ADLINK PCIe-GIE72/74 Image Acquisition Card Deployment Guide

2.4 ToE (Trigger over Ethernet) - PRO Edition Exclusive

ToE is based on the Action Command mechanism in the GigE Vision standard, which triggers one or more cameras to synchronously capture data through a single broadcast packet without the need for additional hardware trigger lines. The working principle is as follows:

Users pre configure ActionDeviceKey, ActionGroupKey, and ActionGroupMask for each channel, which need to match the camera settings.

When the rising or falling edge of the external trigger signal (via the onboard Trigger In connector) is captured by the firmware, the firmware immediately sends a preset Action Command packet.

After receiving a valid matching key, the camera executes corresponding actions (such as Frame Start, Acquisition Start/Stop, Timestamp Reset, etc.).

Key advantage: The delay from trigger signal capture to data packet transmission is fixed and jitter free (low nanosecond level), ensuring precise synchronization of multi camera systems, especially suitable for high-speed motion detection and 3D scanning.

ToE configuration can be easily completed through ADLINK Smart GigE Tool or SDK, and each channel can independently set action content.

2.5 Software License Management (PRO Version)

The PRO version comes with a secure EEPROM based on SHA256 encryption, allowing third-party software developers to bind license keys to hardware for pay per function and copy protection. Without the need for an external encryption dongle, secure authorization verification can be achieved through SDK, protecting intellectual property while reducing system complexity.

Detailed explanation of hardware installation and onboard interfaces

3.1 Physical Installation

Turn off the power of the industrial computer and insert it into any PCIe x4, x8, or x16 slot (board size 167.6 × 106.6mm).

Lock the stopper with a fixed screw.

If using external 12V power supply, please connect the 4-pin (CN3) or 6-pin (CN4) Molex connector to the power supply. Note that the CN3 pin is+12V, GND, GND,+5 (+5 is reserved, only+12V and GND are actually used); CN4 provides 3+12V pins (1/2/3) and 3 GND pins (4/5/6). The Sense line (No. 5) is used for remote compensation and can be suspended if not in use.

Connect the camera or switch via an RJ-45 Ethernet cable (either directly or through a switch, but direct connection is recommended for optimal PoE performance).

After power on, the system automatically installs the Intel I210 driver (which needs to be downloaded from ADLINK or Intel's official website).

3.2 Onboard indicator lights and diagnostics

RJ-45 port LED: The left LED displays the speed (off=10M, green=100M, yellow=1000M), and the right LED displays the link/activity (off=no link, green=linked, flashing=data activity).

PoE status LED: Four yellow LEDs correspond to ports 1 to 4, and constant light indicates normal PoE power supply.

Onboard 9 status LEDs (LED1~9): LED1~4 indicates the downstream link status of the PCIe switch (flashing=normal); LED5-8 indicates upstream link speed (ON=Gen2, flashing=Gen1); LED9 indicates an error (ON=abnormal).

Trigger In connector (CN6): 10 pin pin header, providing 5 isolated inputs (Line1~Line4 and common terminal COM_i), used to connect external trigger sources (such as photoelectric sensors, encoder Z signals). The trigger connector on the I/O block (optional for PRO version) is consistent with the CN6 pin, making it convenient for external wiring.

3.3 Onboard configuration switch

Card ID (SW1): A 4-digit dial code used to set the card number (0-15), with a default of 15 (0x1111), to identify uniqueness in multi card systems.

PoE switch (SW3): Bit1 controls the PoE hardware switch (ON=disabled, OFF=enabled, default OFF); Bit2 controls the initial state of power on (ON=Power on PoE off, OFF=Power on PoE on, default OFF). If a port needs to be temporarily closed, it can be achieved through software APIs.

Software Environment and Development Support

4.1 Operating System and Drivers

Supports Windows 7/8.1/10 (32/64 bit) and provides SDKs compatible with C #, VB.net, and VC++. The driver package includes Intel I210 network card drivers and ADLINK feature libraries. After installation, the "ADLINK PCIe-GIE7x" device and its corresponding Intel I210 network card appear in the Device Manager.

4.2 Main Development Tools

Smart GigE Tool: A graphical configuration tool used for scanning cameras, setting IP addresses, configuring ToE parameters, and managing PoE power (real-time monitoring of voltage/current/temperature/budget).

Power Management SDK: Programming interface that allows applications to dynamically switch PoE ports, query power consumption, set overheating thresholds, and handle overload events (such as callback notifications).

ToE SDK: Configure Action Command key and trigger edge, and register callback functions to respond to trigger events.

4.3 Multi camera synchronization and bandwidth management

Each port works independently and supports Link Aggregation and jumbo frames (9KB), improving the efficiency of large data transmission.

The IEEE 1588 (PTP) hardware timestamp function (hardware support, software implementation required) can add precise time labels to images and assist in multi camera image fusion.