# Camera (Scene Controller)

### Camera (Scene Controller) Data Connector

The Camera (Scene Controller) Data Connector allows Tricloud Nexus to interface with industrial cameras and their associated lighting controllers directly from the Edge. This enables real-time image acquisition, process monitoring, and integration of vision systems with your IIoT data model - ideal for quality control, visual inspection, and automation workflows.

This connector can be configured to acquire images via a REST API endpoint, with customizable camera and image settings, as well as optional integration with an external lighting controller for scene management.

***

### Key Features

* **Edge-Based Operation:** Runs locally on Edge devices for low-latency, high-throughput image acquisition—even when the site is offline.
* **RESTful Camera Integration:** Connect to industrial cameras supporting REST API for image capture.
* **Customizable Image Settings:** Specify image resolution (height & width), format (BMP, JPEG, PNG, etc.), and pixel format (e.g., Mono8, RGB).
* **Integrated Scene Lighting:** Optionally control an external lighting controller to ensure optimal image quality and repeatability.
* **Multi-Channel Support:** Configure multiple lighting channels for complex inspection scenes.
* **Consistent Data Model:** Image metadata and results are integrated into the Tricloud Nexus data platform for seamless downstream analytics.

***

### Configuring the Camera (Scene Controller) Data Connector

**1. Add a New Connector**

* Select the **Area** node where you want to configure camera integration.
* Go to the **Data connectors** tab.
* Click **+ New data connector**, choose **Camera**, and enter a name (e.g., `Camera`).

<figure><img src="https://570593659-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FYMGRODsc2QD3N3wmfwTl%2Fuploads%2FWUKUwhj2fshsFJzRghis%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=44652b32-1314-4a2f-ac78-db7d1e52189f" alt="" width="563"><figcaption><p>Add a new Data Connector</p></figcaption></figure>

**2. Configure Connection Settings**

<figure><img src="https://570593659-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FYMGRODsc2QD3N3wmfwTl%2Fuploads%2F0wHvCgKjBFhtD51kr4Ye%2Fimage.png?alt=media&#x26;token=8c300e3d-ce2d-41dd-9095-5665d060aabc" alt="" width="373"><figcaption><p>Configuration of Camera and Scene Controller Connector</p></figcaption></figure>

* **Name:** Enter a descriptive name (e.g., `Camera`).
* **Camera API URL:** The REST API endpoint for image acquisition (e.g., `http://172.0.0.1:34568/image/acquire`).

**3. Camera Settings**

* **Image Height:** Set the height (in pixels) for the captured image (e.g., `2048`).
* **Image Width:** Set the width (in pixels) for the captured image (e.g., `2592`).
* **Image Format:** Choose the file format for acquired images (e.g., Bitmap (BMP), JPEG, PNG).
* **Pixel Format:** Select the pixel encoding (e.g., Mono8 for grayscale, RGB for color).

**4. Lighting Controller (Optional)**

* **Lighting Controller Enabled:** Toggle ON to enable external lighting control.
* **Lighting Controller IP:** Enter the IP address of the lighting controller (e.g., `172.0.0.2`).
* **Lighting Controller Port:** Specify the port for the lighting controller (e.g., `40001`).
* **Lighting Controller Channels:** Set the number of available lighting channels (e.g., `4`).

***

### Example Camera (Scene Controller) Data Connector Configuration

| Setting                      | Example Value                          |
| ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------- |
| Name                         | Camera                                 |
| Camera API URL               | <http://172.0.0.1:34568/image/acquire> |
| Image Height                 | 2048                                   |
| Image Width                  | 2592                                   |
| Image Format                 | Bitmap (BMP)                           |
| Pixel Format                 | Mono8                                  |
| Lighting Controller Enabled  | Yes                                    |
| Lighting Controller IP       | 172.0.0.2                              |
| Lighting Controller Port     | 40001                                  |
| Lighting Controller Channels | 4                                      |

***

### Best Practices

* Use clear and descriptive connector names, especially if multiple cameras or lighting controllers are used.
* Match image settings (resolution, format, pixel type) to your application’s needs for processing and storage efficiency.
* Enable the lighting controller for repeatable, high-quality imaging—particularly in automated inspection tasks.
* Validate the Camera API endpoint and lighting controller connectivity with test captures before deploying in production.
* Secure the API endpoints and device networks to prevent unauthorized access.

***

### Typical Use Cases

* Automated visual quality inspection in manufacturing.
* Integration with AI/ML models for real-time vision analytics.
* Barcode or QR code reading and traceability.
* Process monitoring and product documentation.