HAWK216 Instruction Manual
Document number
Revision
File name
Date
Page
2013-12-11-01
V1.1
HAWK216OEM1_IM_v1_1
19-Aug-14
9 of 19
3.1.5
Trigger Output
The trigger output has a 510Ω source impedance with a 100 microsecond 3.3V pulse synchronised to the
video out Vertical Sync pulse.
3.2
Functionality
3.2.1
Automatic Gain Control (AGC)
The AGC is enabled by default.
The AGC has 3 input parameters that the operator can adjust to customise the camera operation for the
ambient light environment, namely AGC Speed, AGC Peak/Average and AGC Auto Level.
AGC Auto Level
is the image intensity that the AGC will attempt to achieve as an average/peak across the
scene. This setting can be adjusted alongside
AGC
Peak/Average
to achieve desired light level.
The AGC has two variables used to achieve the desired light level, namely the Electron Multiplying (EM)
Gain and the IRIS aperture.
When the Auto IRIS is enabled in a low ambient light scene the AGC will fully open the IRIS shutter before
adjusting the EM Gain, whereas in a high ambient light scene the AGC will reduce the EM gain before
closing the IRIS shutter.
3.2.2
EM Gain
If the AGC is disabled the Electron Multiplication Gain can be manually adjusted using serial commands as
detailed in section 4 Serial Communication. It should be noted that the EM Gain Maximum value stored in
the EEPROM must not be exceeded.
**If the EM Gain Maximum is exceeded the camera may be permanently damaged.**
The EM Gain Maximum value can be read back from the camera using a GET command as detailed in
section 4.4 Query Commands.
3.2.3
Exposure Period
The exposure period is fixed at approximately 15.74 milliseconds.
3.2.4
Unit Serial number
Can be read from
the camera’s EEPROM. Refer to section 4 Serial Communication for further details.
