Workflow of Triggering Data Acquisition

This topic introduces the workflow of using each combination of triggering methods to trigger data acquisition and obtain the intensity image, depth map, and point cloud.

Before reading this topic, please read Methods for Triggering Data Acquisition first to familiarize yourself with the different methods of triggering the laser profiler to acquire data.

External + Encoder

Use externally input signals to trigger each round of data acquisition, and use encoder signals to trigger each line scan.

Prerequisites

In order to use the external + encoder method to trigger data acquisition, the following prerequisites must be satisfied:

  • Connect the hardware:

  • 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

To use the external + encoder method to trigger data acquisition, follow these steps:

  1. Set parameters:

    1. Set the Data Acquisition Trigger Source parameter to External.

    2. Set the Line Scan Trigger Source parameter to Encoder.

    3. Based on actual needs, adjust the other parameters in the scan mode.

  2. 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.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the continuous cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the startAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStart() command to the laser profiler.

  3. Start a round of data acquisition: Send a signal that triggers a round of data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.

  4. Start line scans: Send signals that trigger line scans from the encoder to the laser profiler.

  5. End the current round of data acquisition:

    • Send a signal that stops data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.

    • 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.

  6. Start the next round of data acquisition: Repeat steps 3 and 4 after the current round of data acquisition has been completed.

  7. Exit the acquisition ready status: Exiting the acquisition status when you do not need to acquire data can avoid triggering data acquisition by mistake.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the stop cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the stopAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStop() command to the laser profiler.

External + Fixed Rate

Use externally input signals to trigger each round of data acquisition, and trigger 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:

  • 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.

  • 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

To use the external + fixed rate method to trigger data acquisition, follow these steps:

  1. Set parameters:

    1. Set the Data Acquisition Trigger Source parameter to External.

    2. Set the Line Scan Trigger Source parameter to Fixed rate.

    3. Based on actual needs, adjust the other parameters in the scan mode.

  2. 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.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the continuous cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the startAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStart() command to the laser profiler.

  3. Start 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.

  4. End the current round of data acquisition:

    • Send a signal that stops data acquisition from the external device to the laser profiler.

    • 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.

  5. Start the next round of data acquisition: Repeat step 3 after the current round of data acquisition has been completed.

  6. Exit the acquisition ready status: Exiting the acquisition status when you do not need to acquire data can avoid triggering data acquisition by mistake.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the stop cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the stopAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStop() command to the laser profiler.

Software + Encoder

Use software to trigger each round of data acquisition, and use encoder signals to trigger each line scan.

Prerequisites

In order to use the software + encoder method to trigger data acquisition, the following prerequisites must be satisfied:

  • Connect the hardware:

    Connect the encoder providing the trigger signal to the corresponding encoder signal terminals on the controller. Please refer to Signal Circuit Diagrams and Encoder Signal Terminals.

  • 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

To use the software + encoder method to trigger data acquisition, follow these steps:

  1. Set parameters:

    1. Set the Data Acquisition Trigger Source parameter to Software.

    2. Set the Line Scan Trigger Source parameter to Encoder.

    3. Based on actual needs, adjust the other parameters in the scan mode.

  2. 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.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the continuous cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the startAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStart() command to the laser profiler.

  3. Start a round of data acquisition:

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: After entering the acquisition ready status in step 2, the laser profiler automatically starts a round of data acquisition.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the triggerSoftware() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the TriggerSoftware() command to the laser profiler.

  4. Start line scans: Send signals that trigger line scans from the encoder to the laser profiler.

  5. End the current round of data acquisition: 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.

  6. Start the next round of data acquisition:

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: After the last round of data acquisition ends, the laser profiler automatically starts a new round of data acquisition.

    • Mech-Eye API: Repeat step 3.

    • GenICam client: Repeat step 3.

  7. Exit the acquisition ready status: Exiting the acquisition status when you do not need to acquire data can avoid triggering data acquisition by mistake.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the stop cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the stopAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStop() command to the laser profiler.

Software + Fixed Rate

Use software to trigger each round of data acquisition, and trigger each line scan at a fixed rate.

Prerequisites

In order to use the software + fixed rate method to trigger data acquisition, the following prerequisites must be satisfied:

  • 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

To use the software + fixed rate method to trigger data acquisition, follow these steps:

  1. Set parameters:

    1. Set the Data Acquisition Trigger Source parameter to Software.

    2. Set the Line Scan Trigger Source parameter to Fixed rate.

    3. Based on actual needs, adjust the other parameters in the scan mode.

  2. Enter the laser profiler to the acquisition ready status: The laser profiler can only respond to software signals after it enters the acquisition ready status.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the continuous cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the startAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStart() command to the laser profiler.

  3. Start a round of data acquisition:

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: After entering the acquisition ready status in step 2, the laser profiler automatically starts a round of data acquisition.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the triggerSoftware() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the TriggerSoftware() command to the laser profiler.

    After the current round of data acquisition has been started, the laser profiler starts line scans at the set rate.

  4. End the current round of data acquisition: 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.

  5. Start the next round of data acquisition:

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: After the last round of data acquisition ends, the laser profiler automatically starts a new round of data acquisition.

    • Mech-Eye API: Repeat step 3.

    • GenICam client: Repeat step 3.

  6. Exit the acquisition ready status: Exiting the acquisition status when you do not need to acquire data can avoid triggering data acquisition by mistake.

    • Mech-Eye Viewer: In the scan mode, click the stop cap button.

    • Mech-Eye API: Call the stopAcquisition() method.

    • GenICam client: Send the AcquisitionStop() command to the laser profiler.