National Instruments PXI-1428 Interfacing with the IMAQ 1428

Chapter 2 Installation

Interfacing with the IMAQ 1428

The Camera Link standard defines physical connections between image

acquisition devices and Camera Link cameras, and it allows for flexibility

of image format and data transfer protocols. The camera manufacturer

defines image parameters, such as image resolution and the number of bits

per pixel. Camera control parameters, such as frame-on-demand and

exposure control signals, are also defined by the camera manufacturer.

These variable parameters are defined on a per-camera basis in a camera

file (camera_model.icd) supplied by National Instruments. The

NI-IMAQ driver software uses the information in this camera file to

program the IMAQ 1428 to acquire images from a specific camera. Without

this camera file, the driver does not have the information necessary to

configure the IMAQ 1428 for acquisition.

MAX, the National Instruments configuration utility, provides a simple

interface for associating a camera file with the IMAQ 1428. Use the

following guidelines to access the camera file in MAX:

1. Launch MAX, and expand the Devices and Interfaces branch of the

configuration tree.

2. Expand the IMAQ 1428 branch.

3. Right-click Channel 0 and select Camera.

4. Select your camera from the menu. If your camera is not in the menu,

verify that the camera file is installed in the NI-IMAQ\Data directory.

Many camera files are installed when you install NI-IMAQ, and many more

are available for download from the National Instruments Camera Advisor

at ni.com/camera. When installing new camera files, save them to the

Data folder located at Program Files\National Instruments\

NI-IMAQ\Data.

Contact National Instruments technical support to request camera files not

available in the Camera Advisor. Refer to AppendixC, Technical Support

and Professional Services, for information about National Instruments

technical support.