The development process of configuring, controlling, and verifying an image sensor can be a challenging task. onsemi provides a versatile and powerful tool known as DevWareX that can make this development process shorter, accurate, and more efficient.
This tool allows you to program your image sensor, display and evaluate images, along with running Python scripts to capture and save images. There are many built-in tools to help debug issues. There is also ApBase library, which is the associated software development kit (SDK) that allows the development of custom applications for image sensor control and image display.
Image sensors are configured and controlled via a set of “registers”, and once the output is configured, a stream of images at the configured size and speed (Frames per Second, or “fps”). DevWareX and ApBase enable the image sensor to access these operations.
onsemi supplies three types of image sensors and are all supported by DevWareX.
- Image Sensor: the most common type, provides a “raw” image. The image sensor is connected to an Image Sensor Processor (ISP) for configuration, control, and processing of the streaming image.
- System on a Chip (SOC): contains both the image sensor and ISP in a single package.
- Image Sensor Processor (ISP ): provides configuration, control, and processing of the image from the image sensor.
Below is a list of DevWareX sensor controls and displays:
- Apps Controls: display control app settings, and sensor display options.
- Feature Toolbar: sensor-specific control options.
- Live Video: streaming output image from the sensor.
- Register Log: capture of settings applied to the sensor.
- Sensor / Demo Info: information on the application and sensor configuration.
- Watch Window: enables the real-time viewing of register value changes.
- Image Graph: real-time analysis using common evaluation methods.
- Sensor Control: main sensor and application control page. Easy access to common sensor and DevWareX features.
- Register: display and control of the sensor’s registers.
- Presets: apply the configuration and control settings for the sensor.
DevWareX is the main application with the DevSuite set of image sensor applications. A comprehensive document is available for DevSuite which includes beginner tutorial documents and training videos to detailed descriptions of individual features and concepts. As well as detailed DevWareX documents, and it’s newest features.
There are several methods within DevWareX for users to develop their own configuration and control scripts, plugins, and applications which are listed below.
- Presets in INI and Python format: create scripts that run within DevWareX.
- Plugin: develop a Windows DLL that runs within DevWareX and can tap in DevWareX’s image ColorPipe (the portion of DevWareX that takes the “raw” sensor image and adjusts it to its best view). The DLL can control other devices within the system (e.g., image sensor auto focus controls).
Stand-Alone Applications: using ApBase to create DevWareX-like applications to perform customized configuration, control, and display of the image sensor. The option is available for more information regarding various SDKs.The one most commonly requested and used by customers is ApBase.
We encourage you to explore the various documents available to learn more about the wide range of image sensor support provided by DevWareX and ApBase.
The free version of the DevWare X software is available here.
To get a hands on DevWareX demonstration, register for our webinar here
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