTC functionality which supports following applications:

• frame rate by timer
• exposure time by timer
• pulse width at input

The "Counter And Timer Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
CounterSelector	counterSelector	Selects which counter to configure.
CounterEventSource[CounterSelector]	counterEventSource	Selects the events that will be the source to increment the counter.
CounterEventActivation[CounterSelector]	counterEventActivation	Selects the activation mode event source signal.
etc.
TimerSelector	timerSelector	Selects which timer to configure.
TimerDuration[TimerSelector]	timerDuration	Sets the duration (in microseconds) of the timer pulse.
TimerDelay[TimerSelector]	timerDelay	Sets the duration (in microseconds) of the delay.
etc.

related to the usage of programmable counters and timers.

Because there are many ways to use this feature, the list of use cases is long and not finished yet:

• Creating different exposure times for consecutive images
• Creating synchronized acquisitions
• Generating a pulse width modulation (PWM)
• Outputting a pulse at every other external trigger
• Generating very long exposure times

Analog Control

The "Analog Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
GainSelector	gainSelector	Selects which gain is controlled by the various gain features.
Gain[GainSelector]	gain	Controls the selected gain as an absolute physical value [in dB].
GainAuto[GainSelector]	gainAuto	Sets the automatic gain control (AGC) mode.
GainAutoBalance	gainAutoBalance	Sets the mode for automatic gain balancing between the sensor color channels or taps.
BlackLevelSelector	blackLevelSelector	Selects which black level is controlled by the various BlackLevel features.
BlackLevel[BlackLevelSelector]	blackLevel	Controls the selected BlackLevel as an absolute physical value.
BalanceWhiteAuto	balanceWhiteAuto	Controls the mode for automatic white balancing between the color channels.
Gamma	gamma	Controls the gamma correction of pixel intensity.
etc.

related to the video signal conditioning in the analog domain.

Additionally, Balluff offers:

• mvBalanceWhiteAuto functions and
• mvGainAuto functions.

In ImpactControlCenter just select in "Gain Auto" (AGC) "Continuous". Afterwards, you have the possibility to set minimum and maximum limit combined with AOI setting:

Figure 3: Analog Control → Gain Auto

See also

Optimizing the color/luminance fidelity of the camera

Color Transformation Control

The "Color Transformation Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
ColorTransformationSelector	colorTransformationEnable	Activates the selected color transformation module.
ColorTransformationSelector	colorTransformationSelector	Selects which color transformation module is controlled by the various color transformation features.
ColorTransformationValue	colorTransformationValue	Represents the value of the selected Gain factor or Offset inside the transformation matrix.
ColorTransformationValueSelector	colorTransformationValueSelector	Selects the gain factor or Offset of the Transformation matrix to access in the selected color transformation module.

related to the control of the color transformation.

This control offers an enhanced color processing for optimum color fidelity using a color correction matrix (CCM) and enables

• 9 coefficients values (Gain ₀₀ .. Gain ₂₂) and
• 3 offset values (Offset ₀ .. Offset ₂)

to be entered for RGB_IN → RGB_OUT transformation. This can be used to optimize specific colors or specific color temperatures.

Figure 4: Color correction sample

Coefficients will be made available for sensor models and special requirements on demand.

See also

Optimizing the color/luminance fidelity of the camera

Event Control

The "Event Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
EventSelector	eventSelector	Selects which Event to signal to the host application.
EventNotification[EventSelector]	eventNotification	Activate or deactivate the notification to the host application of the occurrence of the selected Event.
EventFrameTriggerData	eventFrameTriggerData	Category that contains all the data features related to the FrameTrigger event.
EventFrameTrigger	eventFrameTrigger	Returns the unique identifier of the FrameTrigger type of event.
EventFrameTriggerTimestamp	eventFrameTriggerTimestamp	Returns the timestamp of the AcquisitionTrigger event.
EventFrameTriggerFrameID	eventFrameTriggerFrameID	Returns the unique identifier of the frame (or image) that generated the FrameTrigger event.
EventExposureEndData	eventExposureEndData	Category that contains all the data features related to the ExposureEnd event.
EventExposureEnd	eventExposureEnd	Returns the unique identifier of the ExposureEnd type of event.
EventExposureEndTimestamp	eventExposureEndTimestamp	Returns the timestamp of the ExposureEnd Event.
EventExposureEndFrameID	eventExposureEndFrameID	Returns the unique identifier of the frame (or image) that generated the ExposureEnd event.
EventErrorData	eventErrorData	Category that contains all the data features related to the error event.
EventError	eventError	Returns the unique identifier of the error type of event.
EventErrorTimestamp	eventErrorTimestamp	Returns the timestamp of the error event.
EventErrorFrameID	eventErrorFrameID	If applicable, returns the unique identifier of the frame (or image) that generated the error event.
EventErrorCode	eventErrorCode	Returns an error code for the error(s) that happened.
etc.

related to the generation of Event notifications by the device.

The use case Working with Event Control shows how this control can be used.

Chunk Data Control

The "Chunk Data Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
ChunkModeActive	chunkModeActive	Activates the inclusion of chunk data in the payload of the image.
ChunkSelector	chunkSelector	Selects which chunk to enable or control.
ChunkEnable[ChunkSelector]	chunkEnable	Enables the inclusion of the selected chunk data in the payload of the image.
ChunkImage	chunkImage	Returns the entire image data included in the payload.
ChunkOffsetX	ChunkOffsetX	Returns the offset x of the image included in the payload.
ChunkOffsetY	chunkOffsetY	Returns the offset y of the image included in the payload.
ChunkWidth	chunkWidth	Returns the width of the image included in the payload.
ChunkHeight	chunkHeight	Returns the height of the image included in the payload.
ChunkPixelFormat	chunkPixelFormat	Returns the pixel format of the image included in the payload.
ChunkTimestamp	chunkTimestamp	Returns the timestamp of the image included in the payload at the time of the FrameStart internal event.
etc.

related to the Chunk Data Control.

Possible chunk data:

• Image
• OffsetX
• OffsetY
• Width
• Height
• PixelFormat
• Timestamp
• LineStatusAll
• CounterValue
• TimerValue
• ExposureTime
• SequencerSetActive
• Gain
• mvCustomerIdentifier

A description can be found in the image acquisition section of the Impact Acquire API manuals.

File Access Control

The "File Access Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
FileSelector	fileSelector	Selects the target file in the device.
FileOperationSelector[FileSelector]	fileOperationSelector	Selects the target operation for the selected file in the device.
FileOperationExecute[FileSelector][FileOperationSelector]	fileOperationExecute	Executes the operation selected by FileOperationSelector on the selected file.
FileOpenMode[FileSelector]	fileOpenMode	Selects the access mode in which a file is opened in the device.
FileAccessBuffer	fileAccessBuffer	Defines the intermediate access buffer that allows the exchange.
etc.

related to the File Access Control that provides all the services necessary for generic file access of a device.

Digital I/O Control

The "Digital I/O Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
LineSelector	lineSelector	Selects the physical line (or pin) of the external device connector to configure.
LineMode[LineSelector]	lineMode	Controls if the physical Line is used to Input or Output a signal.
UserOutputSelector	userOutputSelector	Selects which bit of the user output register will be set by UserOutputValue.
UserOutputValue[UserOutputSelector]	userOutputValue	Sets the value of the bit selected by UserOutputSelector.
etc.

related to the control of the general input and output pins of the device.

Additionally, Balluff offers:

• mvLineDebounceTimeRisingEdge and
• mvLineDebounceTimeFallingEdge functionality.

A description of these functions can be found in the use case Creating a debouncing filter at the inputs.

How you can test the digital inputs and outputs is described in "Testing The Digital Inputs" in the "Impact Acquire SDK GUI Applications" manual. The use case Creating synchronized acquisitions is a further example which shows you how to work with digital inputs and outputs.

Transport Layer Control

The "Transport Layer Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
PayloadSize	payloadSize	Provides the number of bytes transferred for each image or chunk on the stream channel.
GevInterfaceSelector	gevInterfaceSelector	Selects which physical network interface to control.
GevMACAddress[GevInterfaceSelector]	gevMACAddress	MAC address of the network interface.
GevStreamChannelSelector	gevStreamChannelSelector	Selects the stream channel to control.
PtpControl	ptpEnable	Enables the Precision Time Protocol (PTP).
etc.

related to the Transport Layer Control.

Use cases related to the "Transport Layer Control" are:

• Using the primary application switchover functionality
• Synchronizing camera timestamps

User Set Control

The "User Set Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
UserSetSelector	userSetSelector	Selects the feature user set to load, save or configure.
UserSetLoad[UserSetSelector]	userSetLoad	Loads the user set specified by UserSetSelector to the device and makes it active.
UserSetSave[UserSetSelector]	userSetSave	Endianess of the device registers.
UserSetDefault	userSetDefault	Selects the feature user set to load and make active when the device is reset.

related to the User Set Control to save and load the user device settings.

The camera allows the storage of up to four configuration sets in the camera. This feature is similar to storing settings in the registry but this way in the camera. It is possible to store

• exposure,
• gain,
• AOI,
• frame rate,
• etc.

permanently. You can select, which user set comes up after hard reset.

Use case related to the "User Set Control" is:

• Creating user set entries

Another way to create user data is described here: Creating user data entries

Action Control

The "Action Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
ActionDeviceKey	actionDeviceKey	Provides the device key that allows the device to check the validity of action commands. The device internal assertion of an action signal is only authorized if the ActionDeviceKey and the action device key value in the protocol message are equal.
ActionSelector	actionSelector	Selects to which action signal further action settings apply.
ActionGroupKey	actionGroupKey	Provides the key that the device will use to validate the action on reception of the action protocol message.
ActionGroupMask	actionGroupMask	Provides the mask that the device will use to validate the action on reception of the action protocol message.

related to the Action control features.

The use case Using Action Commands shows in detail how this feature works.

mv Serial Interface Control

The "mv Serial Interface Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
	mvSerialInterfaceMode	States the interface mode of the serial interface.
	mvSerialInterfaceEnable	Controls whether the serial interface is enabled or not.
	mvSerialInterfaceBaudRate	Serial interface clock frequency.
	mvSerialInterfaceASCIIBuffer	Buffer for exchanging ASCII data over serial interface.
	mvSerialInterfaceWrite	Command to write data from the serial interface.
	mvSerialInterfaceRead	Command to read data from the serial interface.
etc.

related to control the devices Serial Interface Control parameters. It enables the camera to be controlled via serial interface.

The use case Working With The Serial Interface (mv Serial Interface Control) shows how you can work with the serial interface control.

With the Serial Interface Control the optional fan in Working with the temperature sensors is controlled.

See also

Working With The Serial Interface (mv Serial Interface Control)

mv Auto Feature Control

The "mv Auto Feature Control" contains features like

Feature name (acc. to SFNC)	Property name (acc. to Impact Acquire)	Description
	mvAutoFeatureAOIMode	Common AutoControl AOI used for Auto Gain Control(AGC), Auto Exposure Control(AEC) and Auto White Balancing.
	mvAutoFeatureSensitivity	The controllers sensitivity of brightness deviations. This parameter influences the gain as well as the exposure controller.
	mvAutoFeatureCharacteristic	Selects the prioritization between Auto Exposure Control(AEC) and Auto Gain Control(AGC) controller.
	mvAutoFeatureBrightnessTolerance	The error input hysteresis width of the controller. If the brightness error exceeds the half of the value in positive or negative direction, the controller restarts to control the brightness.

related to the automatic control of exposure, gain, and white balance.

With this control you can influence the characteristic of the controller depending on certain light situations. AEC/AGC can be controlled with the new additional properties mvAutoFeatureSensitivity, mvAutoFeatureCharacteristic and mvAutoFeatureBrightnessTolerance.