What frame rates can the Image Acquisition Toolbox support to acquire images?

I would like to know how fast the Image Acquisition Toolbox can acquire images.

In addition, I would like to know the speed characteristics (video-rate) for image acquisition with the Image Acquisition Toolbox.

I also would like to know how many images can be treated in real time with the Image Acquisition Toolbox.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This information can be found in the Image Acquisition Toolbox documentation at the following URL:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/imaq/determining-the-rate-of-acquisition.html

The frame rate is a characteristic of the camera (the device). For example, standard RS170 and NTSC cameras will operate at 30 Hz, CCIR and PAL will operate at 25 Hz. Non-standard devices can be configured to operate at higher rates. Any rate supported by the device and the acquisition system is supported by the toolbox.

Frame rate is a device-specific property. All device-specific properties are properties of video source objects, not video input objects. To access these device specific properties from MATLAB, use this code:

vid = videoinput('winvideo');
src = getselectedsource(vid);
get(src)

If your device exposes a frame rate property, it should be included in the list of properties. If you see a frame rate property listed, you can change its value using the toolbox's SET function on the video source object (src).

If you do not see a frame rate property listed, there is no way to change it from inside MATLAB.

In regards to how many images can be acquired and processed in real-time, it depends what is meant by "real-time". The Image Acquisition Toolbox processes data as it is acquiring it. Given a fast enough processor, simple enough algorithm, or slow enough acquisition rate, the toolbox can process data as it comes in. We often refer to this as "soft real-time."

This is in contrast to "hard real-time" systems, such as xPC and RTW, where you are guaranteed to execute a certain line of code every x milliseconds. The Image Acquisition Toolbox does not make this guarantee.