Exposure Overlap Time Max#

The Exposure Overlap Time Max camera feature allows you to optimize overlapping image acquisition.

Using this parameter is especially useful if you want to maximize the camera's frame rate, i.e., if you want to trigger at the highest rate possible.

The parameter is only available if you operate the camera in Trigger Width or Trigger Controlled exposure mode.

Using the Feature#

How It Works#

You can use overlapping image acquisition to increase the camera's frame rate. With overlapping image acquisition, the exposure of a new image begins while the camera is still reading out the sensor data of the previous image.

In Trigger Width and Trigger Controlled exposure mode, the camera doesn't "know" how long the image will be exposed before the trigger period is complete. Because of that, the camera can't fully optimize overlapping image acquisition.

To avoid this problem, enter a value for the ExposureOverlapTimeMax parameter that represents the shortest exposure time you intend to use (in µs). This helps the camera to optimize overlapping image acquisition.

Setting the Exposure Overlap Time Max#

To optimize the camera's frame rate in Trigger Width or Trigger Controlled exposure mode:

1. Set the TriggerMode parameter to TriggerWidth or TriggerControlled.
2. Set the ExposureOverlapTimeMode parameter (if available) to Manual.
3. Enter a value for the ExposureOverlapTimeMax parameter that represents the shortest exposure time you intend to use (in µs).

Example: Assume that you want to trigger the camera to apply exposure times in a range from 3000 μs to 5500 μs. In this case, set the camera's ExposureOverlapTimeMax parameter to 3000.

Additional Parameters#

On some camera models, the ExposureOverlapTimeMode parameter is available.

If the parameter is available, you can set it to one of the following values:

• Automatic: The value of the ExposureOverlapTimeMax parameter is set to the maximum possible value and can't be modified. This is the default setting.
• Manual: You can configure the ExposureOverlapTimeMax parameter as desired.

If the parameter is not available, the camera always operates in the "Manual" mode.

Specifics#

Show all camera models

Sample Code#

ace Classic/U/L GigE Cameras#

// Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
// exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
camera.ExposureOverlapTimeMaxAbs.SetValue(10000.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
// exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "ExposureOverlapTimeMaxAbs").SetValue(10000.0);

// Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
// exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureOverlapTimeMaxAbs].SetValue(10000.0);

/* Macro to check for errors */
#define CHECK(errc) if (GENAPI_E_OK != errc) printErrorAndExit(errc)
GENAPIC_RESULT errRes = GENAPI_E_OK;  /* Return value of pylon methods */
/* Set the maximum overlap time between sensor */
/* exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureOverlapTimeMaxAbs", 10000.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
# exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
camera.ExposureOverlapTimeMaxAbs.Value = 10000.0

Other Cameras#

// Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
// exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
camera.ExposureOverlapTimeMax.SetValue(10000.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
// exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "ExposureOverlapTimeMax").SetValue(10000.0);

// Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
// exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.ExposureOverlapTimeMax].SetValue(10000.0);

/* Macro to check for errors */
#define CHECK(errc) if (GENAPI_E_OK != errc) printErrorAndExit(errc)
GENAPIC_RESULT errRes = GENAPI_E_OK;  /* Return value of pylon methods */
/* Set the maximum overlap time between sensor */
/* exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "ExposureOverlapTimeMax", 10000.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Set the maximum overlap time between sensor
# exposure and sensor readout to 10000 microseconds
camera.ExposureOverlapTimeMax.Value = 10000.0

You can also use the pylon Viewer to easily set the parameters.