Timer#

The Timer camera feature allows you to configure a timer output signal that goes high on specific camera events and goes low after a specific duration.

Using the Feature#

The implementation of this feature varies by camera series:

• ace 2, boost R, dart M/R, and racer 2 Cameras
• ace Classic/U/L Cameras

ace 2, boost R, dart M/R, and racer 2 Cameras#

How It Works#

Two timers are available, Timer 1 and Timer 2.

This is how a timer works:

• A trigger source event that starts the internal timer occurs.
• A delay begins to expire.
• An arm delay begins to expire.
• When the delay has expired, the timer output signal goes high and stays high for the duration that you have configured.
• When the duration has expired, the timer output signal goes low.
• When the arm delay has expired, the camera can receive the next trigger source event.

Configuring a Timer#

To configure a timer:

1. Set the TimerSelector parameter to the desired timer, e.g., Timer1.
2. Set the TimerDuration parameter to the desired timer duration in microseconds.
3. Set the TimerDelay parameter to the desired timer delay in microseconds.
4. Set the TimerTriggerArmDelay parameter to the desired arm delay in microseconds.
5. Set the LineSelector parameter to the output line that you want to use for the timer signal.
   If the line is a GPIO line, the line must be configured as output.
6. If you selected Timer 1 in step 1, set the LineSource parameter to Timer1Active.
7. If you selected Timer 2 in step 1, set the LineSource parameter to Timer2Active.

Starting a Timer#

To start a timer:

1. Set the TimerSelector parameter to the desired timer, e.g., Timer1.
2. Set the TimerTriggerSource parameter to the source that you want to use to start the timer, e.g., Line2.
3. If applicable, set the TimerTriggerActivation parameter to one of the following values:
   • RisingEdge (default): The timer starts when the signal rises, i.e., when the signal status changes from low to high.
   • FallingEdge: The timer starts when the signal falls, i.e., when the signal status changes from high to low.
   • AnyEdge: The timer starts when the signal falls or rises.
   • LevelHigh: The timer starts when the signal is high. When the signal changes to low, the timer stops and must be started again.
   • LevelLow: The timer starts when the signal is low. When the signal changes to high, the timer stops and must be started again.
4. Start the timer by sending a signal on the selected trimer trigger source.

When started, the timer's status immediately changes from TimerTriggerWait to TimerActive, regardless of the delay set. However, the timer output signal will only go high after the delay has expired.

Resetting a Timer#

To reset a timer, execute the TimerReset command.

The timer's status changes from TimerActive to TimerTriggerWait.

The timer can now be restarted immediately regardless of the arm delay set.

Getting the Status of a Timer#

To get the current status of a timer, get the value of the TimerStatus parameter. This parameter is read-only.

Possible values are:

• TimerTriggerWait: The timer is waiting to be started.
• TimerActive: The timer has been started. A timer immediately switches to this state when the trigger source event occurs, regardless of the delay set. If an arm delay is set, the timer remains in the TimerActive state until the arm delay has expired.
• TimerIdle: The timer is idle. A timer is in this state whenever the TimerTriggerSource parameter is set o Off, i.e., the timer can't be started.

ace Classic/U/L Cameras#

How It Works#

One timer is available, Timer 1. This is how the timer works:

• A trigger source event (e.g., Exposure Start) that starts the internal timer occurs.
• A delay begins to expire.
• When the delay has expired, the timer output signal goes high and stays high for the duration that you have configured.
• When the signal's duration has expired, the timer output signal goes low.

Configuring the Timer#

1. Set the LineSelector parameter to the output line that you want to use for the timer signal.
   If the line is a GPIO line, the line must be configured as output.
2. Set the LineSource parameter to TimerActive.

3. Set the TimerTriggerSource parameter to one of the available trigger source events:

   • ExposureStart: The timer starts when the exposure starts.
   • FlashWindowStart: The timer starts when the flash window opens.

4. Set the TimerDuration parameter to the desired timer duration in microseconds.

5. Set the TimerDelay parameter to the desired timer delay in microseconds.

Increasing the Maximum Timer Duration and Delay#

On some camera models, the TimerDuration and TimerDelay parameters are limited to a default maximum value of 4 095.

To increase the maximum timer duration on these models:

1. Divide the desired timer duration by 4 095 and round up the result to the nearest integer.
   Example: Assume you want to set a timer duration of 50 000 µs. 50000 / 4095 = 12.21 ≈ 13.
2. Set the TimerDurationTimebaseAbs parameter to the value determined in step 1, in this case 13.
3. Set the TimerDuration parameter to the desired timer duration, in this case 50 000.
   Internally, the camera calculates the timer duration as follows: TimerDurationRaw x TimerDurationTimebaseAbs = TimerDurationAbs.

To increase the maximum timer delay on these models:

1. Divide the desired timer delay by 4 095 and round up the result to the nearest integer.
   Example: Assume you want to set a timer delay of 6 000 µs. 6000 / 4095 = 1.47 ≈ 2.
2. Set the TimerDelayTimebaseAbs parameter to the value determined in step 1, in this case 2.
3. Set the TimerDelay parameter to the desired timer delay, in this case 6 000.
   Internally, the camera calculates the timer delay as follows: TimerDelayRaw x TimerDelayTimebaseAbs = TimerDelayAbs.

Additional Parameters#

• TimerSelector: Sets which timer to configure. Because Basler ace Classic/U/L cameras support only one timer, this parameter is preset and can't be changed.

Specifics#

Show all camera models

Sample Code#

ace 2, boost R, dart M/R, and racer 2 Cameras#

// Select Timer 1
camera.TimerSelector.SetValue(TimerSelector_Timer1);
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.TimerDuration.SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.TimerDelay.SetValue(500.0);
// Set the timer trigger arm delay to 5000 microseconds
camera.TimerTriggerArmDelay.SetValue(5000.0);
// Select Line 2 and configure the line as output
camera.LineSelector.SetValue(LineSelector_Line2);
camera.LineMode.SetValue(LineMode_Output);
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.LineSource.SetValue(LineSource_Timer1Active);
// Specify that the timer starts whenever a rising signal is detected on Line 1
camera.TimerTriggerSource.SetValue(TimerTriggerSource_Line1);
camera.TimerTriggerActivation.SetValue(TimerTriggerActivation_RisingEdge);
// Reset the timer
camera.TimerReset.Execute();
// Get the current status of the timer
TimerStatusEnums timerStatus = camera.TimerStatus.GetValue();

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Select Timer 1
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "TimerSelector").SetValue("Timer1");
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "TimerDuration").SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "TimerDelay").SetValue(500.0);
// Set the timer trigger arm delay to 5000 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "TimerTriggerArmDelay").SetValue(5000.0);
// Select Line 2 and configure the line as output
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "LineSelector").SetValue("Line2");
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "LineMode").SetValue("Output");
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "LineSource").SetValue("Timer1Active");
// Specify that the timer starts whenever a rising signal is detected on Line 1
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "TimerTriggerSource").SetValue("Line1");
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "TimerTriggerActivation").SetValue("RisingEdge");
// Reset the timer
CCommandParameter(nodemap, "TimerReset").Execute();
// Get the current status of the timer
String_t timerStatus = CEnumParameter(nodemap, "TimerStatus").GetValue();

// Select Timer 1
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerSelector].SetValue(PLCamera.TimerSelector.Timer1);
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerDuration].SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerDelay].SetValue(500.0);
// Set the timer trigger arm delay to 5000 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerTriggerArmDelay].SetValue(5000.0);
// Select Line 2 and configure the line as output
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.LineSelector].SetValue(PLCamera.LineSelector.Line2);
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.LineMode].SetValue(PLCamera.LineMode.Output);
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.LineSource].SetValue(PLCamera.LineSource.Timer1Active);
// Specify that the timer starts whenever a rising signal is detected on Line 1
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerTriggerSource].SetValue(PLCamera.TimerTriggerSource.Line1);
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerTriggerActivation].SetValue(PLCamera.TimerTriggerActivation.RisingEdge);
// Reset the timer
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerReset].Execute();
// Get the current status of the timer
string timerStatus = camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerStatus].GetValue();

/* 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 */
size_t len = 0;
char timerStatus_str[64] = {0};
/* Select Timer 1 */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "TimerSelector", "Timer1");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "TimerDuration", 1000.0);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "TimerDelay", 500.0);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the timer trigger arm delay to 5000 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "TimerTriggerArmDelay", 5000.0);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Select Line 2 and configure the line as output */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "LineSelector", "Line2");
CHECK(errRes);
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "LineMode", "Output");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2 */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "LineSource", "Timer1Active");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Specify that the timer starts whenever a rising signal is detected on Line 1 */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "TimerTriggerSource", "Line1");
CHECK(errRes);
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "TimerTriggerActivation", "RisingEdge");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Reset the timer */
errRes = PylonDeviceExecuteCommandFeature(hdev, "TimerReset");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Get the current status of the timer */
len = sizeof(timerStatus_str);
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureToString(hdev, "TimerStatus", timerStatus_str, &len);
CHECK(errRes);

# Select Timer 1
camera.TimerSelector.Value = "Timer1"
# Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.TimerDuration.Value = 1000.0
# Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.TimerDelay.Value = 500.0
# Set the timer trigger arm delay to 5000 microseconds
camera.TimerTriggerArmDelay.Value = 5000.0
# Select Line 2 and configure the line as output
camera.LineSelector.Value = "Line2"
camera.LineMode.Value = "Output"
# Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.LineSource.Value = "Timer1Active"
# Specify that the timer starts whenever a rising signal is detected on Line 1
camera.TimerTriggerSource.Value = "Line1"
camera.TimerTriggerActivation.Value = "RisingEdge"
# Reset the timer
camera.TimerReset.Execute()
# Get the current status of the timer
timerStatus = camera.TimerStatus.Value

ace Classic/U/L GigE Cameras#

// Select Line 2 (output line)
camera.LineSelector.SetValue(LineSelector_Line2);
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.LineSource.SetValue(LineSource_TimerActive);
// Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
camera.TimerTriggerSource.SetValue(TimerTriggerSource_ExposureStart);
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.TimerDurationAbs.SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.TimerDelayAbs.SetValue(500.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Select Line 2 (output line)
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "LineSelector").SetValue("Line2");
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "LineSource").SetValue("TimerActive");
// Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "TimerTriggerSource").SetValue("ExposureStart");
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "TimerDurationAbs").SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "TimerDelayAbs").SetValue(500.0);

// Select Line 2 (output line)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.LineSelector].SetValue(PLCamera.LineSelector.Line2);
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.LineSource].SetValue(PLCamera.LineSource.TimerActive);
// Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerTriggerSource].SetValue(PLCamera.TimerTriggerSource.ExposureStart);
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerDurationAbs].SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerDelayAbs].SetValue(500.0);

/* 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 */
/* Select Line 2 (output line) */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "LineSelector", "Line2");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2 */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "LineSource", "TimerActive");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "TimerTriggerSource", "ExposureStart");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "TimerDurationAbs", 1000.0);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "TimerDelayAbs", 500.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Select Line 2 (output line)
camera.LineSelector.Value = "Line2"
# Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.LineSource.Value = "TimerActive"
# Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
camera.TimerTriggerSource.Value = "ExposureStart"
# Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.TimerDurationAbs.Value = 1000.0
# Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.TimerDelayAbs.Value = 500.0

Other Cameras#

// Select Line 2 (output line)
camera.LineSelector.SetValue(LineSelector_Line2);
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.LineSource.SetValue(LineSource_Timer1Active);
// Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
camera.TimerTriggerSource.SetValue(TimerTriggerSource_ExposureStart);
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.TimerDuration.SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.TimerDelay.SetValue(500.0);

INodeMap& nodemap = camera.GetNodeMap();
// Select Line 2 (output line)
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "LineSelector").SetValue("Line2");
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "LineSource").SetValue("Timer1Active");
// Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
CEnumParameter(nodemap, "TimerTriggerSource").SetValue("ExposureStart");
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "TimerDuration").SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
CFloatParameter(nodemap, "TimerDelay").SetValue(500.0);

// Select Line 2 (output line)
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.LineSelector].SetValue(PLCamera.LineSelector.Line2);
// Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.LineSource].SetValue(PLCamera.LineSource.Timer1Active);
// Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerTriggerSource].SetValue(PLCamera.TimerTriggerSource.ExposureStart);
// Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerDuration].SetValue(1000.0);
// Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.Parameters[PLCamera.TimerDelay].SetValue(500.0);

/* 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 */
/* Select Line 2 (output line) */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "LineSelector", "Line2");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2 */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "LineSource", "Timer1Active");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts */
errRes = PylonDeviceFeatureFromString(hdev, "TimerTriggerSource", "ExposureStart");
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "TimerDuration", 1000.0);
CHECK(errRes);
/* Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds */
errRes = PylonDeviceSetFloatFeature(hdev, "TimerDelay", 500.0);
CHECK(errRes);

# Select Line 2 (output line)
camera.LineSelector.Value = "Line2"
# Specify that the timer signal is output on Line 2
camera.LineSource.Value = "Timer1Active"
# Specify that the timer starts when exposure starts
camera.TimerTriggerSource.Value = "ExposureStart"
# Set the timer duration to 1000 microseconds
camera.TimerDuration.Value = 1000.0
# Set the timer delay to 500 microseconds
camera.TimerDelay.Value = 500.0

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