Image Capture Tool

Introduction
The Image Capture Tool (AxsunImageCaptureTool.exe) is a software interface for users of the Axsun Ethernet/PCIe DAQ.  It provides a tab- and button-based GUI to easily view the captured image data transmitted from the DAQ device by exposing functionality in the AxsunOCTCapture API.  It supports image capture over Gigabit Ethernet and PCIe interfaces, as well as DAQ imaging mode controls over the PCIe interface only.
The Image Capture Tool is not intended to be a fully-featured OCT image capture and analysis application, but rather a springboard for integrating the AxsunOCTCapture API into the user's custom OCT imaging application.  The Image Capture Tool's primary functions include: 
Retrieve and Display OCT data (unprocessed or processed images) transmitted by the DAQ 
Supports all data types (8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, complex)
Indicate DAQ imaging mode, status of data buffer and Image_sync synchronization trigger
Save and load data buffers to/from disk
Expose secondary AxsunOCTCapture API features such as:
OpenGL-based rendering, image cropping, image averaging, etc.
Control DAQ imaging mode (PCIe interface only)
Control 2-axis galvo raster scan pattern via NI USB-6211 multi-function I/O device
Compatibility Requirements
The Image Capture Tool is compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows OS from Windows 7 through Windows 10.  An available 1Gbps Ethernet port is required for connecting to the Ethernet DAQ via network interface, or an available PCIe Gen 1 x8 port is required for connecting to the PCIe DAQ.  Because the Ethernet/PCIe DAQ performs FPGA-based OCT image formation on the DAQ board, computer requirements such as CPU speed, processor cores, and available RAM are typically satisfied by "consumer-level" personal computer platforms available from 2014 onward.
NOTE:  For best performance, disable any malware protection utilites which may impede network traffic and avoid running other applications which compete for network bandwidth.
Camera Link DAQ Support
The Image Capture Tool and the AxsunOCTCapture library do not support the Axsun Camera Link DAQ.  A PCIe frame grabber and its associated software is required to capture image data transmitted from the Camera Link DAQ.  More information on the Axsun Camera Link DAQ can be found here. 
Installation
To install the Image Capture Tool and its dependencies, download the most recent version from www.axsun.com/downloads and follow the complete software installation instructions for the Axsun Integrated Engine.
Using the Image Capture Tool
NOTE:  Your screen may not match exactly with the screen representations shown in this guide, depending on your system configuration and installed firmware/software versions.
​Physically connect and power-up the Axsun devices.  
Launch the Hardware Control Tool to access high-level functionality provided by the DAQ board and any connected Laser Engines.
Launch the Image Capture Tool (AxsunImageCaptureTool.exe) and make the appropriate selection when prompted for either an Ethernet or PCIe capture session:
The selected session type will be indicated at the top of the window:
If installation errors were encountered when starting the session, the Image Capture Tool will support review of previously saved data files only.  See the DAQ Troubleshooting article to overcome the errors and then try again.
Image Capture Status Indicators
The bottom of the Image Capture Tool window has lights to indicate the following when lit (also see Capture API documentation for axGetStatus()):
Live Imaging:  data is actively being transmitted from the DAQ and is being enqueued in the Main Image Buffer.
Recorded:  image data displayed is/was acquired in Burst Record mode.
Image_sync Trigger Too Fast:  the frequency of the trigger signal connected to the Image_sync input exceeds the allowable maximum (≈390 Hz for a laser with 100 kHz A-line rate).
Image_sync Trigger Too Slow (Force Triggered):  the frequency of the trigger signal connected to the Image_sync input is too slow and the newest frame has been displayed in Force Trigger mode (see Capture API documentation for axSetTrigTimeout()).
Use the Requested Image # field to control the image number requested for display.  This can be a unique image number, or it can be set equal to -1 to display the most recently enqueued image in the buffer.  Numeric indicators show the actual Returned Image #, and the Width & Depth dimensions of the displayed image (see Capture API documentation for axGetImageInfo() and axRequestImage()).
Image capture status indicators.
If Burst Recorded images are present in the Main Image Buffer, depressing the Loop button will automatically replay the recorded images from start to finish and then restart in a looping fashion.
Image Display Window Tabs
The Image Capture Tool window contains four greyscale B-scan image indicators on separate tabs for the four possible data types that the DAQ can generate (depending on its configured bypass mode):
8-bit (unsigned)
16-bit (signed or unsigned) 
32-bit (unsigned)
16-bit complex (signed with RealRealReal component shown on left of display and ImagImag Imag component shown on right of display)
The Image Capture Tool will automatically switch to the appropriate image indicator tab when it detects a change in the data type for the displayed image.
Image indicator showing a 8-bit greyscale B-scan image.
The Single A-Scan tab displays a graph with a single A-scan's amplitude as a function of sample number (e.g. z-dimension or depth in a processed OCT image).  Select the desired A-scan to display in this graph using the A-scan # control.
Graph showing an A-scan's amplitude as a function of sample number.
NOTE:   Image and graph indicators provide standard LabVIEW-based interaction tool palettes for zooming in & out, panning, changing the range of x, y, and z (colorscale) axes, etc: 
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Axis AutoScaling can be toggled by right-clicking on an axis and checking or unchecking the AutoScale selection from the pop-up menu:
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More details on interactive LabVIEW graph tools can be found at www.ni.com. 
Some display tabs also provide Save Image buttons which export the image currently displayed in the associated indicator into a raw binary, PNG, or CSV file.  Saving individual images in this fashion is an Image Capture Tool application-level function and is not supported by underlying Capture API functionality.
Control and Indicator Tabs
Additional Image Capture Tool functionality is grouped onto several tabs on the right side of the main window. The following sections highlight the relevant controls and indicators available on each tab, and their associated AxsunOCTCapture API functions.  Refer to the AxsunOCTCapture API documentation and function reference for more information on the underlying behavior of these controls and indicators. 
Image Controls
The Image Controls tab provides basic display controls for image cropping, image averaging, and OpenGL rendering and window behavior.
Control or Indicator Name
Associated Capture API Function and Arguments
Notes
Request Mode
request_mode argument of axRequestImageAdv()
Also calls axHideWindow() to show or hide the OpenGL image display window depending on the selected mode.
Average #
average_number argument of axRequestImageAdv()
Averaging will not work in Force Trigger mode.
JPEG Downsample x2
axDownsampling()
Speeds up JPEG decompression by trading off image resolution.
Start A-scan Offset
start_Ascan argument of axImageRequestSize()
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Total A-scans
total_Ascans argument of axImageRequestSize()
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axSetupDisplay
axSetupDisplay()
Initiates OpenGL rendering functionality.
Polar Scan Convert
convert argument of axScanConvert()
Supports display of OCT images catpured using a rotational scanning device.
Interpolation
interpolation argument of axScanConvert()
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Colormap
axSelectColormap()
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Contrast, Brightness
axAdjustBrightnessContrast()
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Window Size
axUpdateView()
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Crop Dimensions
axCropRect()
axScanConvert() also provides cropping functionality in the polar domain.
Buffer
The Buffer tab provides an indication of the current Main Image Buffer status, an ability to Save and Load buffers to/from a file for offline storage and retrieval, and other status information related to session initialization.
Control or Indicator Name
Associated Capture API Function and Arguments
Notes
Buffer Status
axGetStatus()
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LOAD
axLoadFile()
Status queried with immediate call to axGetMessage()
SAVE
axSaveFile()
Status queried with immediate call to axGetMessage()
CLEAR
axClearBuffer()
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Scanner status:
axScanCmd(init_scan) status (success or error message)
Queried with immediate call to axGetMessage()
axStartSession status:
axStartSession()  or axStartSessionPCIe() status (success or error message)
Queried with immediate call to axGetMessage()
Path to AxsunOCTCapture.dll library:
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Library file which Image Capture Tool has loaded (debugging info).
Packet Details
Axsun Technical Support personnel may request information from the Packet Details tab when troubleshooting or assisting with debugging efforts.
Scanner
The Scanner tab provides controls for a connected NI USB-6211 multi-function I/O device, commonly used to generate a raster-scan waveform for a 2-axis galvo scanner.
Control Name
Associated Capture API Function and Arguments
Notes
STOP SCAN
axScanCmd() with scan_command argument set to stop_at_position
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1D LINE SCAN
axScanCmd() with scan_command argument set to continuous_line_scan
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2D RASTER SCAN
axScanCmd() with scan_command argument set to continuous_raster_scan
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Scan Pattern
axScanCmd() with scan_command argument set to set_rect_pattern
scan_parameters argument defines the raster pattern points, dimensions, and other characteristics.
Sample Clock
axScanCmd() with scan_command argument set to set_sample_clock
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Auto Restart
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If ON, changes to the Scan Pattern control will immediately update the currently executing scan pattern.
NOTE:  The Scanner controls tab will be disabled if a compatible NI USB-6211 device was not connected and recognized during Image Capture Tool startup.  Quit the Image Capture Tool, connect the device, and relaunch the Image Capture Tool to enable this tab.
PCIe
The PCIe tab provides basic controls for DAQ Imaging Mode and low-level FPGA register R/W access  when connected to a DAQ via the PCIe interface.
Control Name
Associated Capture API Function and Arguments
Notes
PCIeDAQ: LIVE
axImagingCntrlPCIe(-1)
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PCIeDAQ: OFF
axImagingCntrlPCIe(0)
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PCIeDAQ: RECORD
axImagingCntrlPCIe(N)
N is the number entered in the associated Images field.
WRITE (PCIe Registers)
axWritePCIeFPGAreg()
 regnum and regval arguments as entered in the associated RegNum and RegVal fields. (For Axsun internal use only.)
READ (PCIe Registers)
axReadPCIeFPGAreg()
Reads all registers in a loop and lists hex and decimal values in the associated table. (For Axsun internal use only.)
WRITE (FPGA Registers)
axWriteFPGAreg()
 regnum and regval arguments as entered in the associated RegNum and RegVal fields.
READ (FPGA Registers)
axReadFPGAreg()
Reads all registers in a loop and lists hex and decimal values in the associated table.
Pipeline Mode
axPipelineMode()
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NOTE:  The PCIe controls tab will be disabled unless a PCIe capture session was successfully started by selecting the PCIe interface at Image Capture Tool startup (also seeaxStartSessionPCIe()).  The controls and associated API function calls on this tab are not operational when connected to a DAQ via the Ethernet or USB interfaces.
Quitting the Image Capture Tool
To exit the Image Capture Tool simply close the main window by clicking the "x" icon in the upper right corner. 

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Control or Indicator Name	Associated Capture API Function and Arguments	Notes
Request Mode	`request_mode` argument of `axRequestImageAdv()`	Also calls `axHideWindow()` to show or hide the OpenGL image display window depending on the selected mode.
Average #	`average_number` argument of `axRequestImageAdv()`	Averaging will not work in Force Trigger mode.
JPEG Downsample x2	`axDownsampling()`	Speeds up JPEG decompression by trading off image resolution.
Start A-scan Offset	`start_Ascan` argument of `axImageRequestSize()`
Total A-scans	`total_Ascans` argument of `axImageRequestSize()`
axSetupDisplay	`axSetupDisplay()`	Initiates OpenGL rendering functionality.
Polar Scan Convert	`convert` argument of `axScanConvert()`	Supports display of OCT images catpured using a rotational scanning device.
Interpolation	`interpolation` argument of `axScanConvert()`
Colormap	`axSelectColormap()`
Contrast, Brightness	`axAdjustBrightnessContrast()`
Window Size	`axUpdateView()`
Crop Dimensions	`axCropRect()`	`axScanConvert()` also provides cropping functionality in the polar domain.

Control or Indicator Name	Associated Capture API Function and Arguments	Notes
Buffer Status	`axGetStatus()`
LOAD	`axLoadFile()`	Status queried with immediate call to `axGetMessage()`
SAVE	`axSaveFile()`	Status queried with immediate call to `axGetMessage()`
CLEAR	`axClearBuffer()`
Scanner status:	`axScanCmd(init_scan)` status (success or error message)	Queried with immediate call to `axGetMessage()`
axStartSession status:	`axStartSession()` or `axStartSessionPCIe()` status (success or error message)	Queried with immediate call to `axGetMessage()`
Path to AxsunOCTCapture.dll library:		Library file which Image Capture Tool has loaded (debugging info).

Control Name	Associated Capture API Function and Arguments	Notes
STOP SCAN	`axScanCmd()` with `scan_command` argument set to `stop_at_position`
1D LINE SCAN	`axScanCmd()` with `scan_command` argument set to `continuous_line_scan`
2D RASTER SCAN	`axScanCmd()` with `scan_command` argument set to `continuous_raster_scan`
Scan Pattern	`axScanCmd()` with `scan_command` argument set to `set_rect_pattern`	`scan_parameters` argument defines the raster pattern points, dimensions, and other characteristics.
Sample Clock	`axScanCmd()` with `scan_command` argument set to `set_sample_clock`
Auto Restart		If ON, changes to the Scan Pattern control will immediately update the currently executing scan pattern.

Control Name	Associated Capture API Function and Arguments	Notes
PCIeDAQ: LIVE	`axImagingCntrlPCIe(-1)`
PCIeDAQ: OFF	`axImagingCntrlPCIe(0)`
PCIeDAQ: RECORD	`axImagingCntrlPCIe(N)`	`N` is the number entered in the associated Images field.
WRITE (PCIe Registers)	`axWritePCIeFPGAreg()`	`regnum` and `regval` arguments as entered in the associated RegNum and RegVal fields. (For Axsun internal use only.)
READ (PCIe Registers)	`axReadPCIeFPGAreg()`	Reads all registers in a loop and lists hex and decimal values in the associated table. (For Axsun internal use only.)
WRITE (FPGA Registers)	`axWriteFPGAreg()`	`regnum` and `regval` arguments as entered in the associated RegNum and RegVal fields.
READ (FPGA Registers)	`axReadFPGAreg()`	Reads all registers in a loop and lists hex and decimal values in the associated table.
Pipeline Mode	`axPipelineMode()`