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Additional GigE Vision Setup Options

The Image Acquisition Toolbox™ software supports GigE Vision® devices. Not all cameras that use Ethernet are GigE Vision. A camera must have the GigE Vision logo appearing on it or its data sheet to be a GigE Vision device.

Types of Setups

There are five different setups you can use for GigE Vision cameras.

  • Direct to a PC not on a network — PC is connected to camera with a Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. PC is not on a network. This is one of the setups that offers the best acquisition speed.

  • Direct to a PC on a network, using two Ethernet cards — PC is connected to camera with a Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. PC is connected to a network. This is one of the setups that offers the best acquisition speed.

  • Indirect to a PC on a network, with PC and camera on same subnet — PC is connected to a network with a Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. Camera is connected to the same network with a Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. You may connect multiple cameras to the network using separate cables.

  • Multiple cameras to a PC directly, using multiple Ethernet cards — PC is connected to camera 1 with a Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. PC is connected to camera 2 with a separate Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. PC is optionally connected to a network. This is one of the setups that offers the best acquisition speed.

  • Multiple cameras to a PC directly, using switch or hub — PC is connected to a switch or hub directly with a Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. Camera 1 is connected to switch/hub with a Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. Camera 2 is connected to the switch/hub with a separate Cat 5e or 6 Ethernet cable. PC is optionally connected to a network. Alternatively, switch/hub is optionally connected to a network.

For more information about setting up your GigE Vision camera hardware, see the Recommended Hardware Setup in the Quick Start Guide.

Types of Network Hardware Configuration

The following notes apply to network connections and hardware.

  • Using the same network as the PC on a shared network connection — Plug the camera into the network that the PC is plugged into. They must be on the same subnet. A system administrator can configure a VLAN if necessary.

  • Using a private network connection — You can connect the camera through the main/only Ethernet card, or through a second Ethernet card. In either scenario, a switch can be used to connect multiple cameras.

  • Ethernet cards — Ethernet cards must be 1000 Mbps. If direct connection or PC network allows, use a card that supports jumbo frames for larger packet sizes. Also, on Windows®, increase the number of receive buffers if reception is poor.

  • Switches for connecting multiple cameras — Use a switch that has full duplex 1000 Gbps per port capacity. It can be a managed switch, but does not have to be.

Configure your Ethernet adapter using the recommended settings for your platform.

GigE Preferences in Image Acquisition Toolbox Preferences

There are four GigE Vision related preferences in the Image Acquisition Toolbox Preferences. In MATLAB®, on the Home tab, in the Environment section, click Preferences > Image Acquisition Toolbox.

Image Acquisition Toolbox Preferences window

  • Timeout for packet acknowledgment — This is a timeout value for the time between the sending of a command (for camera discovery or control) and the time that the acknowledgment is received from the camera.

  • Timeout for heartbeat — The camera requires that the application send a packet every so often (like a heartbeat) to keep the control connection alive. This is the setting for that packet period. Setting it too low can add unnecessary load to the computer and to the camera. Setting it too high can cause the camera to remain in use too long beyond when the toolbox attempts to relinquish control, leading to a failure to obtain control to start another acquisition.

  • Retries for commands — This is the number of attempts that the toolbox will make to send a command to the camera before deciding that the send has failed. The time between retries is set by the Timeout for packet acknowledgment setting.

  • Disable camera IP correction — Check if you want to disable automatic IP correction for your camera. Clear the check mark to re-enable IP correction.

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