Skip to content

Burst Mode#

The Burst Mode camera feature controls how a series of images (a "burst" of images) is acquired and transmitted.

Using the Feature#

General Information#

You can configure the camera to acquire a series of images whenever it receives a trigger signal. The number of images per series is specified by the AcquisitionBurstFrameCount parameter. You can find more information about burst image acquisition in the Triggered Image Acquisition topic.

By setting the burst mode, you can control the timing of acquisition and transmission of each series of images.

Configuring the Burst Mode#

To configure the burst mode and set up burst image acquisition:

  1. Make sure the camera is idle, i.e., not capturing images.
  2. Enable frame burst triggering:
    1. Set the TriggerSelector parameter to FrameBurstStart or FrameBurstActive.
      For more information, see the Triggered Image Acquisition topic.
    2. Set the TriggerMode parameter to On.
  3. Set the BslAcquisitionBurstMode parameter to one of the following values:
  4. Configure frame burst triggering as described in the Triggered Image Acquisition topic.

Available Burst Modes#

Standard Burst Mode#

The Standard burst mode is the default mode. It allows you to execute bursts in quick succession but offers lower frame rates compared to the High Speed burst mode.

In this mode, the timing of acquisition, readout, and transmission during a burst is identical to non-burst camera operation. The frame rate may be limited by the camera's ability to transfer data.

High Speed Burst Mode#

The High Speed burst mode may offer higher frame rates during a burst, especially on GigE cameras.

Usually, the frame rate of the camera is not only limited by its sensor and internal buffer but also by its ability to transfer data. This includes, e.g., the interface bandwidth or your network setup.

The High Speed burst mode allows you to work around these data transfer limitations and acquire a burst of images as quickly as possible.

To achieve this, during a burst, acquiring images and filling the camera's internal buffer is highly prioritized over transmitting data. Usually, images will only be transmitted after all images of a burst have been acquired. Therefore, acquiring many images per burst may result in a short delay after each burst, reducing the number of bursts you can trigger per second.

Monitoring#

The following parameters let you monitor the performance of the High Speed burst mode:

  • BslResultingAcquisitionFrameRate: Number of frames the camera can acquire per second during a high speed burst with the current camera settings.
  • BslResultingTransferFrameRate: Number of frames the camera can transmit per second after or during a high speed burst with the current camera settings.
  • BslResultingFrameBurstRate: Maximum number of bursts you can trigger per second with the current camera settings.

Example: Assume you want to acquire multiple series of three images as quickly as possible. You enable the High Speed burst mode, configure the camera for burst image acquisition, and set the AcquisitionBurstFrameCount parameter to 3. Your camera reports the following values:

  • BslResultingAcquisitionFrameRate: 170.0
  • BslResultingTransferFrameRate: 155.0
  • BslResultingFrameBurstRate: 27.03

This means that during each burst, the camera acquires 170 images per second. At the camera's output, the camera transmits 155 images per second. Therefore, each burst of three images will take 17.65 ms to acquire (1000 / 170 * 3) and 19.35 ms to transmit (1000 / 155 * 3).

In High Speed burst mode, acquisition and transmission don't overlap, so you must wait 37 ms (17.65 + 19.35) after each frame burst trigger before you can trigger the next burst. Or, in other words, you can trigger 27.03 bursts per second (1000 / 37 = 27.03). This is reflected in the BslResultingFrameBurstRate parameter value.

Using Acquisition Frame Rate with Burst Mode#

You can use the Acquisition Frame Rate feature to limit the camera's frame rate during burst image acquisition. This can be useful if you want to keep the frame rate at a user-defined rate.

For example, assume you want to acquire three images at 6 ms intervals, i.e., 166.66 fps. In Standard burst mode, the camera delivers 164 fps, which is too slow. In High Speed burst mode, the camera delivers 168.8 fps, which is too fast.

To resolve this, you enable the High Speed burst mode, set the AcquisitionFrameRate parameter to 166.66 and the AcquisitionFrameRateEnable parameter to true.

The camera now operates at 166.66 fps.

Info

If you set the AcquisitionFrameRate parameter to a value lower than the BslResultingTransferFrameRate parameter, the High Speed burst mode provides no advantage over the Standard burst mode.

Specifics#

Show all camera models

Camera Model Available Burst Modes
a2A640-240gmSWIR Standard
High Speed
a2A640-240umSWIR Standard
High Speed
a2A1280-80gmSWIR Standard
High Speed
a2A1280-125umSWIR Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-51gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-51gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-51gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-51gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-160ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-160ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-160umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-160umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A1920-165g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A1920-165g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A2440-98g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A2440-98g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A2448-23gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-23gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-23gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-23gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-75ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-75ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-75umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-75umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2448-105g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A2448-105g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A2590-22gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2590-22gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2590-22gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2590-22gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2590-60ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2590-60ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2590-60umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2590-60umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-20gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-20gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-20gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-20gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-64ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-64ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-64umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2600-64umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-14gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-14gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-14gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-14gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-48ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-48ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-48umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-48umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A2840-67g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A2840-67g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A3840-13gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A3840-13gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A3840-13gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A3840-13gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A3840-45ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A3840-45ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A3840-45umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A3840-45umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-9gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-9gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-9gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-9gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-30ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-30ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-30umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-30umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4096-44g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A4096-44g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A4200-12gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4200-12gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4200-12gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4200-12gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4200-40ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4200-40ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4200-40umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4200-40umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-5gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-5gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-5gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-5gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-18ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-18ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-18umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-18umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4504-27g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A4504-27g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A4508-6gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4508-6gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4508-6gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4508-6gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4508-20ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4508-20ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A4508-20umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A4508-20umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-7gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-7gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-7gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-7gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-23ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-23ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-23umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-23umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5320-34g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A5320-34g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A5328-4gcBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-4gcPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-4gmBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-4gmPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-15ucBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-15ucPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-15umBAS Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-15umPRO Standard
High Speed
a2A5328-22g5cBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
a2A5328-22g5mBAS Burst Mode feature not supported
acA640-121gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA640-300gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA640-300gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA640-750uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA640-750um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA720-290gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA720-290gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA720-520uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA720-520um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA800-200gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA800-200gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA800-510uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA800-510um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1280-60gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1280-60gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1300-60gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1300-60gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1300-60gmNIR Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1300-75gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1300-75gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1300-200uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1300-200um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1440-73gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1440-73gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1440-220uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1440-220um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1600-20gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1600-20uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1600-60gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1600-60gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-25gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-25gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-25uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-25um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-40gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-40gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-40uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-40ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-40um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-40umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-48gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-48gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-50gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-50gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-150uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-150um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-155uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-155ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-155um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA1920-155umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2000-50gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2000-50gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2000-165uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2000-165um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-25gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-25gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-25gmNIR Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-35gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-35gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-55uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-55um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-90uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-90um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-90umNIR Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-120uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2040-120um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-20gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-20gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-35uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-35ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-35um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-35umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-75uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-75ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-75um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2440-75umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-14gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-14gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-14uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-14um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-20gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-20gcMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-20gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-20gmMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-60uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA2500-60um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3088-16gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3088-16gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3088-57uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3088-57ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3088-57um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3088-57umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3800-10gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3800-10gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3800-14uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA3800-14um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4024-8gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4024-8gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4024-29uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4024-29um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-11gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-11gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-30uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-30ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-30um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-30umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-40uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-40ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-40um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4096-40umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-8gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-8gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-20uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-20ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-20um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-20umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-30uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-30ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-30um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA4112-30umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA5472-5gc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA5472-5gm Burst Mode feature not supported
acA5472-17uc Burst Mode feature not supported
acA5472-17ucMED Burst Mode feature not supported
acA5472-17um Burst Mode feature not supported
acA5472-17umMED Burst Mode feature not supported
boA1936-400cc Standard
High Speed
boA1936-400cm Standard
High Speed
boA2448-250cc Standard
High Speed
boA2448-250cm Standard
High Speed
boA2832-190cc Standard
High Speed
boA2832-190cm Standard
High Speed
boA4096-93cc Burst Mode feature not supported
boA4096-93cm Burst Mode feature not supported
boA4096-180cc Standard
High Speed
boA4096-180cm Standard
High Speed
boA4112-68cc Burst Mode feature not supported
boA4112-68cm Burst Mode feature not supported
boA4500-45cc Standard
High Speed
boA4500-45cm Standard
High Speed
boA4504-100cc Standard
High Speed
boA4504-100cm Standard
High Speed
boA5120-150cc Burst Mode feature not supported
boA5120-150cm Burst Mode feature not supported
boA5120-230cc Burst Mode feature not supported
boA5120-230cm Burst Mode feature not supported
boA5320-150cc Standard
High Speed
boA5320-150cm Standard
High Speed
boA5328-100cc Standard
High Speed
boA5328-100cm Standard
High Speed
boA6500-36cc Standard
High Speed
boA6500-36cm Standard
High Speed
boA8100-16cc Standard
High Speed
boA8100-16cm Standard
High Speed
boA9344-30cc Burst Mode feature not supported
boA9344-30cm Burst Mode feature not supported
boA9344-70cc Burst Mode feature not supported
boA9344-70cm Burst Mode feature not supported
boA13440-17cm Standard
daA720-520uc Standard
daA720-520um Standard
daA1280-54uc Burst Mode feature not supported
daA1280-54um Burst Mode feature not supported
daA1440-220uc Standard
daA1440-220um Standard
daA1600-60uc Burst Mode feature not supported
daA1600-60um Burst Mode feature not supported
daA1920-15um Burst Mode feature not supported
daA1920-30uc Burst Mode feature not supported
daA1920-30um Burst Mode feature not supported
daA1920-160uc Standard
daA1920-160um Standard
daA2448-70uc Standard
daA2448-70um Standard
daA2500-14uc Burst Mode feature not supported
daA2500-14um Burst Mode feature not supported
daA3840-45uc Standard
daA3840-45um Standard
puA1280-54uc Burst Mode feature not supported
puA1280-54um Burst Mode feature not supported
puA1600-60uc Burst Mode feature not supported
puA1600-60um Burst Mode feature not supported
puA1920-30uc Burst Mode feature not supported
puA1920-30um Burst Mode feature not supported
puA2500-14uc Burst Mode feature not supported
puA2500-14um Burst Mode feature not supported

Sample Code#

// Set the burst mode to High Speed
camera.BslAcquisitionBurstMode.SetValue(BslAcquisitionBurstMode_HighSpeed);
INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Set the burst mode to High Speed
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "BslAcquisitionBurstMode").SetValue("HighSpeed");
// Set the burst mode to High Speed
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.BslAcquisitionBurstMode].SetValue(PLCamera.BslAcquisitionBurstMode.HighSpeed);
/* 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 burst mode to High Speed */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "BslAcquisitionBurstMode", "HighSpeed");
CHECK(errRes);
# Set the burst mode to High Speed
camera.BslAcquisitionBurstMode.Value = "HighSpeed"

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