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DCx Cameras

2.4 Reading Out Partial Images

The camera sensors have defined resolutions which are given as the number of pixels (width x height). However,

for some applications it may be necessary to read out only a selected part of the sensor area or to reduce the local

resolution. For this purpose, the DCx Cameras provide various functions:

Area of interest (AOI)

Subsampling (skipping) pixels

Binning (combining) pixels

These functions reduce the amount of data to be transferred and thus allow you to increase the frame rate

considerably, depending on the camera model.

2.4.1 Area of Interest (AOI)

Using this function, you can set the size and position of an area of interest (AOI) within an image. In this case, only

data included in this AOI will be read out and transferred to the computer. The smaller partial image enables the

camera to use a higher frame rate.

For information on the AOI position grid and the frame rates that your camera model can achieve with AOI, see the

model specifications in the Camera and sensor data chapter.

AOI readout on monochrome sensors

AOI readout on color sensors

Note

Step widths for AOI definition (position grid): The available step widths for the position and size of image AOIs

depend on the sensor. The values defining the position and size of an AOI have to be integer multiples of the

allowed step widths.

For details on the AOI grids of the individual camera models, please see Camera and sensor data and click a

camera model.

Please note that, after defining an AOI, the resulting image may be darker if the camera cannot maintain the

originally set exposure time due to the increased frame rate.

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THORLABS DCU223x User Manual

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