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New Features in Service Pack 5
The
fifth service pack for NeuroCheck 5.1 introduces a number of new
hardware and software features. On this page we will present the
major new features, for details please refer to file History.txt,
as usual.
NeuroCheck now supports new IEEE 1394 (FireWire) camera models
of the NeuroCheck Edition.
Probably the most interesting new model is the "FWL120 NC
Edition", the first IEEE 1394 line scan camera
supported in NeuroCheck. It represents a real plug-and-play
solution for line scan applications, easy to use, with low cost
cables and all the other advantages of the IEEE 1394 technology.
Technically the FWL120 can capture images of up to 2048 pixels
width and up to 8 MByte size, sufficient for the majority of
line scan applications. For trigger and line synchronization,
the camera accepts the usual input signals but also provides a
special mode to capture a variable number of lines.
With
the "FWXC03c NC Edition" and "FWXC13c NC Edition" two CMOS color
IEEE 1394 cameras are supported. Furthermore, with the
"FWX06/FWX06c NC Edition" a fast camera for standard resolution
is available. So NeuroCheck now supports a complete range of
eleven IEEE 1394 cameras.
Please note that due to the changes a new
FWX system DLL version 5.0.1.2 or higher is required. It is part
of the service pack for download from the Internet, so
installation of SP5 will not break compatibility.
A
related new feature in SP5 is the automatic detection
of NC Edition cameras at the start-up of NeuroCheck.
If no
other camera hardware is configured yet, NeuroCheck detects the
new NC Edition camera at program start and adds it automatically
to the hardware configuration.
The
user will be informed about the new hardware by an HTML message
with alternatives how to proceed. Thus the integration of a NC
Edition camera is reduced to a convenient one-click procedure.
As a
new software feature, Service Pack 5 introduces object
identification numbers (OIDs).
"Object" here simply means an element of the check routine tree,
i.e. a check function, a single check or the check routine
itself. Now each of these elements is assigned with an OID that
must be unique within the current check routine.
By
default, the assignment of the OIDs follows a simple scheme. If
necessary, the OID can be changed either in the properties
dialog of the respective element, or in the overview dialog.
The
objective of this functionality is easy and unique
addressing of each object by its
OID. This can be used for new features, like the check routine
family or the parameter linking (see below). The OIDs can also
be transmitted with output data, e.g. for serial output or
custom communication. This allows the connected device to
identify the source of the data within NeuroCheck.
The
previously introduced OIDs are used for the concept of a check
routine family. Basically, this means that you have a number of
check routines which are very similar.
Now, if
you change a parameter in one of the check routines, but wish to
apply the change to the other check routines, then you can use
the new command "Edit | Pass on Parameters...".
This allows you to copy the parameters of the currently selected
check function to the matching function (same OID) in a number
of check routines. So, the new functionality provides a
convenient way to maintain a large number of related check
routines.
Similar
to the check routine family is the parameter linking
of check functions within a check routine. Whenever you alter
the parameters of the "master" check function in the parameter
dialog, the linked functions will be changed automatically.
Again,
the benefit is a check routine that is easier to maintain,
especially if you wish to use exactly the same check function
parameter settings in different single checks.
Finally, the programming interfaces
of NeuroCheck have been extended for access of the above
mentioned OIDs.
Another
extension of the plug-in interface now allows you to access the
designations of feature values. This facilitates the display of
feature names, e.g. in a parameter dialog, and even allows you
to assign names to custom features.
Furthermore, the NeuroCheck API has been extended with some
useful functions. For details, please refer to the Programmer's
Reference.
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