Acquisition Timing Information

This topic provides information about the image acquisition process on Basler ace GigE and ace USB 3.0 cameras.

Knowing the camera's timings and delays can help you to optimize your imaging system for maximum performance.

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Acquisition Timing Chart

The following figure shows a timing chart for image acquisition and transmission.

Acquisition Timing Chart

The diagram is based on a camera with the following settings:

Timings and Delays

Exposure Start Delay

The exposure start delay is the amount of time between the point where the trigger signal is detected and the point where exposure actually begins.

The exposure start delay depends on the camera model and is extended when the camera operation mode is set to LongExposure.

If the Exposure Start, End, and Active triggers are available for your camera model, you can set up your camera to avoid the exposure start delay.

You may have to add additional delays to the exposure start delay:

Example: Assume that the exposure start delay for your camera is 18 µs. Also assume that you have configured the camera for hardware triggering, that the input line's propagation delay is 1.5 μs, that you set the LineDebouncerTimeAbsLineDebouncerTime parameter to 5 μs, that you set the trigger delay for the Frame Start trigger to 200 μs, that no image ROI exposure start delay applies, and that the camera operation mode is set to Standard.

In this case:

Total Start Delay = Exposure Start Delay + Input Line Response Time + Frame Start Trigger Delay = 18 μs + 6.5 μs + 200 μs = 224.5 μs

Sensor Readout Time

The sensor readout time is the amount of time it takes to read out image data from the sensor. You can determine the amount of time using the Sensor Readout Time camera feature.

When the camera has determined that a sufficient amount of data has accumulated in the buffer, the camera begins transmitting the data from the camera to the host computer.

Frame Transmission Time

The frame transmission time is the amount of time it takes to transmit an acquired frame from the buffer in the camera to the host computer.

The frame transmission time can vary between frames and partly depends on when the host computer calls for data transmission.

Transmission Start Delay

The transmission start delay is the amount of time between the point where the camera begins reading out the acquired frame data from the sensor to the point where it begins transmitting the data for the acquired frame to the host computer.

The transmission start delay can vary between frames and largely depends on when the host computer starts calling for data transmission.

Specifics

Camera Model

Exposure Start Delay [µs]
Non-Overlapping Image Acquisition Overlapping Image Acquisition
a2A1920-51gmBAS tbd tbd
a2A1920-51gcBAS tbd tbd
a2A1920-160umBAS tbd tbd
a2A1920-160ucBAS tbd tbd
acA640-90gm 21.48 21.48
acA640-90gc 21.48 21.48
acA640-120gm 17.62 17.62
acA640-120gc 17.62 17.62
acA640-121gm
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 21.3 / 41e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 24.7 / 46e
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 21.3 / 41e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 24.7 / 46e
acA640-300gm 3 3–9
acA640-300gc 3 3–9
acA720-290gm
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
acA720-290gc
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
acA780-75gm 24.5 24.5
acA780-75gc 24.5 24.5
acA800-200gm 3 3–10
acA800-200gc 3 3–10
acA1280-60gm 190–200a 190–200a
acA1280-60gc 190–200a 190–200a
acA1300-22gm 34.5 34.5
acA1300-22gc 34.5 34.5
acA1300-30gm 34.5 34.5
acA1300-30gc 34.5 34.5
acA1300-60gm
  • Global shutter mode: 43
  • Rolling shutter mode: 190–200a
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 35–48
  • Global shutter mode: 43
  • Rolling shutter mode: 190–200a
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 35–48a
acA1300-60gmNIR
  • Global shutter mode: 43
  • Rolling shutter mode: 190–200a
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 35–48
  • Global shutter mode: 43
  • Rolling shutter mode: 190–200a
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 35–48a
acA1300-60gc
  • Global shutter mode: 43
  • Rolling shutter mode: 190–200a
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 35–48
  • Global shutter mode: 43
  • Rolling shutter mode: 190–200a
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 35–48a
acA1300-75gm 3 3-15
acA1300-75gc 3 3-15
acA1440-73gm
acA1440-73gc
acA1600-20gm 45.54 45.54
acA1600-20gc 45.54 45.54
acA1600-60gm
  • Global shutter mode: 41.5
  • Rolling shutter mode: 180–240
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 34–51
  • Global shutter mode: 41.5
  • Rolling shutter mode: 180–240b
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 34–51b
acA1600-60gc
  • Global shutter mode: 41.5
  • Rolling shutter mode: 180–240
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 34–51
  • Global shutter mode: 41.5
  • Rolling shutter mode: 180–240
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 34–51
acA1920-25gm
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848–883
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
acA1920-25gc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848–883
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
acA1920-40gm
acA1920-40gc
acA1920-48gm 5 5–23
acA1920-48gc 5 5–23
acA1920-50gm 47.4 47.4
acA1920-50gc 47.4 47.4
acA2000-50gm 0.2 0.2–17.2
acA2000-50gmNIR 0.2 0.2–17.2
acA2000-50gc 0.2 0.2–17.2
acA2040-25gm 0.2 0.2–17.2
acA2040-25gmNIR 0.2 0.2–17.2
acA2040-25gc 0.2 0.2–17.2
acA2040-35gm 35 35
acA2040-35gc 35 35
acA2440-20gm 40 40
acA2440-20gc 40 40
acA2500-14gm
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848–883
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848–883
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
acA2500-14gc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848–883
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
  • Rolling shutter mode: 848–883
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 848
acA2500-20gm 5 5–28
acA2500-20gc 5 5–28
acA2500-20gmMED 5 5–28
acA2500-20gcMED 5 5–28
acA3088-16gm 2526 2526
acA3088-16gc 2526 2526
acA3800-10gm
  • Rolling shutter mode: 2900
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 2970
  • Rolling shutter mode: 2900
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 2970
acA3800-10gc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 2550
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 2620
  • Rolling shutter mode: 2550
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 2620
acA4024-8gm 2031d 2031
acA4024-8gc 2031d 2031
acA4096-11gm 66.3 66.3
acA4096-11gc 66.3 66.3
acA4112-8gm 66.3 66.3
acA4112-8gc 66.3 66.3
acA4600-7gc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 7700
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 7800
  • Rolling shutter mode: 7700
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 7800
acA5472-5gm
acA5472-5gc
acA640-750um 3.6 8.4
acA640-750uc 3.6 8.4
acA640-90um 22 22.7
acA640-90uc 22 22.7
acA640-120um 18 18.4
acA640-120uc 18 18.4
acA720-520um
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 11.5 / 27e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 18 / 35.5e
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 11.5 / 27e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 18 / 35.5e
acA720-520uc
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 11.5 / 27e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 18 / 35.5e
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 11.5 / 27e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 18 / 35.5e
acA800-510um 3.6 8.4
acA800-510uc 3.6 8.4
acA1300-200um 3.6 8.4
acA1300-200uc 3.6 8.4
acA1300-30um 35 34.8
acA1300-30uc 35 34.8
acA1440-220um
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
acA1440-220uc
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 13.5 / 29.5e
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 17.5 / 35.5e
acA1600-20um 46 46.6
acA1600-20uc 46 46.6
acA1920-25um
  • Rolling shutter mode: 35
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 850
Rolling shutter mode: 1200
acA1920-25uc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 35
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 850
Rolling shutter mode: 1200
acA1920-40um
acA1920-40uc
acA1920-40umMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 58 / 16270g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 75 / 20430g
acA1920-40ucMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 58 / 16270g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 75 / 20430g
acA1920-150um 3.4 13.5
acA1920-150uc 3.4 13.5
acA1920-155um
acA1920-155uc
acA1920-155umMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 17 / 5568g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 21 / 6608g
acA1920-155ucMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 17 / 5568g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 21 / 6608g
acA2040-90um 0.9–1.3c 0.9–20.3c
acA2040-90umNIR 0.9–1.3c 0.9–20.3c
acA2040-90uc 0.9–1.3c 0.9–20.3c
acA2000-165um 0.9–1.3c 0.9–20.3c
acA2000-165umNIR 0.9–1.3c 0.9–20.3c
acA2000-165uc 0.9–1.3c 0.9–20.3c
acA2040-55um 36 36
acA2040-55uc 36 36
acA2040-120um
acA2040-120uc
acA2440-35um 42 42
acA2440-35uc 42 42
acA2440-35umMED 42 / 11143g 42h
acA2440-35ucMED 42 / 11143g 42h
acA2440-75um
acA2440-75uc
acA2440-75umMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 18 / 6360g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 21 / 7142g
acA2440-75ucMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 18 / 6360g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 21 / 7142g
acA2500-14um 848 848–883
acA2500-14uc 848 848–883
acA2500-60um 3.4 13.5
acA2500-60uc 3.4 13.5
acA3088-57um

1761

acA3088-57uc 1761
acA3800-14um
  • Rolling shutter mode: 2970
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 2845
Rolling shutter mode: 5560
acA3800-14uc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 2620
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 2845
Rolling shutter mode: 5560
acA4024-29um 581
acA4024-29uc 581
acA4096-30um 43 43
acA4096-30uc 43 43
acA4096-30umMED 43 / 11059g 43h
acA4096-30ucMED 43 / 11059g 43h
acA4096-40um
acA4096-40uc
acA4096-40umMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 30 / 11946g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 35 / 13478g
acA4096-40ucMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 30 / 11946g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 35 / 13478g
acA4112-20um 43 43
acA4112-20uc 43 43
acA4112-20umMED 43 / 11807g 43h
acA4112-20ucMED 43 / 11807g 43h
acA4112-30um
acA4112-30uc
acA4112-30umMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 30 / 11946g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 35 / 13478g
acA4112-30ucMED
  • 8-bit pixel formats: 30 / 11946g
  • 12-bit pixel formats: 35 / 13478g
acA4600-10uc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 7855
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 7840
Rolling shutter mode: 11000
acA5472–17um
  • Rolling shutter mode: 820 / 969f
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 103 / 123f
N/A
acA5472–17uc
  • Rolling shutter mode: 820 / 969f
  • Global Reset Release shutter mode: 103 / 123f
N/A
boA4096-93cm tbd tbd
boA4096-93cc tbd tbd
boA4112-68cm tbd tbd
boA4112-68cc tbd tbd
All dart BCON for LVDS camera models N/A N/A
All dart BCON for MIPI cameras models N/A N/A
All dart USB 3.0 camera models N/A N/A
All pulse USB 3.0 camera models N/A N/A

aValue depends on the exposure time set.

bValue depends on the exposure time and the pixel format set.

cThe shortest delays apply when maximum bandwidth is available. The delays increase as available bandwidth decreases.

dIn addition to the exposure start delay, the image ROI exposure start delay applies.

eStandard exposure time mode / Ultra Short exposure time mode

f8-bit pixel format / 12-bit pixel format

gStandard camera operation mode / Long Exposure camera operation mode

hOverlapping image acquisition is only possible in Standard camera operation mode.