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Use Case 3 - Simple Light#

Involved Components#

Component Type Order Number Description
Camera Hardware Depends on camera model,
see https://www.baslerweb.com/en/products/		 ace 2, boost R, or racer 2 S camera
Power-I/O Cable M8 6p/open Hardware 2200000315, 2200000296 M8 6p/open cable of 5 or 10 m length
Power Supply 24 V Hardware 2200000958 Power supply for board and camera
Driver Board 2x2 Hardware 2200002796 Breakout and light driver board for Basler components
Flash-Light Without Internal Controller (4 A max.) Hardware - For example, 24 V LED-Panel
Connect +24 V and GND to LightB connector on the board (drivers)
Control via Line 3
pylon Software Suite Software - Software for configuring the camera

Connection Overview#

The following drawing shows the simple light system setup.

Light Control Overview

Application#

Purpose#

This use case describes light control via Line 3. Synchronize a light (e.g., 24 V LED panel without internal control) with the camera's exposure via Line 3. Line 3 transmits the camera's Flash Window signal. The driver board uses this signal to drive the LightB outputs. The light (e.g., 24 V LED panel without internal control) is powered via the LightB connector (+24 V and GND).

Prerequisites#

  • Driver Board 2x2 and fully connected camera (see connection overview)
  • pylon Software Suite installed and camera visible in the pylon Viewer

Required Steps#

  1. Wire the light to the board:

    • Connect the light's +24 V and GND to the LightB connector on the Driver Board 2x2 (driver output).

  2. Configure the camera via the pylon Viewer – Light output (Line 3):

    1. In the Features pane, click the Digital I/O Control category.
    2. Set the Line Selector to Line 3.
    3. Set the Line Mode to Output.
    4. Set the Line Source to Flash Window. This signal goes high when the camera allows flash lighting. The board uses it to drive the LightB outputs.
    5. Set the Line Inverter to True for Line 3, because the light is low-active. It's on when the line is low.

  3. Start image capturing, e.g., continuous or triggered, and check that the light (on LightB) is only on during the flash window.

Expected Results#

Line 3 drives the LightB outputs via the FlashWindow signal (inverted). The light connected to the LightB connector is only on during the flash window. The Line 3 LED reflects the (inverted) flash window.

Troubleshooting#

Common Issues#

Symptom Possible Cause Measures
The light never turns on or doesn't follow the flash window. - Light not connected to LightB.
- Line 3 not configured correctly.
- Line 3 (on rolling shutter) flash window invalid.		 - Check wiring: Light +24 V and GND must be connected to the LightB connector on the Driver Board 2x2 (Line 3 only controls the LightB outputs; the light is powered from LightB).
- Check configuration and Line 3 LED: In pylon Viewer Digital I/O Control, set the Line Selector to Line 3, set the Line Mode to Output, set the Line Source to Flash Window, set the Line Inverter to True. Observe the Line 3 LED during acquisition (inverted flash window).
- On rolling shutter: Get the value of the BslFlashWindowDuration parameter. If it's 0, increase the exposure time (and reduce the ROI height, if needed) so that a valid flash window exists.
The light is on but the image remains dark (e.g., light is on outside the exposure window). - Line Inverter for Line 3 is wrong. The light is on when the camera isn't exposing. - In pylon Viewer Digital I/O Control, for Line 3 set the Line Inverter to True (low-active light: light on when line is low). If the light is on when it should be off during exposure, toggle the Line Inverter and verify with the Line 3 LED and image brightness.

Further Steps#

Use Case 3 and Use Case 2 - Trigger System can be combined to get both triggered image acquisition and synchronized flash lighting.