Other ways to ensure synchronicity between video and data streams

Aim

Whenever you want to ensure high synchronicity between your video and the external data streams, for example EMG, this topic describes the possible solutions.

This topic applies to Basler digital cameras.

Method 1 - Send a signal at every video frame

Many Basler digital cameras including the acA1300-60gm GigE camera have a 6-pin I/O connector on the back.

 

The pin number 2 is for input (named Line1 in Pylon Viewer), while pin number 4 is for output (Out1 in Pylon Viewer). You can connect pin 4 to a channel of the DAQ system that reads the time that the video frame is sent out.

note  Which pin number serves a specific function may vary depending on the camera model. Please refer to the camera documentation.

1.Set the camera for example to free-running at 60 fps and get an electrical signal on the camera output Out1 pin when the camera makes a new frame. Settings can be made using the Pylon Viewer application. For details, see the Pylon Viewer manual and the camera manual.

2.Connect the camera output to the data recording channel. This way you know down to microseconds accuracy when the camera creates a video frame.

Method 2 - Send a TTL pulse to the DAQ system

For this you need a USB-IO box and the Trial and Hardware Control add-on module.

1.Connect a TTL port of the USB/IO box to one of the channels of the DAQ system. For this you need a cable with a RJ45 connector at the end of the USB-IO box and a connector at the other end that matches the DAQ system.

2.In the Trial Control Settings of EthoVision XT, make a sub-rule with an action on the chosen TTL port that sends a pulse of 1 second at regular intervals, for example every 5 seconds.

3.During the trial, the pulses are recorded by the DAQ systems.

For more information:

▪The chapter Experiments with Calcium Imaging in the EthoVision XT 19 - Application Manual, which includes an example with the Inscopix nVoke system.

▪The EthoVision XT 19 - Trial and Hardware Control - Reference Manual.

See Manuals

Note

▪To connect the camera to a DAQ system, you can use the standard cable available from Basler, or make your own using a Hirose connector HR10-7P-6S(73).