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Triggering the Intensified Retiga Fast 1394 Extenally
Externally triggering the Intensified Retiga Fast 1394 provides a sophisticated method of imaging and
synchronizing your camera to other parts of your system. To use this feature effectively, it is important
to understand the operation and configuration of your camera.
The External Trigger Port of the Intensified Retiga Fast 1394 is a 6-pin miniature circular DIN connector.
This port accepts digital logic signals that are used to control the camera's integration. The External
Trigger Port is optically isolated from the camera's electronics. For this reason, the user must provide
power to the External Trigger Port. See Appendix A for a pinout and schematic diagram of the
External Trigger Port.
In externally triggered modes of operation, the user inputs a pulse on the External Trigger Port that
controls the camera's integration in one of two ways depending on the triggering mode.
Triggering Modes
When using External Triggering,there are two different types of triggering modes: Edge High/Low and
Pulse High/Low. The Edge mode allows the camera to start integrating on the rising or falling edge
of the trigger pulse with the integration time controlled internally by the camera. Using this method
allows you to externally trigger the camera as fast as possible, and allows you to take advantage of
the simultaneous readout and exposure function.
Pulse Mode allows the user to control the integration period where the time is dictated by the duration
of the pulse. If “Pulse High” mode is used, then the time the pulse is high is the time of the integration
period. Vice versa for “Pulse Low” mode.
Connecting External Sources to the Camera
Before you can begin to externally trigger your camera, you need to connect the necessary trigger
signal source to the camera. To do this you need to ensure that you have a 6-pin miniature circular
Trigger Mode
Trigger Source
Exposure Control
Gate Source
Trigger Delay
Diagram
Continual
Intenal to
Camera
Internal to Camera
Internal &
synchronous
to expose
0
Figure 11
Edge Hi/Lo
External Trigger
Port
Internal to Camera
Internal &
synchronous
to expose
User Controlled
Figure 11
Pulse Hi/Lo
External Trigger
Port
Length of User
Pulse
BNC Gate
Input
Not Applicable
Figure 12
Software
QCAM API
Trigger Event
Internal to Camera
Internal &
synchronous
expose
0
Figure 11
Table 1—Trigger Sources and Integration Modes
Summary of Contents for Intensified Retiga Fast 1394
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