System parameters
- Gisela Roberts
- Dev Ops
- Ben Stanley
These system-wide settings are displayed at the top of the System panel. They affect all the connected cameras and devices.
Some settings are only available when advanced parameters are displayed (at the top right of the panel, click Advanced Parameters
).
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Frame Rate | The requested rate (in Hz) at which to synchronize the Vicon cameras and the external video signal. If the requested rate cannot be achieved, this control also displays the actual rate. This may be because a connected device doesn't support the requested frame rate, or because the requested frame rate isn't a multiple of the base clock rate (135 MHz). Default: 120 Hz. |
|
Genlock Setup |
Enables you to choose to lock to an external genlock signal and to select a genlock standard. The type of video standard supported by the connected video source: None, PAL, NTSC, Film, 30Hz, VESA, SDI and SteamVR™ (to display the complete list, click in the Genlock Setup field). In the list, the icon to the left of each option provides additional information about the availability of that standard.  Note: The 30Hz option enables you to run the Vicon system at multiples of 30 frames per second (above 50 fps), with timecode and genlock capability at true 30 fps, and works with Vicon Locks. Default: No genlock, None. |
| Timecode Setup | Enables you to choose to lock to an external timecode signal and to select a timecode source. Default: No timecode lock, None. |
| Genlock Offset | Enables you to specify a system offset relative to the genlock signal, as a fraction of the genlock frame period. For VESA modes, use the VESA Offset control. Default: 0.00 |
| VESA Offset | Enables you to specify a system offset relative to the VESA signal, as a fraction of the VESA frame period. For non-VESA modes, use the Genlock Offset control. Default: 0.00 |
|
Preferred Sync Source |
Enables you to choose the device (known as the sync source) that provides the overall synchronization signal to the system. You can select from these options:
In the System panel, the entry for the device selected as the Vicon system sync source, is displayed in bold.
|
| Enable Tap-To-Select | Enable the Tap-to-Select feature of cameras that are equipped with accelerometers. Default: Selected |
| Enable Press-To-Select | Enable selection of a peripheral with a short press of a button. Default: Selected |
| Enable Strobes | Enable the strobes on cameras. Default: Selected |
|
Force Lowest Latency |
(Only displayed for Vicon cameras that offer this option) When selected, Vicon cameras that offer this option are forced into a mode that provides the lowest possible latency at the cost of reducing grayscale and centroid throughput. Caution: In some systems with high numbers of cameras, selecting this option may cause network issues that are manifest as cameras appearing to drop out.Default: Selected |
You can manage system file settings from the System Settings menu, to the right of the top menu bar, next to View Settings.
From here you can import system settings, save the current settings, or manage saved settings.
The following properties are displayed in the lower part of the System panel when you click on a device or the device type heading.
Vicon Cameras settings
These properties are displayed in the lower part of the System panel when you click on Vicon Cameras or an individual camera.
Some properties are only available when advanced parameters are displayed (at the top right of the Properties pane, click Advanced Parameters
).- General section
- Optical Setup section
- Centroid Fitting section
- Temperature section
- Accelerometer section
- Display section
General section
Control
Description
Enabled
The enabled state of the device
Default: Selected
User ID
The customizable numeric ID of the device
Name
A user-defined display name for the entire set of Vicon devices or for each individual Vicon device.
Preview Mode
Displays the current preview mode (Off or Previewing).
Device ID
The unique identification number Vicon assigns to each Vicon device during manufacture.
Serial Number
The device's serial number (if set).
Firmware Version
The version number of the Vicon firmware currently installed on the Vicon device.
MAC Address
The Media Access Control (MAC) address assigned to the Vicon device during manufacture. This is a hexadecimal value in the format ##.##.##.##.##.##.
IP Address
The Internet Protocol (IP) address assigned to the Vicon device on the Vicon Ethernet network.
| Destination IP Address | Determines to which port and network adapter on the host PC the device sends data. Always choose the shortest possible path between the device and the computer and ensure that the network adapter with the destination IP address is plugged into the same Vicon connectivity device or switch as the device. Default: Default For more information, see Vicon system setup information. |
|
Enable Active Markers
|
Displays the status of the LED on the front of Viper and Valkyrie cameras. |
Optical Setup section
| Control | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Strobe Intensity (for cameras with strobes), or Optical Shutter Duration (for cameras without strobes) |
For cameras with strobes, enables you to specify the duration that the camera's strobes are on and the shutter is open, when in optical (non-video) mode. For cameras without strobes, enables you to specify the duration that the shutter is open, when in optical (non-video) mode. Default: 1.00 |
|
| Threshold | The global threshold value, ie, the minimum brightness (intensity) for markers; pixels of an intensity lower than this threshold are ignored. This value can be set between 0–1 to determine the pixels to be considered for centroid fitting onboard the Vicon cameras. Lower settings enable the camera to detect lower light levels, thus making the markers appear larger, but may pick up unwanted reflections and other light sources. Higher settings reduce the noise, but make the markers themselves less visible. This setting differentiates between markers and ambient light. A Vicon camera records 10-bit grayscale data, which for each sensor pixel is a measure of how much light fell on that pixel during a given amount of time. However, the cameras will almost always pick up some ambient light in the volume. To enable the cameras to distinguish between light that comes from markers and light that does not, a threshold is applied. Anything above this threshold is deemed to be a marker, anything below is deemed to be ambient light. A value in the region of 0.2 to 0.5 is usually appropriate, but Vicon strongly recommends that you use static markers in the volume in order to establish an appropriate setting. If cameras are evenly spaced around the volume, the same threshold value is usually sufficient for all cameras. Adjust this setting, the Strobe Intensity, and the camera's aperture until reflections are minimized or gone. Default: 0.20 |
|
| Grayscale Mode | The type of data for processed grayscale blobs that the Vicon cameras send to Vicon Evoke. (Note that if Low Jitter Mode is selected (see Processing parameters), this mode is locked to Only.) The Vicon cameras perform data processing to create 2D data for Vicon markers. They generate grayscale blobs for reflections from objects in the capture volume and then use centroid-fitting algorithms to determine which of these are likely to be markers by comparing the shape of the grayscale blobs to the Circularity Threshold and Maximum Blob Height settings. During this processing, Vicon cameras can produce the following types of data for grayscale blobs: centroids data (x, y coordinates and the radius of the centroid calculated), grayscale data (pixel and line information), or coordinates data (line information, that is, grayscale data without pixel values). Default: Only You can specify which type of processed data Vicon cameras send to Evoke: |
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Auto | Send grayscale data only of the grayscale blobs for which centroids were not generated, that is, those below the threshold specified for Circularity Threshold. Send coordinates data of grayscale blobs for which one or more line segments, or the total number of lines in the blob, exceeds the value set for Maximum Blob Height. If a marker can be centroid fitted by the camera, the centroid is passed to the capture PC. If it cannot, the full grayscale of the image is sent, allowing the data to be post-processed on the PC. This is the default and recommended mode. |
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None | Send no grayscale data; send only centroid data (i.e, x, y, and radius data). Any ambiguous grayscale data will be discarded. |
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All | Send grayscale data both of grayscale blobs for which centroids were generated and of those for which centroids were not generated, that is those below the threshold specified for Circularity Threshold. Send coordinates data of grayscale blobs for which one or more line segments, or the total number of lines in the blob, exceeds the value set for Maximum Blob Height. Select this setting if you need to see exactly where the camera calculates the centroid with respect to the grayscale marker image, for example when adjusting parameters. This setting results in much larger data rates and files; it may be useful for diagnostic purposes, but do not use it in normal capture situations. |
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Only | Send all grayscale and coordinates data; send no centroid data. This setting is useful when focusing or making other adjustments to the cameras themselves as you see exactly the image recorded on the sensor. |
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Edges | Send only edge coordinates data; send no centroid or grayscale data. If data rates are very high, for example when there are too many reflections, the camera automatically enters this mode. Use this setting to manually force the camera into this mode. |
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No Edges | Send grayscale data both of grayscale blobs for which centroids were generated and of those for which centroids were not generated; send no coordinates data. Use this setting to prevent the Vicon camera from sending edge coordinates. Caution: Even if you have not specified a Grayscale Mode setting that would have coordinates data sent to Evoke, a Vicon camera automatically sends coordinates data – either temporarily or permanently – if it is overloaded with data (e.g., too many markers, too many reflections, hand or reflective objects immediately in front of the camera, too low a threshold or too high a gain). If a camera automatically starts to present coordinates data, identify the source of the overload and attempt to remedy it. |
| Gain | The amplification of the pixel value. Select a displayed value to determine the intensity of the grayscale from the Vicon cameras: 1x, 2x, 4x, or 8x. (The available values are those supported by the camera.) This setting is applied to the camera to change the dynamic range of the recorded image. Increasing the Gain means that the marker has less variation in grayscale intensity between its center and its edge, but in certain circumstances, using a higher gain yields markers that are easier for the camera to distinguish. Adjust this setting if the markers appear too faint or if the cameras have trouble distinguishing them; otherwise, leave the this property at the default setting. Default: 1x |
|
Centroid Fitting section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Maximum Blob Height | The maximum number of pixels per line that a grayscale blob can contain in a horizontal line. If the number of pixels exceeds this value, the Vicon camera determines that the grayscale blob is not a marker, stops processing it, and discards the pixel values (it preserves just the coordinates data, which can be sent to Evoke, depending on the Grayscale Mode setting). Set this value between 1–500 to determine how large a grayscale blob can be for a Vicon camera to consider it a candidate marker. The Vicon cameras consider grayscale blobs with horizontal lines containing this number or fewer pixels to be good-sized, circular marker images. The higher the value, the larger a grayscale blob can be; the lower the value, the smaller a grayscale blob must be. Default: 50 |
| Circularity Threshold | The circularity threshold used by the centroid-fitting algorithms in a Vicon camera. (Note that this parameter is deactivated if Low Jitter mode is selected.) This value can be set between 0–1 to determine how similar a grayscale blob must be to the internal model of a marker – that is a radially symmetric object that has smooth, sharp edges and whose pixel intensity is brightest at the center and gradually fades towards the edges. The Vicon cameras consider grayscale blobs with circularity equal to or greater than this threshold to be well-formed, circular marker images. The higher the value, the more stringent the centroid fitter is; the lower the value, the less stringent the centroid fitter is. You may want to apply higher settings for camera calibration to ensure that Evoke selects the best markers and thus provides the best possible calibration. Default: 0.50 |
Temperature section
The parameters displayed in this section depend on the selected camera.
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Camera Body 1 & Camera Body 2 |
Displays the temperature (in degrees Celsius) reported by the camera body temperature sensors. |
|
Strobe |
Displays the temperature (in degrees Celsius) reported by the strobe temperature sensor (strobed cameras only). |
Accelerometer section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Bump Sensitivity | Select the sensitivity of the camera's accelerometer for detecting when the camera has been bumped. Default: Medium |
Display section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Enable Status Lights |
When selected, the status lights on the Vicon camera provide feedback on the status of the camera. Default: Selected |
Vicon Video Cameras settings
These properties are displayed in the lower part of the System panel, when you click on Vicon Video Cameras or an individual Vicon video camera.
Some properties are only available when advanced parameters are displayed (at the top right of the Properties pane, click Advanced Parameters
).General section
|
Enable Status Lights |
When selected, the status lights on the Vicon device provide feedback on the status of the device. |
| Destination IP Address | Determines to which port and network adapter on the host PC the device sends data. For video cameras, the Destination IP address must not be shared with another camera. Always choose the shortest possible path between the device and the computer and ensure that the network adapter with the destination IP address is plugged into the same Vicon connectivity device or switch as the device. Default: Default For more information, see Vicon system setup information. |
| Sub Sampling Divisor |
The ratio of system frames (the frame rate reported at the top of the System panel) to device frames, for example, 2:1 means the device runs at half the rate of the rest of the system. |
Video Setup section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Shutter Duration |
The length of time that the camera shutter is open during an image capture. The maximum shutter speed cannot exceed the value specified in Frame Rate. For example, if the frame rate is set to 50 fps, an image is taken every 20 milliseconds, the shutter speed cannot exceed 19 ms. |
| Red, Green and Blue Gain | The digital amplification of the pixel value. |
| Red, Green and Blue Brightness Offset |
A linear intensity offset that is applied to each component of the video image. Where Gain is a multiplication, Brightness Offset adds a value to the component. |
Connectivity Devices settings
These properties are displayed in the lower part of the System panel when you click on Connectivity Devices or an individual device (eg, Vicon Lock units or Beacons).
Some properties are only available when advanced parameters are displayed (at the top right of the Properties pane, click Advanced Parameters
).General section
GPO Programs
(Vicon Lock units only)
General Purpose Outputs (GPO) enable you to configure your system to trigger external equipment on or around each camera frame sync pulse.
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Pins 1–8 |
The .gpo configuration file to use to specify the synchronization signal for Powered Sync Output 1–8 in the rear panel of the connectivity device. |
Radio section
(Vicon Beacons only)
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Radio Channel |
Displays the radio channel to use. To avoid interference, ensure each radio device in range uses a different channel. |
| Radio Host ID |
IEEE 802.15.4 Coordinator ID, assigned by Vicon to each radio host during manufacture. Required for pairing devices via USB or API. |
| Radio PAN ID |
IEEE 802.15.4 Personal Area Network (PAN) ID assigned to the device on the Vicon wireless network. Required for pairing devices via USB or API. |
Display section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Enable Status Lights |
When selected, the status lights on the Vicon device provide feedback on the status of the device. |
Clusters settings
These properties are displayed in the lower part of the System panel when you click on Clusters or an individual Pulsar.
Some properties are only available when advanced parameters are displayed (at the top right of the Properties pane, click Advanced Parameters
).General section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Enabled |
Whether or not the cluster is currently enabled for use. While smart objects are in use, this parameter is automatically managed and read-only. |
| User ID | The numeric ID of the cluster. |
| Name |
A user-defined display name for the cluster. |
|
Device ID |
The unique identification number Vicon assigns to each Vicon device during manufacture. |
|
Serial Number |
The device's serial number (if set). |
|
Firmware Version |
The version number of the Vicon firmware currently installed on the Vicon device. |
Battery section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Battery Charge |
Depending on whether you click the Clusters heading or an individual Pulsar: |
|
Battery Recharging |
Indicates if the battery is currently recharging. |
Markers section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Brightness % |
Enables you to change the percentage of power supplied to the marker lights. Higher brightness increases the detection range at the cost of a shorter battery life. Range: 1–100%, default 100% |
|
Pattern |
The pattern bit-mask of the active markers. A set bit indicates that the active marker at that index will be enabled. |
|
On While Charging |
When selected, the IR marker LEDs remain on while the device is charging. This parameter is also available for smart objects (in the Properties pane of the Tracking panel). When a Pulsar is linked to a smart object, it inherits the smart object value for Markers On While Charging. |
Pairing section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Pairing Host Device ID | Device ID of the paired radio host device |
| Pairing PAN ID | PAN ID of the paired radio host device |
| Pairing Channel | Channel of the paired radio host device |
Display section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
|
Enable Status Lights |
When selected, the status lights on the Vicon device provide feedback on the status of the device. Default: Selected |
Buttons section
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Buttons Enabled | When selected, the buttons on the cluster are activated. Note that the hardware reset function (10s press) cannot be disabled. Default: Selected |
