TcCOM parameters

The parameters of the three TcCOM modules Image Acquisition, GVCP and GVSP are described below. Adjusting these parameters can help certain cameras to establish a stable connection. The configuration tree should be used to change the parameters.

Initially, only the parameter InitializationAutoMode is relevant here. The setting of the remaining parameters can, however, be necessary in the case of connection or initialization problems.

	Reloading in the case of parameter changes For parameter changes to become effective, the corresponding objects must be reloaded.

Image Acquisition module

Feature	Description
CameraIPAddress	IP address of the camera. This IP address is used with the Force IP command. If this IP address is changed, the Initialization Commands must be re-created in order for the change to become effective. In addition, the corresponding option in the Configuration must be activated for the Force IP command.
InitializationTimeout	Maximum time for transferring the initialization parameters to the camera. Depending on the camera used, the transmission may take longer, in which case the parameter has to be adjusted accordingly. Unit: milliseconds (ms) Default: 2,000
InitializationAutoMode	Selection of the way in which the initialization of the camera is to be executed automatically by the ImageAcquisition TcCOM object. Communication with the camera is impossible if it has not been initialized. AUTOINIT_SO: the camera is initialized during the start-up phase of the TcCOM object. In this phase only a limited amount of time is available. If initialization parameters are used, the initialization normally cannot be carried out within this start-up phase on account of the potential timeout. In this case the behavior of AUTOINIT_AFTER_SO is applied, even if AUTOINIT_SO is selected. AUTOINIT_AFTER_SO: the TcCOM object enters the OP state without initializing the camera. Only when the connection to the camera is opened from the PLC (e.g. with `FB_VN_SimpleCameraControl.StartAcquisition()` or with `FB_VN_GevCameraControl.OpenCamera()`), the camera is initialized automatically. NO_AUTOINIT: the camera is only initialized when `GevCameraController.InitializeCamera()` is called. This option is conceived for the case that full control over the initialization is required in order to execute it at a certain time. Standard: AUTOINIT_AFTER_SO.
EnableConcatenatedCommands	Option to select whether the associated commands should be linked or sent individually when writing several commands to the camera, for example the initialization parameters. The linking of the commands makes the transmission quicker, but may lead to problems with some cameras. Default: activated.

GVCP module

Feature	Description
LocalPort	The local UDP port through which the GVCP module communicates. If the value is zero, an automatically generated port is used. Default: 0
MaxTimeouts	The maximum number of transmission timeouts that may occur before a GVCP packet is discarded. After each timeout the GVCP packet is resent. If the maximum number of timeouts is reached, an error is output. Default: 3 (adapted to the camera)
TransmissionTimeout	After sending a GVCP packet, a response is awaited. If the response takes longer than the TransmissionTimeout time, it is assumed that the packet has not arrived, in which case the packet is retransmitted. Unit: milliseconds (ms) Default: 600 (adapted to the camera) The TransmissionTimeout should be less than the HeartbeatRate.
HeartbeatRate	The control channel of the application sends a heartbeat signal to the camera to check if the connection is still valid. The HeartbeatRate describes the time after which the next signal is sent. Unit: milliseconds (ms) Default: 1,000 The HeartbeatRate should not be set arbitrarily high, since many cameras trigger a timeout after a few seconds without heartbeat.
DiscoveryTimeout	The DiscoveryTimeout describes the time taken to wait for a Discovery command to respond. The Discovery command is sent when searching for cameras in the network. Unit: milliseconds (ms) Default: 1,000

GVSP module

Feature	Description
LocalPort	The local UDP port through which the GVCP module communicates. If the value is zero, an automatically generated port is used. Default: 0
MaxPacketSize	The MaxPacketSize describes the maximum packet size of a GVSP packet. The header of the Ethernet frame is not included in this size. Unit: byte Default: 1,500 At present 1,500 is the limit for this parameter. No jumbo frames are possible.
MinPacketDelay	If the MinPacketDelay is increased, the GVSP packets are artificially delayed. This allows the bandwidth to be reduced. Unit: timestamp counter unit(s) Default: 0
MaxResendRequests	The maximum number of resend requests for a single GVSP packet that was faulty or took too long. An image is transmitted in a GVSP block consisting of several packets. The image is invalid if a packet of a block could not be successfully transmitted. Default: 1
MaxBlockNumber	Maximum number of GVSP blocks that can be processed simultaneously. If the value is zero, the number is unlimited. Default: 5
MaxPacketNumber	The maximum number of GVSP packets in a block. Blocks containing more packets cannot be interpreted as a valid image. Default: 25,000 The number is calculated automatically if the option "Automatically calculate the MaxPacketNumber" is active in the Preferences settings.
BlockTimeout	The BlockTimeout describes the time that may elapse between individual packets of a block. Unit: microseconds (µs) Default: 5,000