First Steps To Uc480 Programming - THORLABS DCU223x Operation Manual And Sdk

4.1 First Steps to uc480 Programming

This chapter shows the most important functions of the uc480 API for integrating your camera into your own
applications. You will find comprehensive lists of the API functions, sorted by task, in the
chapter.
The uc480 SimpleLive and uc480 SimpleAcquire C++ programming samples included in the SDK illustrate the
steps described below.
For information on required include files (uc480 API and header) see
Select a display mode
The uc480 API provides different modes you can use to display the camera's images on the PC. To
quickly show a live image under Windows, it is easiest to use the
OpenGL mode
This mode has the advantage that no image memory has to be allocated, and that image capture is
handled by the driver. Call
customize the Direct3D mode by using
For advanced users:
You can also access the image data directly by selecting the Bitmap (DIB) mode. To use DIB mode,
you first have to allocate one or more memories by using
memory sequence
each image capture. To show the image on-screen, call the
each completed image capture. From the
available for display.
See also:
How to proceed:
Capture images
Recording live images with the DCxCamera is very simple. Just call the
function and the camera captures the live images at the default frame rate. To capture single frames,
use the
is_FreezeVideo()
modes for image capture. Use
starting the image capture.
See also:
How to proceed:
Adjust the frame rate, brightness and colors
To change the frame rate, for example, you call
you set the color mode. Image brightness is adjusted through the exposure time set with
()
319
is_Exposure()
parameters by using
If you are using a color camera, you should activate color correction in order to achieve rich vibrant
colors for on-screen display
ambient light conditions, it is essential to carry out white balancing. This is also done using the
is_SetAutoParameter()
See also:
How to proceed:
Save an image
Use the
is_ImageFile()
specific image, it is better to use the Snap function (single frame mode) than the Live function
(continuous mode).
See also:
How to proceed:
Close the camera
When you want to exit your application, close the camera with
and the allocated memory are automatically released. All previously set camera parameters will be lost,
© 2013 Thorlabs GmbH
can be used.
21
is_SetDisplayMode()
is_DirectRenderer()
, if required, and then activate a memory with
132
Display mode selection
function. Every DCx camera of course also provides different trigger
223
is_SetExternalTrigger()
Image capture
134
. You can also implement
216
is_SetAutoParameter()
(is_SetColorCorrection()
function.
303
Setting camera parameters
function to save the current image as a BMP or JPEG file. To save a
264
Saving images and videos
Programming notes
Direct3D mode
to select the display mode. You can then
322
is_AllocImageMem()
is_RenderBitmap()
events or messages
141
133
327
is_SetFrameRate()
automatic control
.
303
). To adapt a color camera to the
317
144
149
is_ExitCamera()
4 Programming (SDK)
How to proceed
chapter.
451
. Under Linux the
21
.
198
, add them to a
157
is_SetImageMem()
function after
297
you can see when an image is
is_CaptureVideo()
to activate the desired mode before
. With
is_SetColorMode
329
of image brightness and other
147
. The camera
213
129
before
337
177
127