Technical Solutions
Apogee SDK with Labview – Getting started
Affected Products
Apogee Aspen/Alta/Ascent
Apogee SDK (document applicable for v5.5.16.3188)
The Apogee SDK provides access to all camera functions through an ActiveX/COM API. The driver resides in the file
Apogee.dll. Apogee cameras are controlled through an interface referred to as the ICamera2 interface.
The ICamera2 interface includes various Methods and Properties. Generally speaking, a COM Method is a call madeby the application to perform an action, such as taking an exposure. A COM Property is information obtained by theapplication about the camera system, such as the camera model number. The ICamera2 interface is designed as aflexible and lightweight layer to access the underlying camera hardware.

IFilterWheel is a similar interface used to provide functionality for Apogee filter wheels

Providing the Apogee SDK has been correctly installed, the API can be loaded into Labview and used to control
Apogee cameras and filter wheels.

ICamDiscover will need to be called first to search the PC USB bus and/or an Ethernet network for Apogee devices
ICamDiscover is used to provide information for the ICamera2::Init and IFilterWheel::Init functions. The component
contains two methods for device searching and selection. The first is a simple dialog box that assists a user’s camera
selection. It is a generic component designed to be quickly inserted into an application. The second is a property(ListUsbDevices) that provides a tagged string of Apogee USB devices attached to the host PC.

ICamera2, IFilterWheel and ICamDiscover can be accessed in Labview through creating an Automation Refnum on
the Front Panel from Controls >> Refnum >> Automation Refnum.

For example:
Right click on the Automation Refnum and select Select ActiveX Class >> Browse and point the Type Library toApogee Camera Control Library.

If Apogee Camera Control Library is not available from the drop down menu, browse to C:\Program Files\Common
Files\System and select the Apogee.dll. Select CamDiscover to assign the library to this refnum.

HINT: check the ‘Show Creatable Objects Only’ box to list the usable libraries.
The Automation Refnum will now be assigned with the CamDiscover interface.
Open the Refnum using the Automation Open function on the Front Panel from Functions >> Connectivity >> ActiveX>> Automation OpenTo read/write Properties and Methods from the interface, use Property and Invoke Nodes (respectively) on the VI
Block Diagram, Functions >> Application Control

Steps shown above: Open ICamDiscover >> ShowDialog Method to display dialogue box that allows user to query
cameras communicating with the PC >> ValidSelection Property determines that a valid camera has been selected

Repeat this example to open the Camera2 or FilterWheel interfaces.
For example, ICamera2:

Steps shown: Open ICamera2 >> Init Method to initialise camera >> ICamDiscover returns if camera is USB orEthernet, first camera identifier (enumerator), second camera identifier (if applicable) >> CameraModel Property
returns camera model number

A full list of Apogee SDK functions can be found in the AltaDevApi.pdf document in the installation directory, default
location:
C:\Program Files\Apogee\doc\AltaDevApi.pdf(default location)

If you require any further assistance, please contact your local Andor Support Representative.