Scorpion Vision Software supports Network cameras that serve images via http or ftp servers.

• NetworkCamera.dll

Currently tested with Sony SNC-CS20 Network Camera.

Prerequisites

• Scorpion Vision Software version 7 or higher
• Configured Network Camera

Note: On some machines with Windows Vista and Internet Explorer 8, driver may not load due missing dependency IEShims.dll. In that case copy IEShims.dll from C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer to the same folder where NetworkCamera.dll installed.

Property page

• URL
  Http or Ftp URL to image. URL for Sony Network Camera is http://<camera_address>/oneshotimage.jpg.
• Request Rate Mult and Request Rate Div
  These are multiplier and divider to the actual request rate, calculated as follows:
  Actual Request Rate (seconds per image) = "Request Rate Mult" / "Request Rate Div".
  The valid value range for both parameters is [1..60] seconds. Thus the actual request rate interval can be specified from the range of [1/60s..60s].
  The actual request rate is frequency by which network camera is requested for a new image. If there is some network problem or delay then Scorpion would receive the image with delay, or would not receive at all. However the session is opened/closed each time image is being requested, so if the network problem is not permanent, it should not affect subsequent image requests.
  Note: to set Frame rate for Sony SNC-CS20 camera, use Internet Explorer to navigate to settings page and then choose Camera -> Video Codec. Change JPEG setting Frame Rate and click OK. The camera refresh rate must match the actual refresh rate specified in the driver.
• Image Width/Height
  Image size in pixels.
• Grayscale
  Use grayscale image (8bits per pixel).
• Log level
  Level 0 suppresses all messages.
  Level 1 issues error and warning messages.
  Levels 2,3,4 issue diagnostic messages. Beware that level 4 produces a lot of messages therefore should be used only on small size images for diagnostic purposes only.
• Also log into file.
  Write camera related messages into log file. Normally messages are written only on Scorpion console, provided console is enabled for camera messages.

Properties available from Python

The following named properties can be dynamically accessed with the 'SetProperty' and 'GetProperty' commands:

• 'continuous' or 'continous'  - read/write
• 'width' - read only
• 'height' - read only
• 'grayscale' - read only
• 'RefreshRate' - read/write
• 'RefreshRateUnit' - read/write

Example 1: Start Continuous grabbing

  GetCamera('0').setProperty('continuous', 1)

Example 2: Stop Continuous grabbing

  GetCamera('0').setProperty('continuous', 0)

Example 3: Set image request rate to 1 image per 5 seconds

  cam= GetCamera('0')
  cam.setProperty('RefreshRateUnit', 5)
  cam.setProperty('RefreshRate', 1)

Example 4: Set image request rate to 8 images per 3 seconds

  cam= GetCamera('0')
  cam.setProperty('RefreshRateUnit', 3)
  cam.setProperty('RefreshRate', 8)