Using Zebra Iris GTX with Aurora Imaging Library
To use Zebra Iris GTX, you must allocate it as an Aurora Imaging Library Iris GTX system (M_SYSTEM_IRIS_GTX), using MsysAlloc. This allocation opens communication with Zebra Iris GTX and allows Aurora Imaging Library to use its resources. To grab images from your Zebra Iris GTX, you must allocate a single digitizer, using MdigAlloc with M_DEV0. You can allocate an Aurora Imaging Library Iris GTX system for your smart camera in multiple processes (executables). However, only one digitizer can be allocated at a time for your Zebra Iris GTX's image sensor (across all processes).
To set up grabbing with triggers, use MdigControl with M_GRAB_TRIGGER....
Using the Advanced I/O Engine with Zebra Iris GTX
Zebra Iris GTX has an Advanced I/O Engine that controls the auxiliary I/O interface. The Advanced I/O Engine includes 7 auxiliary signals (4 inputs and 3 outputs), 1 analog intensity control signal, 8 general timers, 1 exposure timer, 1 strobe timer, 1 quadrature decoder, and 1 I/O command list (with 2 reference latches). For more information on some of these features, refer to I/O signals and communicating with external devices.
Note: Note, to program the exposure timer, use
MdigControlwithM_EXPOSURE...; whereas, to control the strobe timer, useMdigControlwithM_TIMER...+M_TIMER_STROBE.
Using EtherNet/IP, Modbus, CC-Link, or PROFINET
You can use the Gigabit Ethernet port for communication with external devices using the EtherNet/IP, Modbus (over TCP/IP), CC-Link, or PROFINET industrial protocol. For PROFINET communication, the port has access to the PROFINET Engine; the interface of this engine is recognized as a second network device with its own IP and MAC settings (when the PROFINET service is enabled) even though it shares the same LAN connection. By default, PROFINET is disabled. To enable it, open the Aurora Imaging Configurator utility, expand the Communication tab, select the PROFINET page, and add a PROFINET protocol instance; note that instance names are case sensitive. Once the protocol instance is added, the status of the protocol instance should be Ready. If the status is Waiting NIC, there is no cable connected to the Ethernet port.
For more information, see Steps to perform industrial communication.
Using the analog intensity control signal with Zebra Iris GTX
Zebra Iris GTX has an analog intensity control signal that provides a slow changing analog intensity (dimming) control signal from 0-10 VDC. This control signal can be used to set the intensity for a light controller (such as, an Advanced Illumination inline control system, a Smart Vision Lights brick light, or similar device). This signal should not be used to draw any current or drive power; it should only be used as a reference voltage for dimming control. To set the intensity of the light controller, connect the lighting controller's intensity pin directly to the analog intensity control pin and use MdigControl with M_LIGHTING_BRIGHT_FIELD. To see an example of how to connect your light controller to the analog intensity control signal, refer to the Zebra Iris GTX Hardware and Installation manual.
Performing Bayer color conversion in hardware
Zebra Iris GTX color smart cameras use a sensor with a Bayer color filter (as specified by the DCF); when grabbing, the cameras perform Bayer color conversion in hardware before saving the images. If the images require white balancing, Zebra Iris GTX can perform this automatically in hardware if white balancing is enabled using MdigControl with M_WHITE_BALANCE set to M_ENABLE. If performing white balancing, you can use the default white balance coefficients, automatically have them calculated (using MdigControl with M_WHITE_BALANCE set to M_CALCULATE), or set explicit coefficients (M_BAYER_COEFFICIENTS_ID). For information on Bayer color conversion, refer to Using images acquired with a Bayer color filter.
If you don't want to perform Bayer color conversion in hardware, disable it using MdigControl with M_BAYER_CONVERSION set to M_ENABLE.
The M_BAYER... control types can only be used when grabbing from a color version of Zebra Iris GTX; otherwise, an error will be generated.
Zebra Iris GTX exposure mode
On Zebra Iris GTX, you can specify that the exposure duration is set with a timer or the width of the trigger signal, using MdigControl with M_EXPOSURE_MODE set to M_TIMED or M_TRIGGER_WIDTH, respectively. When set toM_TIMED, the exposure duration will last as long as the time specified with M_EXPOSURE_TIME.
M_TRIGGER_WIDTH can only be used when M_GRAB_TRIGGER_ACTIVATION is set toM_LEVEL_HIGH or M_LEVEL_LOW. When set to M_LEVEL_HIGH, the exposure will be triggered upon the rising edge of the trigger signal, and will remain active while the trigger signal is high. When set to M_LEVEL_LOW, the exposure will be triggered upon the falling edge of the trigger signal, and will remain active while the trigger signal is low.
[Image: Trigger_exposure_modes.png]