Configuring Emergent Cameras with eCapture Pro

This topic explains how to configure Emergent cameras using the eCapture Pro software. It includes step-by-step instructions for adding cameras to the system graph, adjusting camera parameters, broadcasting settings, and using initialization files. It also covers advanced features like enabling GPUDirect for real-time processing, setting IP addresses manually, and assigning CPU cores. These instructions help users improve camera performance and simplify workflows.

Prerequisites: Before configuring an Emergent camera using eCapture Pro, ensure you have installed the camera and software as outlined in the eCapture Pro and eSDK Quick Start Guide.

Adding cameras to systems in eCapture Pro

The following procedure adds the local server, NIC Ethernet port, and camera to the system graph:

1. In eCapture Pro, open the system graph: On the Graph tab, select the System subtab. eCapture Pro displays a blank system graph.
2. Add the local server: In the left panel, click the local server icon (house) . If prompted, enter the server’s password. A server icon appears in the system graph.
3. Add one of the NIC's Ethernet ports:
   a. In the system graph, select the server icon.
   b. Then, in the left panel, click the add button (+) beside the Ethernet port that is physically connected to the camera. An Ethernet port icon appears in the system graph.
4. Add the camera:
   a. In the system graph, select the server icon.
   b. In the left panel, click the add button (+) beside the camera. A camera icon appears in the system graph.
5. Automatically configure the IP addresses, subnet masks, and maximum transmission unit (MTU) of the camera and NIC:
   a. In the system graph, select the server icon.
   b. In the left panel, select the gear icon. Then, in the context menu, select Auto-reconfigure interface and camera IPs.

Figure 1: This example of a system graph in eCapture Pro shows a server connected to two Ethernet ports, two cameras, and a GPU

Configuring camera parameters

In eCapture Pro, you can configure camera parameters using the Parameters panel on the Live View tab’s right side.

The Parameters panel shows a list of commonly-used camera parameters. However, you can access all relevant parameters. You can also customize the list by marking parameters you often use as favorites.

The available parameters vary depending on the camera model. For example:

• Area-scan cameras include frame-based parameters.
• Line-scan cameras include line timing parameters.

Some parameter settings are interdependent. For example, changing the frame rate adjusts the maximum possible exposure time. Additionally, eCapture Pro might disable certain parameters during streaming or when running a pipeline.

All parameters in the Parameters panel comply with the GenICam standard, a widely used machine vision framework. You can also configure these parameters programmatically through the Emergent SDK (eSDK).

To configure a camera parameter:

1. Go to the Live View tab and select the camera you want to configure.
2. In the tab’s Parameters panel, find the parameter you want to adjust.
   Note: The panel’s search field only searches the displayed parameters. If the parameter isn’t listed, click the View All (eye icon) button to access the full list of the camera’s parameters.

3. Adjust the parameter to your desired setting.
   Tip: If a parameter has a range of values, such as Exposure, you can quickly set it to its minimum or maximum value by right-clicking the parameter and selecting Set to min or Set to max.

Figure 2: In the Live View tab select a camera and then configure the camera's parameters in the Parameters panel

To add a parameter to the Parameters panel’s list of favorites:

1. Go to the Live View tab and select the camera.
2. In the Parameters panel, click the View All (eye icon) button to display all parameters relevant to the camera model.
3. Find the parameter you want to add, then click the Favorite (star icon) button next to it.
   Favorites remain on the list until you unfavor them.
4. To show only the favorite parameters, click View All again.

Figure 3: In the Parameters panel, click View All (eye icon) to display all parameters

Broadcasting camera parameter values

The Parameters panel on the Live View tab allows you to broadcast a camera's parameter value to other cameras on the network.

The procedures below explain how to broadcast a single parameter value or all favorited parameter values from the Parameters panel.

To broadcast a single camera parameter value:

1. Go to the Live View tab and select the camera with the parameter value you want to broadcast.
2. In the Parameters panel, right-click the parameter and choose one of the following:
   • Broadcast value to all to send the value to all cameras.
   • Broadcast value to <group name> to send the value only to cameras in the selected camera group.

To broadcast all favorite camera parameter values:

1. Go to the Live View tab and select the camera with the favorite parameters you want to broadcast.
2. In the Parameters panel, click the Broadcast Current Settings button (antenna icon). A dialog box opens.
3. In the dialog, click one of the following buttons:
   • All Groups to send the values to all cameras.
   • <group name> to send the values only to cameras in the selected camera group.

Note: This feature is disabled when cameras are streaming.

Working with initialization files

Initialization files in eCapturePro store a camera's configuration settings, letting you save, restore, import, and export setups for consistent operation. These tasks streamline workflows, ensure repeatability, and simplify sharing or transferring settings.

To access the initialization tools:

1. Go to the Live View tab and select the camera.
2. At the bottom of the Parameters panel, expand the Initialization Tool pane, which provides these commands:
   
   • Import settings from initialization file
   • Export settings to initialization file
   • Save settings file options, which opens a menu that provides these commands:
     • Save settings to file
     • Load saved settings on camera open
     • Restore settings from saved file
     • Clear saved settings

Figure 4: The Initialization Tool pane is located at the bottom of the parameters panel

To save the current settings to disk:

• In the Initialization Tool pane, click Saved settings file options > Save settings to file.
  eCapture Pro saves the current settings to a file that it manages, letting you reuse or back up your configuration.

To load saved settings from disk:

• In the Initialization Tool pane, click Saved settings file options > Restore settings from saved file.
  eCapture Pro restores the system to the saved settings.

To automatically load saved settings from disk whenever the camera opens:

• In the Initialization Tool pane, click Saved settings file options > Load saved settings on camera open.

This is useful for automatically restoring the camera to a specific state after power-cycling the camera.

To import favorite settings from an external JSON file:

1. In the Initialization Tool pane, click Import settings from initialization file. A dialog box opens.
2. In the dialog box, select the JSON file that contains the settings and click Open.
   eCapture Pro imports the parameters and adds them to the list of favorite parameters.

For example, a preset for PTP two step is available at:
<eCapturePro install directory>/cameraPresets/ptp_twostep.json

To export favorite settings to an external JSON file:

1. In the Initialization Tool pane, click Export settings to initialization file. A dialog box opens.
2. In the dialog box, select where you want to save the JSON file, name the file, and click Save.

This lets you share or transfer favorite settings to other systems or users.

Enabling GPUDirect

GPUDirect enhances data transfer efficiency between cameras and the GPU, enabling higher performance and lower latency for applications requiring real-time processing.

Prerequisite: Ensure a CUDA-enabled GPU is connected to the server in the eCapture Pro system graph.

To enable GPUDirect:

1. In the system graph, select a camera.
2. In the Host GPU menu, select the appropriate GPU.
   eCapture Pro will automatically reopen the camera using GPUDirect. If the camera streams successfully after reopening, GPUDirect is functioning correctly.

Figure 5: On the system graph tab, use the Host GPU menu to assign a GPU to the selected camera

For more information about setting up GPUDirect, see the eSDK documentation.

Setting camera IP addresses

By default, cameras automatically receive valid IP addresses for the system. However, you can manually configure a camera's IP address if needed.

To manually set a camera’s IP address:

1. In the system graph, select the camera.
2. In the Selected Nodes pane, click the Manual address settings button. A dialog box opens.
3. In the dialog box, enter the desired IP address.

Figure 6: On the system graph tab, the Manual address settings button opens a dialog for setting the selected camera's IP address

Force rebooting cameras

If a camera becomes unresponsive or you need to apply changes, you can force it to reboot.

To force reboot a camera, do one of the following:

• In the Live View tab:
  1. Right-click the camera display.
  2. Select Camera Restart options > Force reboot.
• In the system graph:
  1. Select the camera.
  2. Click the Power button in the top row of buttons and choose Force reboot.

Figure 7: On the system graph tab, the Restart options button provides an option to force reboot the selected camera

Labelling cameras

You can assign a unique label to each camera to make identification easier.

To label a camera:

1. In the system graph, select the camera
2. In the Selected Nodes pane, click the Camera label button. A dialog box opens.
3. Enter a unique label for the camera and press Enter.

Figure 8: On the system graph tab, the Camera label button opens a dialog for labelling a camera

Assigning CPU cores to cameras

By default, eCapture Pro automatically assigns a single CPU core to each camera for streaming and image preview processing. You can manually configure core assignments if needed.

Manually assigning CPU cores to cameras can optimize performance, especially in systems with multiple cameras or high processing demands.

To manually assign CPU cores to a camera:

1. In the system graph, select the server.
2. In the Selected Nodes pane, click the Server Settings button. A dialog box opens (figure 9).
3. Disable Auto Configure CPU Affinity.
4. In the system graph, select  the camera.
5. In the Selected Nodes pane, click the CPU Affinity button. A dialog box opens (figure 10)
6. Specify the Stream CPU core and Image Preview CPU core.
   The camera will automatically reopen with the updated configuration.

Figure 9: On the system graph tab, the Server settings button opens a dialog that lets you disable the Auto Configure CPU Affinity feature

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Figure 10: On the system graph tab, the CPU Affinity button opens a dialog for assigning CPU cores to the selected camera

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To manually assign CPU cores to multiple cameras:

1. In the system graph, select the server.
2. In the Selected Nodes pane, click the Server Settings button. A dialog box opens (figure 9).
3. Disable Auto Configure CPU Affinity.
4. In the system graph, while pressing Ctrl, select multiple cameras.
5. In the Selected Nodes pane, click the CPU Affinity button in the pane's top row (not the CPU Affinity button for a single camera). A dialog box opens (figure 11).
6. Specify a range of Stream CPU cores and Image Preview CPU cores.
   eCapture Pro will assign the cores to the cameras sequentially.

Figure 11: On the system graph tab, the CPU Affinity button opens a dialog for assigning a range of CPU cores to the selected cameras