Dalsa Piranha4 Series Manual page 122

122
3. Setting Up Your Optical Configuration
Typically, the first thing you want to do is to evaluate the camera's image quality under operating
conditions similar to those that you are likely to use in your application. In order to do this, take the
following steps:

The illumination, lens magnification, and focus should be set up as per you application.

Getting the magnification right is best accomplished by setting the object-to-sensor distance. Use
the formula lens focal length x (2 + 1/magnification + magnification) to calculate this distance.
Magnification equals the sensor pixel size (10.56 µm) / (your object pixel size in um).

The approximate location of the sensor position is at the first groove in the side of the case, back
from the front face.
4. Camera Timing & Control
It is easiest and quickest to evaluate the camera using the internal timing setups for line rate and
exposure time.

Since we recommend starting with Camera Link medium mode, set a suitable line rate less than
40 KHz, using the 'ssf' command.

If this line rate is too slow for your application, you will get a compressed image in the scan
direction. This should not be a problem for a basic evaluation.

You can set the exposure time using the 'set' command. Ensure that the exposure time period is
not greater than the period of the line rate minus 1.5 µsec.

The camera will indicate an error if you select an exposure time that is too long. The minimum
exposure time is 7 µsec.

Set your camera direction using the 'scd' command. Refer to the Camera direction diagram in this
manual for a definition of 'forward' and 'reverse'.
5. Acquiring an Image
You can now begin imaging. Unless you have an application employing lots of light, the image is likely to
be too dark.

Use the system gain to adjust the camera output to achieve the desired response. The system gain
range is from 1x to 10x.

Once you have a suitable response, you can now focus the lens.

If you are using white LEDs, your image will have reasonable color reproduction.

The image may be darker at the edges due to lens vignetting, but this will be improved once the
camera is calibrated.

Calibration is performed using a white reference where your object is normally located.
Use a white material that has no texture, such as a non glossy plastic.
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03-032-20180-06
Piranha4 2K and 4K Camera Color User's Manual
Teledyne DALSA