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Multi-Camera Channel#

The Multi-Camera Channel feature allows you to operate multiple blaze cameras, even if they are not in the same network, simultaneously without their light sources interfering with each other.

Using the Feature#

Why Use Multi-Camera Channel#

The quality of the distance measurement to a large extent depends on the amount of additional light that hits the sensor. For example, this can be sunlight or light sent out by another camera. As a result, using two or more cameras simultaneously would negatively affect the measurement accuracy.

To overcome this problem, the Multi-Camera Channel feature offers seven different channels where for each channel, the VCSELs and the sensor are operating at slightly different frequencies from each other. This allows you to choose a different channel for each camera and avoids the cameras' light sources interfering with each other.

In contrast to the Synchronous Free Run (blaze) feature, the cameras don't have to be in the same network. This makes this feature very easy to use as you don't have to worry about setting up a common network, synchronizing the clocks of the individual cameras, and configuring the acquisition timing.

How It Works#

According to the number of channels available, this feature allows you to use up to seven cameras simultaneously.

Bear in mind that even though the cameras don't interfere directly with each other, the presence of multiple cameras in the same vicinity, still increases the amount of light in that area. As a result, the signal-to-noise ratio decreases slightly.

Basler also recommends assigning the channels consecutively in ascending order. Channel 0 is the default channel and is operating at the "original" frequency. With each subsequent channel the difference to the original frequency is more pronounced which leads to a slight drop in image quality.

A typical use case would be a warehouse in which several AGVs (automated guided vehicles) equipped with blaze cameras move around in a confined space. The cameras in the AGVs are unable to communicate with each other because they are not in the same network.

Configuring Cameras to Use Different Channels#

To operate several cameras simultaneously using different channels:

  1. Select the first camera and set the MultiCameraChannel parameter to 0 (the default channel).
  2. Select the second camera and set the MultiCameraChannel parameter to the next available channel.
  3. Repeat step 2 for any other cameras that you want to use.