External + Fixed Rate
This topic introduces the workflow of using externally input signals to trigger a round of data acquisition and triggering each line scan at a fixed rate.
Prerequisites
In order to use the external + fixed rate method to trigger data acquisition, the following prerequisites must be satisfied:
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Connect the hardware:
Connect the external device providing the trigger signal to the corresponding input signal terminals on the controller. Please refer to Control Data Acquisition with External Device to select the control logic and connect the corresponding terminals.
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Improve the quality of the profiles:
The intensity image, depth map, and point cloud are made of multiple profiles. Therefore, the quality of the profiles determines the quality of the intensity image, depth map, and point cloud.
Please refer to Profile Mode to adjust the parameters in the profile mode, in order to improve the quality of the profiles.
Workflow
The laser profiler supports three acquisition methods: triggering a single round of data acquisition, automatically triggering multiple rounds of data acquisition, and continuous scanning. Their workflows are different.
Triggering a Single Round of Data Acquisition
When using this method, after triggering a round of data acquisition, the laser profiler scans a fixed length on the object’s surface, generates an intensity image and a depth map, and then automatically exits the acquisition ready status.
To trigger a single round of data acquisition, follow these steps:
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Set parameters: Configure the parameters as shown in the table below, and adjust other parameters as needed.
Mech-Eye Viewer
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Set Data Acquisition Method to Frame-Based.
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Set Data Acquisition Trigger Source to External.
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Set Line Scan Trigger Source to Fixed rate.
Mech-Eye API
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Set DataAcquisitionMethod to Frame_Based.
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Set DataAcquisitionTriggerSource to External.
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Set LineScanTriggerSource to FixedRate.
GenICam client
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Set AcquisitionMode to SingleFrame.
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Set DataAcquisitionTriggerSource to External.
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Set LineScanTriggerSource to FixedRate.
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Enter the laser profiler to the acquisition ready status: The laser profiler can only respond to externally input signals after it enters the acquisition ready status.
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Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the
button. -
Mech-Eye API: Call the
startAcquisition()method. -
GenICam client: Send the
AcquisitionStart()command to the laser profiler.
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Trigger a round of data acquisition: Send a signal that triggers a round of data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.
After the current round of data acquisition has been started, the laser profiler starts line scans at the set rate.
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End the current round of data acquisition:
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Send a signal that stops data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.
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Set an appropriate value for the Scan Line Count parameter. The current round of data acquisition ends automatically when the set number of lines has been scanned.
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Exit the acquisition ready status: Exiting the acquisition status when you do not need to acquire data can avoid triggering data acquisition by mistake.
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Mech-Eye Viewer:
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In the scan mode, click the
button. -
The laser profiler will automatically exit the acquisition ready status after scanning the set scan line count.
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Mech-Eye API: Call the
stopAcquisition()method. -
GenICam client:
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Send the
AcquisitionStop()command to the laser profiler. -
The laser profiler will automatically exit the acquisition ready status after scanning the set scan line count.
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Triggering Multiple Rounds of Data Acquisition
When using this method, after triggering a round of data acquisition, the laser profiler scans a fixed length on the object’s surface, and generates an intensity image and a depth map. After a round of data acquisition, the laser profiler remains in the acquisition ready status.
To trigger multiple rounds of data acquisition, follow these steps:
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Set parameters: Configure the parameters as shown in the table below, and adjust other parameters as needed.
Mech-Eye Viewer
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Set Data Acquisition Method to Frame-Based.
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Set Data Acquisition Trigger Source to External.
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Set Line Scan Trigger Source to Fixed rate.
Mech-Eye API
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Set DataAcquisitionMethod to Frame_Based.
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Set DataAcquisitionTriggerSource to External.
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Set LineScanTriggerSource to FixedRate.
GenICam client
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Set AcquisitionMode to Continuous.
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Set DataAcquisitionTriggerSource to External.
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Set LineScanTriggerSource to FixedRate.
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Enter the laser profiler to the acquisition ready status: The laser profiler can only respond to externally input signals after it enters the acquisition ready status.
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Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the
button. -
Mech-Eye API: Call the
startAcquisition()method. -
GenICam client: Send the
AcquisitionStart()command to the laser profiler.
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Trigger a round of data acquisition: Send a signal that triggers a round of data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.
After the current round of data acquisition has been started, the laser profiler starts line scans at the set rate.
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End the current round of data acquisition:
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Send a signal that stops data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.
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Set an appropriate value for the Scan Line Count parameter. The current round of data acquisition ends automatically when the set number of lines has been scanned.
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Start the next round of data acquisition: Repeat step 3.
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Exit the acquisition ready status: Exiting the acquisition status when you do not need to acquire data can avoid triggering data acquisition by mistake.
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Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the
button. -
Mech-Eye API: Call the
stopAcquisition()method. -
GenICam client: Send the
AcquisitionStop()command to the laser profiler.
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Continuous Scanning
When using this method, after triggering data acquisition, the laser profiler continuously scans the target object and returns fixed-length data segments.
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The GenICam client does not support this acquisition method. |
To continuously scan the target object, follow these steps:
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Set parameters: Configure the parameters as shown in the table below, and adjust other parameters as needed.
Mech-Eye Viewer
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Set Data Acquisition Method to Nonstop.
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Set Data Acquisition Trigger Source to External.
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Set Line Scan Trigger Source to Fixed rate.
Mech-Eye API
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Set DataAcquisitionMethod to Nonstop.
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Set DataAcquisitionTriggerSource to External.
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Set LineScanTriggerSource to FixedRate.
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Enter the laser profiler to the acquisition ready status: The laser profiler can only respond to externally input signals after it enters the acquisition ready status.
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Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the
button. -
Mech-Eye API: Call the
startAcquisition()method.
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Trigger data acquisition: Send a signal that triggers data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.
After data acquisition has been started, the laser profiler starts line scans at the set rate.
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Stop data acquisition: Send a signal that stops data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.
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Start the next round of data acquisition: Repeat step 3.
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Exit the acquisition ready status: Exiting the acquisition status when you do not need to acquire data can avoid triggering data acquisition by mistake.
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Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the
button. -
Mech-Eye API: Call the
stopAcquisition()method.
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