# AcquireImage

The AcquireImage function specifies the parameters for capturing a digital image and transferring it to the processing memory of the In-Sight vision system.

The In-Sight vision systems capture all images using asynchronous reset and progressive scan. The greyscale vision systems produce 8-bit images, while the color vision systems (indicated with a C suffix) produce 24-bit images. The image acquisition process begins within approximately 250 microseconds for all vision systems, and proceeds as follows:

- The image sensor integrates light for the duration of time specified by the Exposure parameter.
- The image accumulated in the image sensor is transferred, row-by-row, into a serial shift register.

- For every row transfer, the sensor clocks the shift register, pixel-by-pixel, out of the image sensor through the following path:

  Video amplifier -> Gain and Offset -> Analog-to-digital converter -> Vision processor memory

The memory buffer containing the acquired image is represented in the Spreadsheet as an Image data structure. The Image data structure returned by AcquireImage is in turn referenced by other In-Sight Spreadsheet functions that process image regions. Any function that directly or indirectly depends on the acquired image data is forced to update when a new image is acquired. This relationship between the input image and other functions in the Spreadsheet is what drives the execution of vision tasks on the In-Sight vision systems. For more information on dependencies and cell execution order, see Spreadsheet Cell Execution.

When a Spreadsheet is initially created, an AcquireImage function is automatically added and located in cell A0. Most Vision Tool functions, as well as many other functions, take advantage of this by specifying an absolute reference to cell A0 as their default image source. For more information, see Cell References.

CAUTION: You can delete the AcquireImage function from the Spreadsheet, but it is NOT recommended to do so, as it makes image acquisition impossible. If you accidentally delete the AcquireImage function in cell A0, undo the removal with the Edit > Undo menu, or press Ctrl+Z.

If you want to change the parameters for AcquireImage, click the Acquisition panel next to the Spreadsheet.

## ApplyAcquisitionSettings

Note:

- The AcquireImage property sheet also displays a blue exclamation icon when an associated parameter is dragged-and-dropped from the ApplyAcquisitionSettings property sheet. For more information, see ApplyAcquisitionSettings.
- If a parameter is referenced by multiple ApplyAcquisitionSettings functions, the icon indicates the cell locations of ApplyAcquisitionSettings function (up to five locations).

- If you uncheck a parameter on the ApplyAcquisitionSettings property sheet, the blue exclamation icon of the associated parameter no longer displays in the AcquireImage property sheet.