APPLICATION NOTE

Sequencer Control
V1.1.02019-Dec-03

Introduction
This document presents information on how to use the new Sequencer Control feature set with Bonito PRO
CoaXPress cameras. Sequencer Control allows the user to configure a sequence set of different frame
parameters which are applied to frames on the fly. The user can configure up to 16 sequence sets which are
stored in the internal FGPA memory.

Prerequisites
The following items are required:•Allied Vision Bonito PRO camera
Supported models: Bonito PRO X-1250, X-2620•Frame grabber and GenICam browser installed on the host PC to configure sequence sets.

SequencerControl
This feature group contains the features related to sequencer control. This group includes the features
related to the control of the sequencers that can be used to change some features of the camera
automatically based on different events and signals.
The purpose of a sequencer is to allow the user of a camera to define a series of feature sets for image
acquisition which can consecutively be activated during the acquisition by the camera. Accordingly, theproposed sequence is configured by a list of parameter sets.
Each of these sequencer sets contains the settings for a number of camera features. Similar to user sets, theactual settings of the camera are overwritten when one of these sequencer sets is loaded. The order inwhich the features are applied to the camera is defined by Allied Vision. It is recommended to apply all theimage related settings to the camera, before the first frame of this sequence is captured.
Sequencer sets can be loaded and saved by selecting them using SequencerSetSelector. The executionof the sequencer is completely controlled by the device.
The sequencer set is a collection of features defining an image frame (for example, Exposure, Gain,BlackLevel, PixelFormat, Region, FrameCount, Gamma, LUTControl. All sequencer sets (16)contain a default configuration (unless modified using SequencerSetSave). Sequencer sets are saved in
non-volatile memory.
You can configure up to 16 sequence sets. When configuring less sequence sets,
ensure that the sequence sets are continuous, that is, no gaps between sequence
sets.

Page 1 of 8

Sequencer ControlSequencer Control parameters
The sequencer supports up to 16 sequence sets with the following parameters in each sequence set:•Multi-ROI
Up to four regions of interest are supported. The sequence set must use thecurrent Multi-ROI setting. This settings cannot be changed during the sequence.

•Digital gain•

Digital black level•

Exposure•

Pixel format
Pixel format cannot be changed during sequencer control. This is a limitation ofthe frame grabber.

•Gamma mode•

LUT enable•

Sequence repetitions

Sequencer Control architecture
The following image illustrates the Sequencer Control architecture.

TriggerParamController

UpdateDoneSequencer
Con figParams

SensorTimingRequestTrigger Ready

Param Update
RequestSequence
ModeTrigger
SelectTrigger
Generator

ParamsRequestRegisterParamsSequencer

Figure 1: Sequencer Control architecture

Page 2 of 8

SPI to Sensor

Sequencer Control

Sequencer Control features
The Sequencer Control feature implementation is compliant with GenICam SFNC Version 2.2.

SequencerConfigurationMode
Standard

GenICam SFNC Version 2.2

Feature type

Enumeration

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertPossible values

On, Off

Category/SequencerControl

Controls if the sequencer configuration mode is enabled or disabled.
SequencerConfigurationMode must be set to On to configure the sequencer.
Available only if SequencerMode is set to Off, and no binning or decimation iscurrently enabled.
Value

Description

Off

Disables the sequencer configuration modeOn

Enables the sequencer configuration mode

SequencerMode
Standard

GenICam SFNC Version 2.2

Feature type

Enumeration

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertPossible values

On, Off

Category/SequencerControl

Controls if the sequencer mechanism is active. SequencerMode must be set to On
for sequencer operation to be in effect.
Available only if SequencerConfigurationMode is set to Off, no binning ordecimation is enabled, and the camera is not streaming.
ValueDescription

Off

Disables the sequencer

OnEnables the sequencer

Page 3 of 8

Sequencer Control

SequencerFrameRate
Standard

CustomFeature type

Integer

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertRange≥0UnitFrames per second

Category/SequencerControl

Sequencer frame rate, in frames per second. This is applicable when either theFrameStart trigger mode is disabled, or the FrameStart trigger source isFixedRate. Any value up to SequencerFrameRateLimit is accepted.

SequencerMaxFrameRate
Standard

CustomFeature type

Integer

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertRange≥0UnitFrames per second

Category/SequencerControl

Sequencer frame rate limit, in frames per second. This is a calculation of themaximum achievable frame rate based on current active sequencer sets.

SequencerSetSelector
Standard

GenICam SFNC Version 2.2

Feature type

Integer

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertRange≥0Category/SequencerControl

Selects the SequencerSet to which further feature settings applies.
Available only if SequencerConfigurationMode is set to On.

Page 4 of 8Sequencer Control

SequencerSetActive
Standard

GenICam SFNC Version 2.2

Feature type

Integer

Access

Read

Visibility

ExpertRange≥0Category/SequencerControl

Contains the currently active SequencerSet.
Available only if SequencerMode is set to On. Shows which sequencer set iscurrently in use.

SequencerSetLoad
Standard

GenICam SFNC Version 2.2

Feature typeCommandAccess(Read)/Write

Visibility

ExpertCategory/SequencerControl

Loads the SequencerSet selected by SequencerSetSelector in the device.
Even if SequencerMode is set to Off, this changes the device state to theconfiguration of the selected set.

SequencerSetSave
Standard

GenICam SFNC Version 2.2

Feature typeCommandAccess(Read)/Write

Visibility

ExpertCategory/SequencerControl

Saves the current device state to the SequencerSet selected by theSequencerSetSelector. The SequencerSet is loaded from non-volatilememory.
Available only if SequencerConfigurationMode is set to On and if camera isnot streaming. This is similar in operation as UserSetLoad except that only asubset of the camera settings are loaded.

Page 5 of 8

Sequencer Control

SequencerSetStart
Standard

GenICam SFNC Version 2.2

Feature type

Integer

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertRange≥0Category/SequencerControl

Sets the initial or start SequencerSet, which is the first set used within asequencer.
Available only if SequencerConfigurationMode is set to On.
SequencerSetEnd is automatically adjusted if SequencerSetStart is greaterthan SequencerSetEnd.

SequencerSetEnd
Standard

CustomFeature type

Integer

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertRange≥0Category/SequencerControl

Sets the final or end SequencerSet, which is the last set used within a sequencer.
Available only if SequencerConfigurationMode is set to On. Once
SequencerSetFrameCount frames are captured from the SequencerSet
specified by SequencerSetEnd the sequencer resumes operation using theSequencerSet specified by SequencerSetStart.

SequencerSetFrameCount
Standard

CustomFeature type

Integer

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertRange≥0Category/SequencerControl

Sets the number of frames captured by the SequencerSet selected bySequencerSetSelector before the sequencer advances to the next sequentialSequencerSet.

Page 6 of 8

Sequencer Control

SequencerSetGammaEnable
Standard

CustomFeature type

Enumeration

AccessRead/Write

Visibility

ExpertPossible values

On, Off

Category/SequencerControl

Controls if the current gamma setting is applied to the SequencerSet selected by
SequencerSetSelector.
Available only if SequencerConfigurationMode is set to On.

Page 7 of 8

Sequencer Control

For technical support, please contact support@alliedvision.com.
For comments or suggestions regarding this document, please contact info@alliedvision.com.

Copyright and trademarks
All text, pictures, and graphics are protected by copyright and other laws protecting intellectual property.
All content is subject to change without notice.
All trademarks, logos, and brands cited in this document are property and/or copyright material of theirrespective owners. Use of these trademarks, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.
Copyright © 2019 Allied Vision GmbH. All rights reserved.

Page 8 of 8