Profile Mode

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This topic provides descriptions of the parameters in the profile mode.

Brightness Settings

Parameters in this category affect the brightness of the laser lines in the raw image, thus affecting the quality of the profile, intensity image, and depth map.

  • The grayscale values of the pixels at the center of the laser lines should be between 200 and 255.

  • The recommended order of adjusting parameters is: Exposure Time > Analog Gain > Digital Gain or Laser Power

Exposure Mode

Description

Select the exposure mode for acquiring the raw image based on the color and texture of the target object.

Visibility

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Values

  • Timed (default): suitable for target objects of a single texture or color.

  • HDR: suitable for target objects with various textures or colors.

Instruction

After selecting different options, different parameters are displayed in the Brightness Settings category for adjustment:

Exposure Time

Description

Set the exposure time for acquiring the raw image. Exposure time affects the brightness and width of the laser lines in the raw image, as well as the max scan rate of the laser profiler.

Longer exposure time results in brighter and wider laser lines and lower max scan rate. Shorter exposure time results in darker and narrower laser lines and higher max scan rate.

Visibility

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Values

  • Value range: 4 to 5200 μs

  • Increment: 2 μs

  • Default value: 30 μs

Instruction

  • Shorter exposure time is suitable for objects that are reflective or light-colored; longer exposure time is suitable for objects that are non-reflective or dark-colored.

  • The grayscale values of the pixels at the center of the laser lines should be between 200 and 255.

    In the lower-right corner of the raw image, you can check the grayscale value of the pixel where the cursor is located. If not displayed, please check the Image Information Box option in the View menu.

  • If the laser lines are too dark, increase Exposure Time; If the laser lines are too bright or wide, decrease Exposure Time.

  • To enhance the max scan rate, decrease Exposure Time and increase Analog Gain.

  • If Exposure Time has reached its maximum value, but the laser lines are still too dark, increase Analog Gain.

  • If Exposure Time has reached its minimum value, but the laser lines are still too bright, decrease Laser Power.
You can check the current max scan rate of the laser profiler in the upper right of the data display area.

Raw images obtained with different Exposure Time values (all other conditions identical):

Exposure time: 40 μs

exposure time 40

Exposure time: 200 μs

exposure time 200

Exposure time: 1500 μs

exposure time 1500

HDR Exposure Settings

Description

Set the exposure time for acquiring the raw image. Exposure time affects the brightness and width of the laser lines in the raw image, as well as the max scan rate of the laser profiler.

Longer exposure time results in brighter and wider laser lines and lower max scan rate. Shorter exposure time results in darker and narrower laser lines and higher max scan rate.

Visibility

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Values

  • Range of value:

    • Total exposure time: 12 to 15600 μs

    • Exposure time 1/2/3 (can be adjusted only when Customize is selected): 4 to 5200 μs

  • Increment: 2 μs

Instruction

For detailed instructions, refer to Adjust HDR Exposure Settings below.

  • The grayscale values of the pixels at the center of the laser lines should be between 200 and 255.

    In the lower-right corner of the raw image, you can check the grayscale value of the pixel where the cursor is located. If not displayed, please check the Image Information Box option in the View menu.

  • If the laser lines are too dark, increase Total exposure time; If the laser lines are too bright or wide, decrease Total exposure time.

  • To enhance the max scan rate, decrease Total exposure time and increase Analog Gain.

  • If Total exposure time has reached its maximum value, but the laser lines are still too dark, increase Analog Gain.

  • If Total exposure time has reached its minimum value, but the laser lines are still too bright, decrease Laser Power.
You can check the current max scan rate of the laser profiler in the upper right of the data display area.

Adjust HDR Exposure Settings

In the HDR exposure mode, each exposure is divided into three phases to ensure that, in the raw image, laser lines reflected by regions of different textures or colors can all achieve appropriate brightness.

In the HDR exposure mode, the total exposure time is determined by using the timed exposure mode.

Follow these steps to adjust the HDR exposure settings:

  1. In the profile mode, find the region with the most complex textures or colors on the target object surface and acquire data.

  2. Set Exposure Mode to Timed and adjust Exposure Time, until the brightness of the laser line reflected by the region least likely to overexpose on the target object meets the requirement. The value of Exposure Time when the brightness of this laser line meets the requirement is the value that should be set for Total exposure time in HDR Exposure Settings.

  3. Set Exposure Mode to HDR and double-click Edit to the right of HDR Exposure Settings to open the HDR Exposure Settings window.

  4. In Total exposure time, enter the exposure time determined in step 2.

  5. Select Use built-in settings, and then select a value in the drop-down list.

  6. Click Apply to close the current window. In the profile mode, acquire data again and check the brightness of the laser lines in the raw image.

    • If the brightness of the laser lines meets the requirement, the process is completed.

    • If the brightness of the laser lines does not meet the requirement, double-click Edit to the right of HDR Exposure Settings to open the HDR Exposure Settings window. and select another built-in settings value.

      If none of the built-in settings meets the requirement, select Customize, and click Apply. Then, go to the next step.

  7. Set Exposure Mode to Timed and adjust Exposure Time, until the laser line reflected by the region most likely to overexpose on the target object is just visible in the raw image. The current value of Exposure Time is the value that should be set for Exposure time 3 in HDR Exposure Settings.

  8. Set Exposure Mode to HDR and double-click Edit to the right of HDR Exposure Settings to open the HDR Exposure Settings window.

  9. Adjust Expected proportions until the value of Exposure time 3 roughly matches the exposure time determined in step 2.

    The exposure times of the three exposure phases should satisfy: Exposure time 1 > Exposure time 2 > Exposure time 3.

    If after step 9, the above relationship is not satisfied, adjust Expected proportions again.

  10. Click Apply to close the current window. In the profile mode, acquire data again and check the brightness of the laser lines in the raw image.

    • If the brightness of the laser lines meets the requirement, the process is completed.

    • If the laser lines still have overexposed parts, please try the following solutions:

      • Increase the proportion of Exposure time 1 slightly or decrease the proportion of Exposure time 3 slightly.

      • Decrease First threshold or Second threshold (available in the Administrator account).

Analog Gain

Description

Increasing this parameter can enhance the brightness of the raw image. However, noise will also be introduced.

Visibility

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Values

  • 1 (default)

  • 2

  • 3

  • 4

  • 5 (not available for LNX-8030)

Instruction

  • If the laser lines are dark, but a high max scan rate is needed, you can increase Analog Gain and decrease Exposure Time (Timed) / Total exposure time (HDR).

  • If Exposure Time / Total exposure time has reached its maximum value, but the laser lines are still too dark, you can increase Analog Gain.

  • If Analog Gain has reached its maximum value, but the laser lines are still too dark, increase Digital Gain or Laser Power.

A large value of Analog Gain weakens the effect of HDR.

  • LNX-8030: The effect of HDR is weakened when the value of Analog Gain is equal to or exceeds 2.0×.

  • LNX-8080 and LNX-8300: The effect of HDR is weakened when the value of Analog Gain is equal to or exceeds 1.9×.

Raw images acquired with different Analog Gain values (all other conditions identical):

Analog Gain: 1.0

analog gain 1.0

Analog Gain: 2.8

analog gain 2.8

Digital Gain

Description

Increasing this parameter can enhance the brightness of the raw image. However, a relatively large amount of noise will also be introduced.

Compared to Analog Gain, Digital Gain introduces more noise. Digital Gain should only be adjusted when Analog Gain has reached its maximum value, but the laser lines are still too dark.

Visibility

Expert, Guru

Values

  • Value range: 0–10

  • Default value: 0

Instruction

If Analog Gain has reached its maximum value, but the laser lines are still too dark, you can increase Digital Gain.

The value of Digital Gain affects the minimum value of Min Grayscale Value:

  • Increasing Digital Gain increases the minimum value of Min Grayscale Value at the same time. If the previously set value of Min Grayscale Value is smaller than the updated minimum value, its set value will be changed to the minimum value automatically.

  • Decreasing Digital Gain decreases the minimum value of Min Grayscale Value at the same time.

Raw images acquired with different Digital Gain values (all other conditions identical):

Digital Gain: 0

digital gain 0

Digital Gain: 5

digital gain 5

Laser Power

Description

Set the power of the emitted laser light, which affects the brightness of the laser lines in the raw image.

Visibility

Expert, Guru

Values

  • Value range: 40 to 100

  • Increment: 10

  • Default value:

    • LNX-8030: 60

    • LNX-8080: 80

    • LNX-8300: 95

Instruction

If the object is reflective or light-colored, you can decrease this parameter to reduce the brightness of the laser lines. If the object is non-reflective or dark-colored, you can increase this parameter to enhance the brightness of the laser lines.

Even at the same power level, the brightness of the laser light emitted by each device differs. Please adjust this parameter based on the actual condition of each device.

Raw images obtained with different Laser Power values (all other conditions identical):

Laser Power: 50

laser power 50

Laser Power: 100

laser power 100

ROI

Set ROI.

Z-Direction ROI

Description

A Z-direction ROI retains only the middle part of the raw image and trims the top and bottom parts off.

Setting a Z-direction ROI can reduce the amount of data to be processed and enhance the max scan rate.

Visibility

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Values

The options are the ratio of the height of the trimmed image to the height of the untrimmed image.

  • 1 (default)

  • 1/2

  • 1/4

  • 1/8

  • 1/16

Instruction

The Z-direction ROI reduces the height of the raw image without altering its width. Please adjust this parameter based on the region where the laser lines are, ensuring that the needed laser lines are not trimmed off.

Raw images obtained with different Z-Direction ROI values (all other conditions identical):

Z-Direction ROI: 1 Z-Direction ROI: 1/2 Z-Direction ROI:1/4

full image height

half image height

quarter image height

Profile Extraction

The parameters in this category affect the extraction of the profile.

Min Grayscale Value

Description

Set the minimum grayscale value of the valid pixels in the raw image. Pixels with grayscale values smaller than this value will not participate in profile extraction.

In the lower-right corner of the raw image, you can check the grayscale value of the pixel where the cursor is located. If not displayed, please check the Image Information Box option in the View menu.

Visibility

Expert, Guru

Values

  • Value range: (Variable) to 250

  • Default value: 20

Instruction

This parameter determines the number of valid pixels in each pixel column of each laser line and affects the laser line width.

The minimum value of Min Grayscale Value is affected by the value of Digital Gain:

  • Increasing Digital Gain increases the minimum value of Min Grayscale Value at the same time. If the previously set value of Min Grayscale Value is smaller than the updated minimum value, its set value will be changed to the minimum value automatically.

  • Decreasing Digital Gain decreases the minimum value of Min Grayscale Value at the same time.

Profile extraction results with different Min Grayscale Value values (all other conditions identical):

Min Grayscale Value: 20

gray 20

Min Grayscale Value: 50

gray 50

Min Grayscale Value: 70

gray 70

Min Laser Line Width

Laser line width is a property of each pixel column in a laser line. It is equal to the number of valid pixels in such a pixel column.

In the figure below, this column of this laser line has 4 valid pixels, so the laser line width of this pixel column is 4.

intensity explanation

Description

Set the minimum width for the laser lines. If the width of a pixel column in a laser line is smaller than this value, this pixel column in this laser line does not participate in profile extraction.

Visibility

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Values

Instruction

Setting appropriate minimum and maximum widths can exclude the laser lines produced by stray light or interreflection, which are usually too wide or too narrow.

Max Laser Line Width

Laser line width is a property of each pixel column in a laser line. It is equal to the number of valid pixels in such a pixel column.

In the figure below, this column of this laser line has 4 valid pixels, so the laser line width of this pixel column is 4.

intensity explanation

Description

Set the maximum width for the laser lines. If the width of a pixel column in a laser line is greater than this value, this pixel column in this laser line does not participate in profile extraction.

Visibility

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Values

Instruction

Setting appropriate minimum and maximum widths can exclude the laser lines produced by stray light or interreflection, which are usually too wide or too narrow.

Spot Selection

Description

If a pixel column contains multiple laser lines, the laser line used for profile extraction is selected according to the value of this parameter.

Visibility

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Values

  • Strongest (default): selects the laser line with the highest intensity for profile extraction.

  • Nearest: selects the laser line closest to the laser profiler for profile extraction.

  • Farthest: selects the laser line farthest from the laser profiler for profile extraction.

  • Invalid: regards the pixel column as invalid and discards the spots. The profile therefore has a gap. Usually used for complex situations where selection is difficult to make.

Instruction

Adjust this parameter based on the actual needs.

Edge Selection

Description

Select the location for extracting the profile in each laser line.

Visibility

Expert, Guru

Values

  • Top edge: extracts the profile from the top edge of the laser line (the blue line in the figure below).

  • Center: extracts the profile from the center of the laser line (the green line in the figure below).

  • Bottom edge: extracts the profile from the bottom edge of the laser line (the red line in the figure below).

edge selection

Instruction

Adjust this parameter based on the characteristics of the target object and the similarity between the profile and the actual object.
If the target object is a transparent/translucent object, such as glue, you can select Top edge.

Min Sharpness

Description

Set the minimum sharpness of the laser lines. Sharpness is the clearness of the edges of a laser line.

Visibility

Expert, Guru

Values

  • Value range: 0 to 100

  • Default value: 0

Instruction

Increasing this parameter can exclude the laser lines produced by stray light or interreflection, which are usually too dark and blurry.

Profile Processing

The parameters in this category process the extracted profile, improving the quality of the profile.

Filter

Description

Set the type of filters. Filtering the profile can reduce noise and smooth the profile.

Visibility

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Values

  • None (default): does not perform filtering. Select this option when the profile does not contain noticeable noise.

  • Mean: performs mean filtering, which can smooth the profile. When selecting this option, set Mean Filter Window Size.

  • Median: performs median filtering, suitable for reducing noise with depth values significantly different from surrounding points. When selecting this option, set Median Filter Window Size.

    median filter noise

Instruction

Adjust based on the actual needs.

Mean Filter Window Size

Description

Set the window size of the mean filter. This parameter should be set when Filter is set to Mean.

Visibility

Beginner, Expert, Guru

Values

  • 2 (default)

  • 4

  • 8

  • 16

  • 32

Instruction

Larger window size results in higher intensity of smoothing but may also distort object features.

Profile extraction results with different Mean Filter Window Size values (all other conditions identical):

No filter used

mean filter none

Mean Filter Window Size: 2

mean filter 2

Mean Filter Window Size: 8

mean filter 8

Mean Filter Window Size: 32

mean filter 32

Median Filter Window Size

Description

Set the window size of the median filter. This parameter should be set when Filter is set to Median.

Visibility

Beginner, Expert, Guru

Values

  • 3 (default)

  • 5

  • 7

  • 9

Instruction

Larger window size removes more noise.

Profile extraction results with different Median Filter Window Size values (all other conditions identical):

No filter used

median filter none

Median Filter Window Size: 5

median filter 5

Median Filter Window Size: 9

median filter 9

Gap Filling

Description

Set the size of the gaps that can be filled in the profile.

When the number of consecutive data points in a gap in the profile is no greater than this value, this gap will be filled. The data used for filling is calculated based on the difference between the two neighboring points (that is, based on linear interpolation).

Visibility

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Values

  • Value range: 0 to 16

  • Default value: 0

Instruction

Adjust based on the size of the gaps to be filled.

Gap Filling may distort features with abrupt depth variations, such as object edges. You can adjust Gap Filling Edge Preservation to reduce the influence on these features.

Raw images obtained with different Gap Filling values (all other conditions identical):

Gap Filling: 0

padding before

Gap Filling: 5

padding after

Gap Filling Edge Preservation

Description

Set the degree of preservation of object edges when filling gaps.

Visibility

Beginner, Expert, Guru

Values

  • Value range: 1 to 5

  • Default value: 3

Instruction

If you need to preserve features with abrupt depth variations, such as object edges, you can increase this parameter, but the amount of gaps being filled will decrease.

Resampling

Description

Select the point to be retained during resampling.

Multiple points with different Z values may exist at the same location on the X-axis. This parameter is used to select the point to be retained in such a situation.

The following figure shows two typical scenarios:

  • The target object is not located at the center of the FOV, and therefore some side walls of the object can reflect the laser light back to the receiver unit of the laser profiler.

  • The target object is located at the center of the FOV but has a complicated shape. Therefore, some side walls of the object can reflect the laser light back to the receiver unit of the laser profiler.

resampling 1

Visibility

Expert, Guru

Values

  • Nearest: retains the point closest to the laser profiler (① in the figure below).

  • Farthest: retains the point farthest from the laser profiler (② in the figure below).

resampling 2

Instruction

Adjust this parameter based on the height of the needed features. If the needed feature is at the bottom of the target object (such as the inner bottom of a cylindrical container), you can select Farthest.

Resampling Edge Preservation

Description

Set the degree of preservation of object edges during resampling.

Visibility

Expert, Guru

Values

  • Value range: 1 to 5

  • Default value: 3

Instruction

If you need to preserve features with abrupt depth variations, such as object edges, you can increase this parameter.

Mask

Description

Use masks to exclude unneeded data, such as noise and laser lines produced by interreflection.

Visibility

Beginner, Expert, Guru

Values

Enable Mask:

  • True: Apply the added masks.

  • False: Do not apply the added masks.

Instruction

Double-click Edit to open the Mask Tool window. For detailed instructions, refer to Use Mask Tool below.

Use Mask Tool

Through the mask tool, you can add, edit, and delete masks.

Add Masks

Follow these steps to add masks:

  1. Select the appropriate tool in the toolbar on the left:

    • rectangle: used to add a rectangle mask.

    • polygon: used to add a polygon mask.

  2. Determine the location of the unneeded data in the raw image and draw a mask:

    • Rectangle mask: Hold and drag.

    • Polygon mask: Click to add a vertex of the polygon mask. After all needed vertices are added, press the Enter key or right-click to finish drawing the polygon mask.

      In a polygon mask, the overlapped regions are not effective:

      overlapped mask

      • Click Acquire again at the top to acquire the raw image after the masks are added to check the effect of the masks.

      • If the position, shape, or size of the masks are not satisfactory, you can edit the masks or delete the masks.

  3. After all masks are added, click Apply to close the current window.

    After Apply is clicked, the value of the Enable Mask parameter is automatically changed to True. If you do not need to apply the masks, change the value of this parameter to False.

Edit Masks

If the position, shape, or size of the masks are not satisfactory, follow these steps to edit the masks:

  1. Click selection in the toolbar on the left.

  2. Select the mask that needs to be edited and conduct the needed adjustment:

    • Move a mask: Select the mask and drag.

    • Adjust the size of a rectangle mask: Select a vertex of the rectangle mask and drag.

    • Adjust the shape of a polygon mask:

      • Move an existing vertex: Select a vertex of the polygon mask and drag.

      • Add a new vertex: Left-click on an edge of the polygon mask.

      • Delete an existing vertex: Select a vertex of the polygon mask and right-click.

        Click Acquire again at the top to acquire the raw image after the masks are edited to check the effect of the masks.

  3. After all editing is completed, click Apply to close the current window.

    After Apply is clicked, the value of the Enable Mask parameter is automatically changed to True. If you do not need to apply the masks, change the value of this parameter to False.

Delete Masks

Follow these steps to delete unsatisfactory masks:

  1. In the right panel, select the mask that needs to be deleted in Mask list, and click delete.

    If you need to delete all the masks, click Clear to the right of Mask list.

  2. In the pop-up window, click Confirm to delete the mask.

    Click Acquire again at the top to acquire the raw image after the mask is deleted to check the effect of the remaining masks.

  3. After all deletion is completed, click Apply to close the current window.

    After Apply is clicked, the value of the Enable Mask parameter is automatically changed to True. If you do not need to apply the masks, change the value of this parameter to False.

Correction

The parameters in this category are used to correct the tilt of and height error in the profile.

Tilt Correction

Description

Correct the tilt of the profile, which is caused by the rotation of the laser profiler around the Y-axis.

Visibility

Beginner, Expert, Guru

Values

Enable Tilt Correction:

  • True: Apply the tilt correction result to the profile.

  • False: Do not apply the tilt correction result to the profile.

Tilt Correction Angle:

  • Range: –90° to 90°

  • Default value: 0°

Instruction

For detailed instructions, refer to Tilt Correction.

Height Correction

Description

Correct the height error in the profile, which is caused by the rotation of the laser profiler around the X-axis.

Visibility

Beginner, Expert, Guru

Values

Enable Height Correction:

  • True: Apply the height correction result to the profile.

  • False: Do not apply the height correction result to the profile.

Height Correction Ratio:

  • Value range: 0.1 to 8.0

  • Default value: 1

Instruction

For detailed instructions, refer to Height Correction.

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