Using HALCON for Linux

Using HALCON for Linux

MVTec HALCON is the comprehensive standard software for machine vision with an integrated development environment (HDevelop) that is used worldwide. It enables cost savings and improved time to market. HALCON’s flexible architecture facilitates rapid development of any kind of machine vision application. The following instructions describe how to configure Lucid Vision GigE cameras with HALCON for Linux.

System Specifications

  • Ubuntu 16.04.3 64-bit, kernel 4.10.0.28-generic
  • HALCON 13.0.1.1 (14.06.2017) 64-bit

Prerequisites

Set up the HALCON environment variables:

$ export HALCONARCH=x64-linux
$ export HALCONROOT="/opt/halcon"
$ export HALCONEXAMPLES=${HALCONROOT}/examples
$ export HALCONIMAGES=${HALCONROOT}/examples/images
$ export PATH=${HALCONROOT}/bin/${HALCONARCH}:${PATH}
$ export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${HALCONROOT}/lib/${HALCONARCH}:${LD_LIBRARY_PATH}

MVTech’s HALCON installation guide also contains a script that can be used to perform this process.

Note

This documentation assumes the Full install option is chosen at installation.

HDevelop

  1. Launch HDevelop to launch HALCON’s Integrated Development Environment (IDE). HDevelop can be launched from the Start Menu.

  2. Click Assistants -> Open New Image Acquisition to open an Image Acquisition window.

    /wp-content/uploads/2018/01/halcon_linux_hdevelop_open_new_image_acquisition.png

  3. Select GigEVision under the Image Acquisition Interface dropdown.

    /wp-content/uploads/2018/01/halcon_linux_hdevelop_new_image_acquisition.png

  4. Click on the Connection tab, select your camera, and click halcon_linux_hdevelop_button_connect.

    /wp-content/uploads/2018/01/halcon_linux_hdevelop_image_acquisition_connection.png

  5. Click halcon_linux_hdevelop_button_snap to grab a single frame.

  6. Click halcon_linux_hdevelop_button_live to continuously grab images.

  7. Click halcon_linux_hdevelop_button_detect to automatically detect valid parameters for the camera.

  8. Click halcon_linux_hdevelop_button_reset_all to reset parameters to default values.

  9. Click halcon_linux_hdevelop_button_disconnect to release control of the camera.

  10. Click the Parameters tab to change settings on the camera.

    /wp-content/uploads/2018/01/halcon_linux_hdevelop_image_acquisition_parameters.png

The Code Generation tab assists in creating code based on current settings or changes made to the camera in the Image Acquisition window. The following is an example scenario:

/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/halcon_linux_hdevelop_image_acquisition_code_generation.png

  • Connect to camera with DeviceUserID ‘Camera0001’

  • Set DeviceUserID = Camera0002

  • Set Width = 320

  • Set Height = 240

  • Start acquisition

  • Click Insert Code to generate the code in the Image Acquisition Program Window

    /wp-content/uploads/2018/01/halcon_linux_hdevelop_image_acquisition_program_window.png

HDevelop code can be exported to various programming languages by clicking File -> Export.

/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/halcon_linux_hdevelop_image_acquisition_program_window_export.png

Note

Additional HDevelop samples can be found by clicking File -> Browse HDevelop Examples Programs.

For more information on MVTec HALCON please visit http://www.mvtec.com/products/halcon/