flirbosoncamera_web_logo

FlirBosonCamera C++ library

v3.0.0

Table of contents

Overview

The FlirBosonCamera C++ library is a software controller for the FLIR Boson camera. The FlirBosonCamera library inherits the Camera interface. It depends on the following libraries: Camera (provides interface and data structures to control cameras, source code included, Apache 2.0 license), Logger (provides functions to print log information in console and files, source code included, Apache 2.0 license), BosonProtocol (implements the Boson serial command protocol and the command client, source code included) and SerialPort (provides functions to work with serial ports, source code included, Apache 2.0 license). The FlirBosonCamera library provides a simple interface to be integrated into any C++ project. The library repository (folder) is provided as source code and doesn’t have third-party dependencies that need to be specially installed in the OS. It is developed with the C++17 standard. The library builds on Linux; src/CMakeLists.txt stops the configure step on any other system, because the serial device names it opens are Linux ones.

Versions

Table 1 - Library versions.

Version Release date What’s new
1.0.0 30.05.2023 - First version
2.0.0 07.03.2024 - Interface updated.
- Test application updated.
- Documentation updated.
2.0.1 11.03.2024 - Code review and documentation update.
2.0.2 23.05.2024 - Documentation updated.
- Submodules updated.
2.0.3 07.08.2024 - CMake structure updated.
2.0.4 10.09.2024 - Fix auto NUC interval units.
2.0.5 03.12.2024 - DDE Level supporting.
2.0.6 10.12.2024 - Added new supported parameters.
2.0.7 24.01.2025 - Added initialization preset.
2.0.8 17.02.2025 - Updated initialization procedure.
2.0.9 03.04.2025 - Logger submodule update.
2.0.10 13.05.2025 - Updated initialization procedure.
2.1.0 28.05.2025 - Updated initialization procedure.
2.1.1 17.08.2025 - Fix test application name.
- Test application update.
- Example update.
2.1.2 18.11.2025 - Updated initialization procedure.
2.1.3 27.05.2026 - Fixes for AUTO_NUC_INTERVAL_MSEC parameter.
- Fix documentation.
- Fix getParam for IS_CONNECTED and IS_OPEN params.
- Clean test application.
- Clean up code.
- Fix small typos.
2.1.4 20.07.2026 - Set FLR_DVO_TYPE_COLOR to fix the output image.
3.0.0 03.09.2026 - Camera communication reimplemented on BosonProtocol and SerialPort; the vendor SDK dependency is removed.
- Every setParam that writes to the camera is now confirmed by reading the value back from it. LOG_MODE and CUSTOM_1 are controller-side settings and are stored locally; DDE_MODE shares the d2br register with DDE_LEVEL, so it is stored as written rather than re-read, and DDE_LEVEL is re-read only while DDE_MODE is 1.
- Test application reaches every implemented parameter and command and every method of the interface, and prints the value read back after each write.
- Example reduced to a linear program; the code in this document is that file verbatim.
- Documentation corrected against the implementation.

Library files

The library is supplied as source code only. The user is provided with a set of files in the form of a CMake project (repository). The repository structure is shown below:

CMakeLists.txt ------------------- Main CMake file of the library.
3rdparty ------------------------- Folder with third-party libraries.
    CMakeLists.txt --------------- CMake file to include third-party libraries.
    BosonProtocol ---------------- Folder with BosonProtocol library source code.
    Camera ----------------------- Folder with Camera library source code.
    Logger ----------------------- Folder with Logger library source code.
    SerialPort ------------------- Folder with SerialPort library source code.
example -------------------------- Folder with example application.
    CMakeLists.txt --------------- CMake file for example application.
    main.cpp --------------------- Source code file of example application.
test ----------------------------- Folder with test application.
    CMakeLists.txt --------------- CMake file for test application.
    main.cpp --------------------- Source code file of test application.
src ------------------------------ Folder with source code of the library.
    CMakeLists.txt --------------- CMake file of the library.
    FlirBosonCamera.cpp ---------- Source code file of the library.
    FlirBosonCamera.h ------------ Header file which includes the main class declaration.
    FlirBosonCameraVersion.h ----- Header file which includes the version of the library.
    FlirBosonCameraVersion.h.in -- CMake service file to generate version file.

FlirBosonCamera class description

FlirBosonCamera class declaration

The FlirBosonCamera interface class is declared in the FlirBosonCamera.h file. The FlirBosonCamera class inherits from the Camera interface. Class declaration:

class FlirBosonCamera : public cr::camera::Camera
{
public:

  /// Class constructor.
  FlirBosonCamera();

  /// Class destructor.
  ~FlirBosonCamera();

  /// Copy constructor. Deleted: the object owns a serial port.
  FlirBosonCamera(const FlirBosonCamera&) = delete;

  /// Copy assignment. Deleted.
  FlirBosonCamera& operator=(const FlirBosonCamera&) = delete;

  /// Move constructor. Deleted.
  FlirBosonCamera(FlirBosonCamera&&) = delete;

  /// Move assignment. Deleted.
  FlirBosonCamera& operator=(FlirBosonCamera&&) = delete;

  /// Get FlirBosonCamera class version.
  static std::string getVersion();

  /// Open camera controller.
  bool openCamera(std::string initString) override;
      
  /// Initialize camera controller by parameters class.
  bool initCamera(CameraParams& params) override;

  /// Close camera controller.
  void closeCamera() override;

  /// Get camera open status.
  bool isCameraOpen() override;
      
  /// Get camera connection status.
  bool isCameraConnected() override;

  /// Set the camera controller param.
  bool setParam(CameraParam id, float value) override;

  /// Get the camera controller param.
  float getParam(CameraParam id) override;

  /// Get the camera controller params.
  void getParams(CameraParams& params) override;

  /// Execute camera controller action command.
  bool executeCommand(CameraCommand id) override;

  /// Decode and execute command.
  bool decodeAndExecuteCommand(uint8_t* data, int size) override;
};

getVersion method

The getVersion() method returns the FlirBosonCamera class version string. Method declaration:

static std::string getVersion();

The method can be used without a FlirBosonCamera class instance:

std::cout << "FlirBosonCamera class version: " << FlirBosonCamera::getVersion();

Console output:

FlirBosonCamera class version: 3.0.0

openCamera method

The openCamera(…) method opens the camera controller. Besides opening the port it puts the camera into a known state: it switches the gain mode to automatic (and fails if the camera does not accept that write), then restores the factory defaults from flash, disables telemetry, enables the overlay symbols and enables the analog video output. A camera configured by other means is therefore reset by this call. Method declaration:

bool openCamera(std::string initString) override;
Parameter Value
initString String for initialization, format: <device>;<baudrate> where device is a serial port name such as “/dev/ttyACM0” or “/dev/serial/by-id/…”. The camera’s command port runs at 921600 baud by default. In case of connection via USB, the initialization string can also be the keyword “USBBOSON”, which opens the first USB camera (/dev/ttyACM0) at that baudrate.

Returns: TRUE if the camera controller is initialized or FALSE if not.

initCamera method

The initCamera(…) method initializes the controller and sets camera params (Camera interface). The method will first set logMode, then call the openCamera(…) method and will then set palette, nucMode, autoNucIntervalMsec and, depending on custom1, either a high-contrast preset (custom1 == 0) or the agcMode, gain, ddeMode, ddeLevel, noiseReductionMode and gainMode fields, with the setParam(…) method. digitalZoom is not applied. Method declaration:

bool initCamera(CameraParams& params) override;
Parameter Value
params CameraParams class object. Params include a string for initialization, format: <device>;<baudrate> where device is a serial port name such as “/dev/ttyACM0” or “/dev/serial/by-id/…”. The camera’s command port runs at 921600 baud by default. In case of connection via USB, the initialization string can also be the keyword “USBBOSON”.

Returns: TRUE if the controller was opened or FALSE if not. The parameter writes that follow are attempted on a best-effort basis: a write the camera rejects is logged and does not make the method return FALSE.

closeCamera method

The closeCamera() method closes the camera controller. Method declaration:

void closeCamera() override;

isCameraOpen method

The isCameraOpen() method returns the camera controller open status. Method declaration:

bool isCameraOpen() override;

Returns: TRUE if the controller is initialized or FALSE if not.

isCameraConnected method

The isCameraConnected() method returns camera connection status. Method declaration:

bool isCameraConnected() override;

Returns: TRUE if the connection with the camera was established (the flag is set when the camera answered during openCamera(…) and cleared by closeCamera()) or FALSE if not.

setParam method

The setParam(…) method sets a new camera controller parameter value. Method declaration:

bool setParam(CameraParam id, float value) override;
Parameter Description
id Camera controller parameter ID according to CameraParam enum.
value Parameter value. Value depends on parameter ID.

Returns: TRUE if the parameter was set or FALSE if not.

getParam method

The getParam(…) method is intended to obtain a Camera parameter value. Method declaration:

float getParam(CameraParam id) override;
Parameter Description
id Camera controller parameter ID according to CameraParam enum.

Returns: parameter value, or -1 if the parameter is not supported or could not be read from the camera.

getParams method

The getParams(…) method is intended to obtain the Camera parameters structure. Method declaration:

void getParams(CameraParams& params) override;
Parameter Description
params Reference to CameraParams class object.

executeCommand method

The executeCommand(…) method is intended to execute a Camera action command. Method declaration:

bool executeCommand(CameraCommand id) override;
Parameter Description
id Camera controller command ID according to CameraCommand enum.

Returns: TRUE if the command was executed or FALSE if not.

decodeAndExecuteCommand method

The decodeAndExecuteCommand(…) method decodes and executes a command on the controller side. The method will decode commands which are encoded by encodeCommand(…) and encodeSetParamCommand(…) methods of the Camera interface class. If a command is decoded, the method will call setParam(…) or executeCommand(…) methods for camera interfaces. This method is thread-safe. This means that the method can be safely called from any thread. Method declaration:

bool decodeAndExecuteCommand(uint8_t* data, int size) override;
Parameter Description
data Pointer to input command data.
size Size of command. Must be 11 bytes for SET_PARAM and 7 bytes for COMMAND.

Returns: TRUE if the command was decoded (SET_PARAM or COMMAND) and executed (action command or set param command).

encodeSetParamCommand method of Camera class

encodeSetParamCommand(…) is a static method of the Camera interface class that encodes a command to change any remote camera parameter value. To control a camera remotely, the developer has to design their own protocol and according to it encode the command and deliver it over the communication channel. To simplify this, the Camera class contains static methods for encoding the control command. The Camera class provides two types of commands: a parameter change command (SET_PARAM) and an action command (COMMAND). encodeSetParamCommand(…) is designed to encode SET_PARAM command. Method declaration:

static void encodeSetParamCommand(uint8_t* data, int& size, CameraParam id, float value);
Parameter Description
data Pointer to data buffer for encoded command. Must have size >= 11.
size Size of encoded data. Will be 11 bytes.
id Parameter ID according to CameraParam enum.
value Parameter value.

SET_PARAM command format:

Byte Value Description
0 0x01 SET_PARAM command header value.
1 Major Major version of Camera class.
2 Minor Minor version of Camera class.
3 id Parameter ID int32_t in Little-endian format.
4 id Parameter ID int32_t in Little-endian format.
5 id Parameter ID int32_t in Little-endian format.
6 id Parameter ID int32_t in Little-endian format.
7 value Parameter value float in Little-endian format.
8 value Parameter value float in Little-endian format.
9 value Parameter value float in Little-endian format.
10 value Parameter value float in Little-endian format.

encodeSetParamCommand(…) is static and used without a Camera class instance. This method is used on the client side (control system). Command encoding example:

// Buffer for encoded data.
uint8_t data[11];
// Size of encoded data.
int size = 0;
// Random parameter value.
float outValue = (float)(rand() % 20);
// Encode command.
Camera::encodeSetParamCommand(data, size, CameraParam::ROI_X0, outValue);

encodeCommand method of Camera class

encodeCommand(…) is a static method of the Camera interface class that encodes a command for camera remote control. To control a camera remotely, the developer has to design their own protocol and according to it encode the command and deliver it over the communication channel. To simplify this, the Camera class contains static methods for encoding the control command. The Camera class provides two types of commands: a parameter change command (SET_PARAM) and an action command (COMMAND). encodeCommand(…) is designed to encode COMMAND (action command). Method declaration:

static void encodeCommand(uint8_t* data, int& size, CameraCommand id);
Parameter Description
data Pointer to data buffer for encoded command. Must have size >= 7.
size Size of encoded data. Will be 7 bytes.
id Command ID according to CameraCommand enum.

COMMAND format:

Byte Value Description
0 0x00 COMMAND header value.
1 Major Major version of Camera class.
2 Minor Minor version of Camera class.
3 id Command ID int32_t in Little-endian format.
4 id Command ID int32_t in Little-endian format.
5 id Command ID int32_t in Little-endian format.
6 id Command ID int32_t in Little-endian format.

encodeCommand(…) is static and used without a Camera class instance. This method is used on the client side (control system). Command encoding example:

// Buffer for encoded data.
uint8_t data[7];
// Size of encoded data.
int size = 0;
// Encode command.
Camera::encodeCommand(data, size, CameraCommand::NUC);

decodeCommand method of Camera class

decodeCommand(…) is a static method of the Camera interface class that decodes a command on the camera controller side. Method declaration:

static int decodeCommand(uint8_t* data, int size, CameraParam& paramId, CameraCommand& commandId, float& value);
Parameter Description
data Pointer to input command.
size Size of command. Must be 11 bytes for SET_PARAM and 7 bytes for COMMAND.
paramId Camera parameter ID according to CameraParam enum. After decoding a SET_PARAM command, the method will return the parameter ID.
commandId Camera command ID according to CameraCommand enum. After decoding a COMMAND, the method will return the command ID.
value Camera parameter value (after decoding a SET_PARAM command).

Returns: 0 - in case of decoding COMMAND, 1 - in case of decoding SET_PARAM command or -1 in case of errors.

Data structures

CameraCommand enum

Enum declaration:

enum class CameraCommand
{
    /// Restart camera controller.
    RESTART = 1,
    /// Do NUC.
    NUC,
    /// Apply settings.
    APPLY_PARAMS,
    /// Save params.
    SAVE_PARAMS,
    /// Menu on.
    MENU_ON,
    /// Menu off.
    MENU_OFF,
    /// Menu set.
    MENU_SET,
    /// Menu up.
    MENU_UP,
    /// Menu down.
    MENU_DOWN,
    /// Menu left.
    MENU_LEFT,
    /// Menu right.
    MENU_RIGHT,
    /// Freeze, Argument: time msec.
    FREEZE,
    /// Disable freeze.
    DEFREEZE
};

Table 2 - Camera commands description.

Command Description
RESTART Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
NUC NUC command.
APPLY_PARAMS Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
SAVE_PARAMS Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
MENU_ON Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
MENU_OFF Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
MENU_SET Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
MENU_UP Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
MENU_DOWN Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
MENU_LEFT Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
MENU_RIGHT Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
FREEZE Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DEFREEZE Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.

CameraParam enum

Enum declaration:

enum class CameraParam
{
    /// Video frame width. Value from 0 to 16384.
    WIDTH = 1,
    /// Video frame height. Value from 0 to 16384.
    HEIGHT,
    /// Display menu mode.
    DISPLAY_MODE,
    /// Video output type.
    VIDEO_OUTPUT,
    /// Logging mode.
    LOG_MODE,
    /// Exposure mode.
    EXPOSURE_MODE,
    /// Exposure time of the camera sensor.
    EXPOSURE_TIME,
    /// White balance mode.
    WHITE_BALANCE_MODE,
    /// White balance area.
    WHITE_BALANCE_AREA,
    /// White dynamic range mode.
    WIDE_DYNAMIC_RANGE_MODE,
    /// Image stabilization mode.
    STABILIZATION_MODE,
    /// ISO sensitivity.
    ISO_SENSITIVITY,
    /// Scene mode.
    SCENE_MODE,
    /// FPS.
    FPS,
    /// Brightness mode.
    BRIGHTNESS_MODE,
    /// Brightness. Value 0 - 100%.
    BRIGHTNESS,
    /// Contrast. Value 1 - 100%.
    CONTRAST,
    /// Gain mode.
    GAIN_MODE,
    /// Gain. Value 1 - 100%.
    GAIN,
    /// Sharpening mode.
    SHARPENING_MODE,
    /// Sharpening. Value 1 - 100%.
    SHARPENING,
    /// Palette.
    PALETTE,
    /// Analog gain control mode.
    AGC_MODE,
    /// Shutter mode.
    SHUTTER_MODE,
    /// Shutter position. 0 (full close) - 65535 (full open).
    SHUTTER_POSITION,
    /// Shutter speed. Value: 0 - 100%.
    SHUTTER_SPEED,
    /// Digital zoom mode.
    DIGITAL_ZOOM_MODE,
    /// Digital zoom. Value 1.0 (x1) - 20.0 (x20).
    DIGITAL_ZOOM,
    /// Exposure compensation mode.
    EXPOSURE_COMPENSATION_MODE,
    /// Exposure compensation position. 
    EXPOSURE_COMPENSATION_POSITION,
    /// Defog mode.
    DEFOG_MODE,
    /// Dehaze mode.
    DEHAZE_MODE,
    /// Noise reduction mode.
    NOISE_REDUCTION_MODE,
    /// Black and white filter mode.
    BLACK_WHITE_FILTER_MODE,
    /// Filter mode.
    FILTER_MODE,
    /// NUC mode for thermal cameras.
    NUC_MODE,
    /// Auto NUC interval for thermal cameras. 
    AUTO_NUC_INTERVAL_MSEC,
    /// Image flip mode.
    IMAGE_FLIP,
    /// DDE mode.
    DDE_MODE,
    /// DDE level.
    DDE_LEVEL,
    /// ROI top-left horizontal position, pixels.
    ROI_X0,
    /// ROI top-left vertical position, pixels.
    ROI_Y0,
    /// ROI bottom-right horizontal position, pixels.
    ROI_X1,
    /// ROI bottom-right vertical position, pixels.
    ROI_Y1,
    /// Camera temperature, degree.
    TEMPERATURE,
    /// ALC gate.
    ALC_GATE,
    /// Sensor sensitivity.
    SENSITIVITY,
    /// Changing mode (day / night).
    CHANGING_MODE,
    /// Changing level (day / night).
    CHANGING_LEVEL,
    /// Chroma level. Values: 0 - 100%.
    CHROMA_LEVEL,
    /// Details, enhancement. Values: 0 - 100%.
    DETAIL,
    /// Camera settings profile.
    PROFILE,
    /// Connection status (read only). Shows if we have response from camera.
    /// Value: 0 - not connected, 1 - connected.
    IS_CONNECTED,
    /// Open status (read only):
    /// 1 - camera control port open, 0 - not open.
    IS_OPEN,
    /// Camera type.
    TYPE,
    /// Camera custom param.
    CUSTOM_1,
    /// Camera custom param.
    CUSTOM_2,
    /// Camera custom param.
    CUSTOM_3
};

Table 3 - Camera params description.

Parameter Access Description
WIDTH read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
HEIGHT read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DISPLAY_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
VIDEO_OUTPUT read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
LOG_MODE read / write Logging mode. Values:
0 - Disable,
1 - Only file,
2 - Only terminal (console),
3 - File and terminal.
EXPOSURE_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
EXPOSURE_TIME read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
WHITE_BALANCE_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
WHITE_BALANCE_AREA read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
WIDE_DYNAMIC_RANGE_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
STABILIZATION_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
ISO_SENSITIVITY read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
SCENE_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
FPS read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
BRIGHTNESS_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
BRIGHTNESS read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
CONTRAST read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
GAIN_MODE read / write Gain mode. Values:
0 - Manual.
1 - Auto.
2 - Low gain.
3 - High gain.
GAIN read / write Gain level. Values: 0 - 100.
SHARPENING_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
SHARPENING read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
PALETTE read / write Palette. Values:
0 - White hot.
1 - Black hot.
2 - Rainbow.
3 - RainHC.
4 - Ironbow.
5 - Lava.
6 - Arctic.
7 - Glowbow.
8 - Graded Fire.
9 - Hottest.
AGC_MODE read / write AGC mode, information-based equalization:
0 - OFF,
1 - ON.
SHUTTER_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
SHUTTER_POSITION read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
SHUTTER_SPEED read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DIGITAL_ZOOM_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DIGITAL_ZOOM read / write Digital zoom level. Values 10 (1x) - 48 (4.8x). Upper limit depends on the particular camera.
EXPOSURE_COMPENSATION_MODE read only Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
EXPOSURE_COMPENSATION_POSITION read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DEFOG_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DEHAZE_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
NOISE_REDUCTION_MODE read / write Noise reduction mode:
0 - OFF,
1 - ON.
BLACK_WHITE_FILTER_MODE read only Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
FILTER_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
NUC_MODE read / write NUC mode for camera. Values:
0 - Manual,
1 - Auto.
AUTO_NUC_INTERVAL_MSEC read / write Auto NUC interval for thermal cameras. Value in milliseconds. Value < 1000 will be interpreted as OFF value. No upper limit is enforced by the library. The value is divided by 1000 and sent to the camera as its FFC frame threshold, so 1500 ms becomes a threshold of 1; read-back multiplies that count by 1000 again.
IMAGE_FLIP read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DDE_MODE read / write Digital Detail Enhancement mode:
0 - OFF,
1 - ON.
DDE_LEVEL read / write Digital Detail Enhancement. Values: 0 - 100. The value only reaches the camera while DDE_MODE is 1; written while the mode is 0 it is remembered and applied when the mode is switched on, so set DDE_MODE first.
ROI_X0 read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
ROI_Y0 read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
ROI_X1 read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
ROI_Y1 read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
TEMPERATURE read only Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
ALC_GATE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
SENSITIVITY read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
CHANGING_MODE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
CHANGING_LEVEL read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
CHROMA_LEVEL read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
DETAIL read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
PROFILE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
IS_CONNECTED read only Connection status.
IS_OPEN read only Controller initialization status.
TYPE read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
CUSTOM_1 read / write Video preset on initialization procedure. Values:
0 - High contrast preset.
1 - No preset.
CUSTOM_2 read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
CUSTOM_3 read / write Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.

CameraParams class description

CameraParams class is used for camera controller initialization or to get all actual params. Also CameraParams provides structure to write/read params from JSON files (JSON_READABLE macro) and provides method to encode and decode params.

CameraParams class declaration

CameraParams interface class is declared in the Camera.h file. Class declaration:

class CameraParams
{
public:
    /// Initialization string.
    std::string initString{"/dev/ttyUSB0;9600;20"};
    /// Video frame width. Value from 0 to 16384.
    int width{0};
    /// Video frame height. Value from 0 to 16384.
    int height{0};
    /// Display menu mode. 
    int displayMode{0};
    /// Video output type.
    int videoOutput{0};
    /// Logging mode.
    int logMode{0};
    /// Exposure mode. 
    int exposureMode{1};
    /// Exposure time of the camera sensor.
    int exposureTime{0};
    /// White balance mode. 
    int whiteBalanceMode{1};
    /// White balance area.
    int whiteBalanceArea{0};
    /// White dynamic range mode.
    int wideDynamicRangeMode{0};
    /// Image stabilization mode.
    int stabilizationMode{0};
    /// ISO sensitivity.
    int isoSensitivity{0};
    /// Scene mode.
    int sceneMode{0};
    /// FPS.
    float fps{0.0f};
    /// Brightness mode.
    int brightnessMode{1};
    /// Brightness. Value 0 - 100%.
    int brightness{0};
    /// Contrast. Value 1 - 100%.
    int contrast{0};
    /// Gain mode.
    int gainMode{1};
    /// Gain. Value 1 - 100%.
    int gain{0};
    /// Sharpening mode.
    int sharpeningMode{0};
    /// Sharpening. Value 1 - 100%.
    int sharpening{0};
    /// Palette.
    int palette{0};
    /// Analog gain control mode.
    int agcMode{1};
    /// Shutter mode.
    int shutterMode{1};
    /// Shutter position. 0 (full close) - 65535 (full open).
    int shutterPos{0};
    /// Shutter speed. Value: 0 - 100%.
    int shutterSpeed{0};
    /// Digital zoom mode.
    int digitalZoomMode{0};
    /// Digital zoom. Value 1.0 (x1) - 20.0 (x20).
    float digitalZoom{1.0f};
    /// Exposure compensation mode.
    int exposureCompensationMode{0};
    /// Exposure compensation position.
    int exposureCompensationPosition{0};
    /// Defog mode. 
    int defogMode{0};
    /// Dehaze mode.
    int dehazeMode{0};
    /// Noise reduction mode.
    int noiseReductionMode{0};
    /// Black and white filter mode.
    int blackAndWhiteFilterMode{0};
    /// Filter mode.
    int filterMode{0};
    /// NUC mode for thermal cameras.
    int nucMode{0};
    /// Auto NUC interval for thermal cameras.
    int autoNucIntervalMsec{0};
    /// Image flip mode. 
    int imageFlip{0};
    /// DDE mode.
    int ddeMode{0};
    /// DDE level.
    float ddeLevel{0};
    /// ROI top-left horizontal position, pixels.
    int roiX0{0};
    /// ROI top-left vertical position, pixels.
    int roiY0{0};
    /// ROI bottom-right horizontal position, pixels.
    int roiX1{0};
    /// ROI bottom-right vertical position, pixels.
    int roiY1{0};
    /// Camera temperature, degree.
    float temperature{0.0f};
    /// ALC gate.
    int alcGate{0};
    /// Sensor sensitivity.
    float sensitivity{0};
    /// Changing mode (day / night).
    int changingMode{0};
    /// Changing level (day / night).
    float changingLevel{0.0f};
    /// Chroma level. Values: 0 - 100%.
    int chromaLevel{0};
    /// Details, enhancement. Values: 0 - 100%.
    int detail{0};
    /// Camera settings profile.
    int profile{0};
    /// Connection status (read only).
    bool isConnected{false};
    /// Open status (read only).
    bool isOpen{false};
    /// Camera type.
    int type{0};
    /// Camera custom param.
    float custom1{0.0f};
    /// Camera custom param.
    float custom2{0.0f};
    /// Camera custom param.
    float custom3{0.0f};

    JSON_READABLE(CameraParams, initString, width, height, displayMode,
                  videoOutput, logMode, exposureMode, exposureTime,
                  whiteBalanceMode, whiteBalanceArea, wideDynamicRangeMode,
                  stabilizationMode, isoSensitivity, sceneMode, fps,
                  brightnessMode, brightness, contrast, gainMode, gain,
                  sharpeningMode, sharpening, palette, agcMode, shutterMode,
                  shutterPos, shutterSpeed, digitalZoomMode, digitalZoom,
                  exposureCompensationMode, exposureCompensationPosition,
                  defogMode, dehazeMode, noiseReductionMode,
                  blackAndWhiteFilterMode, filterMode, nucMode,
                  autoNucIntervalMsec, imageFlip, ddeMode, ddeLevel,
                  roiX0, roiY0, roiX1, roiY1, alcGate, sensitivity,
                  changingMode, changingLevel, chromaLevel, detail,
                  profile, type, custom1, custom2, custom3)

    /// operator =
    CameraParams& operator= (const CameraParams& src);

    /// Encode params. The method doesn't encode initString.
    bool encode(uint8_t* data, int bufferSize, int& size,
                CameraParamsMask* mask = nullptr);

    /// Decode params. The method doesn't decode initString.
    bool decode(uint8_t* data, int dataSize);
};

Table 4 - CameraParams class fields description is equivalent to CameraParam enum description.

Field type Description
initString string The same format as openCamera(…) method initString parameter.
width int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
height int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
displayMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
videoOutput int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
logMode int Logging mode. Values:
0 - Disable
1 - Only file
2 - Only terminal (console)
3 - File and terminal
exposureMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
exposureTime int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
whiteBalanceMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
whiteBalanceArea int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
wideDynamicRangeMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
stabilizationMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
isoSensitivity int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
sceneMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
fps float Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
brightnessMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
brightness int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
contrast int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
gainMode int Gain mode. Values:
0 - Manual.
1 - Auto.
2 - Low gain.
3 - High gain.
gain int Gain level. Values: 0 - 100.
sharpeningMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
sharpening int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
palette int Palette. Values:
0 - White hot.
1 - Black hot.
2 - Rainbow.
3 - RainHC.
4 - Ironbow.
5 - Lava.
6 - Arctic.
7 - Glowbow.
8 - Graded Fire.
9 - Hottest.
agcMode int AGC mode:
0 - OFF,
1 - ON.
shutterMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
shutterPos int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
shutterSpeed int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
digitalZoomMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
digitalZoom float Digital zoom level. Values 10 (1x) - 48 (4.8x). Upper limit depends on the particular camera.
exposureCompensationMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
exposureCompensationPosition int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
defogMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
dehazeMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
noiseReductionMode int Noise reduction mode:
0 - OFF,
1 - ON.
blackAndWhiteFilterMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
filterMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
nucMode int NUC mode for camera. Values: 0 - Manual, 1 - Auto.
autoNucIntervalMsec int Auto NUC interval for thermal cameras. Value in milliseconds. Value < 1000 will be interpreted as OFF value. No upper limit is enforced by the library. The value is divided by 1000 and sent to the camera as its FFC frame threshold.
imageFlip int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
ddeMode int Digital Detail Enhancement mode:
0 - OFF,
1 - ON.
ddeLevel float Digital Detail Enhancement. Values: 0 - 100.
roiX0 int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
roiY0 int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
roiX1 int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
roiY1 int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
temperature float Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
alcGate int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
sensitivity float Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
changingMode int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
changingLevel float Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
chromaLevel int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
detail int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
profile int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
isConnected bool Connection status.
isOpen bool Controller initialization status.
type int Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
custom1 float Video preset on initialization procedure. Values:
0 - High contrast preset.
1 - No preset.
custom2 float Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.
custom3 float Not supported by FlirBosonCamera library.

Note: CameraParams class fields listed above reflect params set/get by methods setParam(…) and getParam(…).

Serialize camera params

CameraParams class provides the method encode(…) to serialize camera params. Serialization of camera params is necessary in case when you have to send camera params via communication channels. The method doesn’t encode the initString field. The method provides options to exclude particular parameters from serialization. To do this, the method inserts a binary mask (8 bytes) where each bit represents a particular parameter and the decode(…) method recognizes it. Method declaration:

bool encode(uint8_t* data, int bufferSize, int& size, CameraParamsMask* mask = nullptr);
Parameter Value
data Pointer to data buffer. Buffer size must be >= 237 bytes.
bufferSize Data buffer size. Buffer size must be >= 237 bytes.
size Size of encoded data.
mask Parameters mask - pointer to CameraParamsMask structure. CameraParamsMask (declared in Camera.h file) determines flags for each field (parameter) declared in CameraParams class. If the user wants to exclude any parameters from serialization, he can put a pointer to the mask. If the user wants to exclude a particular parameter from serialization, he should set the corresponding flag in the CameraParamsMask structure.

Returns: TRUE if params are encoded (serialized) or FALSE if not.

CameraParamsMask structure declaration:

typedef struct CameraParamsMask
{
    bool width{true};
    bool height{true};
    bool displayMode{true};
    bool videoOutput{true};
    bool logMode{true};
    bool exposureMode{true};
    bool exposureTime{true};
    bool whiteBalanceMode{true};
    bool whiteBalanceArea{true};
    bool wideDynamicRangeMode{true};
    bool stabilizationMode{true};
    bool isoSensitivity{true};
    bool sceneMode{true};
    bool fps{true};
    bool brightnessMode{true};
    bool brightness{true};
    bool contrast{true};
    bool gainMode{true};
    bool gain{true};
    bool sharpeningMode{true};
    bool sharpening{true};
    bool palette{true};
    bool agcMode{true};
    bool shutterMode{true};
    bool shutterPos{true};
    bool shutterSpeed{true};
    bool digitalZoomMode{true};
    bool digitalZoom{true};
    bool exposureCompensationMode{true};
    bool exposureCompensationPosition{true};
    bool defogMode{true};
    bool dehazeMode{true};
    bool noiseReductionMode{true};
    bool blackAndWhiteFilterMode{true};
    bool filterMode{true};
    bool nucMode{true};
    bool autoNucIntervalMsec{true};
    bool imageFlip{true};
    bool ddeMode{true};
    bool ddeLevel{true};
    bool roiX0{true};
    bool roiY0{true};
    bool roiX1{true};
    bool roiY1{true};
    bool temperature{true};
    bool alcGate{true};
    bool sensitivity{true};
    bool changingMode{true};
    bool changingLevel{true};
    bool chromaLevel{true};
    bool detail{true};
    bool profile{true};
    bool isConnected{true};
    bool isOpen{true};
    bool type{true};
    bool custom1{true};
    bool custom2{true};
    bool custom3{true};
} CameraParamsMask;

Example without parameters mask:

// Encode data.
CameraParams in;
in.profile = 10;
uint8_t data[1024];
int size = 0;
in.encode(data, 1024, size);
cout << "Encoded data size: " << size << " bytes" << endl;

Example with parameters mask:

// Prepare params.
CameraParams in;
in.profile = 3;

// Prepare mask.
CameraParamsMask mask;
mask.profile = false; // Exclude profile. Others by default.

// Encode.
uint8_t data[1024];
int size = 0;
in.encode(data, 1024, size, &mask);
cout << "Encoded data size: " << size << " bytes" << endl;

Deserialize camera params

CameraParams class provides the method decode(…) to deserialize camera params (fields of CameraParams class, see Table 4). Deserialization of camera params is necessary in case when you need to receive params via communication channels. The method automatically recognizes which parameters were serialized by the encode(…) method. The method doesn’t decode the initString field. Method declaration:

bool decode(uint8_t* data, int dataSize);
Parameter Value
data Pointer to data buffer with serialized camera params.
dataSize Size of command data.

Returns: TRUE if params are decoded (deserialized) or FALSE if not.

Example:

// Encode data.
CameraParams in;
uint8_t data[1024];
int size = 0;
in.encode(data, 1024, size);
cout << "Encoded data size: " << size << " bytes" << endl;

// Decode data.
CameraParams out;
if (!out.decode(data, size))
    cout << "Can't decode data" << endl;

Read and write camera params to JSON file

The Camera library depends on the ConfigReader library which provides methods to read params from JSON file and to write params to JSON file. Example of writing and reading params to JSON file:

// Write params to file.
cr::utils::ConfigReader inConfig;
inConfig.set(in, "cameraParams");
inConfig.writeToFile("TestCameraParams.json");

// Read params from file.
cr::utils::ConfigReader outConfig;
if(!outConfig.readFromFile("TestCameraParams.json"))
{
    cout << "Can't open config file" << endl;
    return false;
}

TestCameraParams.json will look like:

{
    "cameraParams": {
        "agcMode": 252,
        "alcGate": 125,
        "autoNucIntervalMsec": 47,
        "blackAndWhiteFilterMode": 68,
        "brightness": 67,
        "brightnessMode": 206,
        "changingLevel": 84.0,
        "changingMode": 239,
        "chromaLevel": 137,
        "contrast": 65,
        "custom1": 216.0,
        "custom2": 32.0,
        "custom3": 125.0,
        "ddeLevel": 25,
        "ddeMode": 221,
        "defogMode": 155,
        "dehazeMode": 239,
        "detail": 128,
        "digitalZoom": 47.0,
        "digitalZoomMode": 157,
        "displayMode": 2,
        "exposureCompensationMode": 213,
        "exposureCompensationPosition": 183,
        "exposureMode": 192,
        "exposureTime": 16,
        "filterMode": 251,
        "fps": 19.0,
        "gain": 111,
        "gainMode": 130,
        "height": 219,
        "imageFlip": 211,
        "initString": "dfhglsjirhuhjfb",
        "isoSensitivity": 32,
        "logMode": 252,
        "noiseReductionMode": 79,
        "nucMode": 228,
        "palette": 115,
        "profile": 108,
        "roiX0": 93,
        "roiX1": 135,
        "roiY0": 98,
        "roiY1": 206,
        "sceneMode": 195,
        "sensitivity": 70.0,
        "sharpening": 196,
        "sharpeningMode": 49,
        "shutterMode": 101,
        "shutterPos": 157,
        "shutterSpeed": 117,
        "stabilizationMode": 170,
        "type": 55,
        "videoOutput": 18,
        "whiteBalanceArea": 236,
        "whiteBalanceMode": 30,
        "wideDynamicRangeMode": 21,
        "width": 150
    }
}

Build and connect to your project

Typical commands to build FlirBosonCamera library:

git clone --recursive git@github.com:ConstantRobotics-Ltd/FlirBosonCamera.git
cd FlirBosonCamera
mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make

Note: the Camera, Logger and SerialPort dependencies are git submodules, so an already-cloned repository needs git submodule update --init --recursive before the first configure.

If you want to connect the FlirBosonCamera library to your CMake project as source code, you can do the following. For example, if your repository has the structure:

CMakeLists.txt
src
    CMakeLists.txt
    yourLib.h
    yourLib.cpp

Create folder 3rdparty and copy folder of FlirBosonCamera repository there. New structure of your repository:

CMakeLists.txt
src
    CMakeLists.txt
    yourLib.h
    yourLib.cpp
3rdparty
    FlirBosonCamera

Create CMakeLists.txt file in 3rdparty folder. CMakeLists.txt should contain:

cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.13)

################################################################################
## 3RD-PARTY
## dependencies for the project
################################################################################
project(3rdparty LANGUAGES CXX)

################################################################################
## SETTINGS
## basic 3rd-party settings before use
################################################################################
# To inherit the top-level architecture when the project is used as a submodule.
SET(PARENT ${PARENT}_YOUR_PROJECT_3RDPARTY)
# Disable self-overwriting of parameters inside included subdirectories.
SET(${PARENT}_SUBMODULE_CACHE_OVERWRITE OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)

################################################################################
## CONFIGURATION
## 3rd-party submodules configuration
################################################################################
SET(${PARENT}_SUBMODULE_FLIR_BOSON_CAMERA               ON  CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
if (${PARENT}_SUBMODULE_FLIR_BOSON_CAMERA)
    SET(${PARENT}_FLIR_BOSON_CAMERA                     ON  CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
    SET(${PARENT}_FLIR_BOSON_CAMERA_TEST                OFF CACHE BOOL "" FORCE)
endif()

################################################################################
## INCLUDING SUBDIRECTORIES
## Adding subdirectories according to the 3rd-party configuration
################################################################################
if (${PARENT}_SUBMODULE_FLIR_BOSON_CAMERA)
    add_subdirectory(FlirBosonCamera)
endif()

File 3rdparty/CMakeLists.txt adds folder FlirBosonCamera to your project and excludes test application and example from compiling (by default test application is excluded from compiling if FlirBosonCamera is included as sub-repository). The new structure of your repository:

CMakeLists.txt
src
    CMakeLists.txt
    yourLib.h
    yourLib.cpp
3rdparty
    CMakeLists.txt
    FlirBosonCamera

Next you need to include the 3rdparty folder in the main CMakeLists.txt file of your repository. Add the following line at the end of your main CMakeLists.txt:

add_subdirectory(3rdparty)

Next you have to include the FlirBosonCamera library in your src/CMakeLists.txt file:

target_link_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME} FlirBosonCamera)

Done!

Simple example

The example below is the whole of example/main.cpp. It opens the camera, reads a parameter from it, looks at the controller’s own view of the parameter set, writes a parameter, runs a command and closes the camera. It is deliberately short: initCamera(…), decodeAndExecuteCommand(…), isCameraOpen() and isCameraConnected() are left to the test application, which exercises all of them.

#include <iostream>
#include "FlirBosonCamera.h"

// Palette 4 is Ironbow. The full list is in the PALETTE row of the
// documentation.
const float IRONBOW_PALETTE = 4.0f;

// Entry point.
int main(void)
{
    std::cout << "FlirBosonCamera v"
              << cr::camera::FlirBosonCamera::getVersion() << std::endl;

    // Create the camera controller and open the camera. The init string is
    // either "USBBOSON" for the first USB camera, or "<device>;<baudrate>",
    // for example "/dev/ttyACM0;921600".
    cr::camera::FlirBosonCamera camera;
    if (!camera.openCamera("USBBOSON"))
    {
        std::cout << "Can't open camera" << std::endl;
        return -1;
    }

    // getParam(...) asks the camera for PALETTE. For the parameters the
    // controller keeps on its own side - LOG_MODE, DDE_MODE, DDE_LEVEL,
    // CUSTOM_1, IS_OPEN, IS_CONNECTED - it answers from its own copy. It
    // returns -1 when the value is not available, so a reading is worth
    // checking before it is used.
    const float palette = camera.getParam(cr::camera::CameraParam::PALETTE);
    if (palette < 0.0f)
        std::cout << "Palette is not available" << std::endl;
    else
        std::cout << "Palette from the camera: " << palette << std::endl;

    // getParams(...) does not talk to the camera: it copies the controller's
    // own view of it, which is what the last read or write left there.
    cr::camera::CameraParams params;
    camera.getParams(params);
    std::cout << "Gain mode known to the controller: "
              << params.gainMode << std::endl;

    // Write one parameter. For PALETTE the controller reads the value back
    // from the camera, so the next getParam(...) reports what the camera
    // adopted rather than what was asked for.
    if (!camera.setParam(cr::camera::CameraParam::PALETTE, IRONBOW_PALETTE))
        std::cout << "Can't set palette" << std::endl;
    std::cout << "Palette after the write: "
              << camera.getParam(cr::camera::CameraParam::PALETTE) << std::endl;

    // Run a command.
    if (!camera.executeCommand(cr::camera::CameraCommand::NUC))
        std::cout << "Can't run NUC" << std::endl;

    camera.closeCamera();

    return 0;
}

Test application

The FlirBosonCamera/test folder contains a test application which demonstrates how to use the FlirBosonCamera library. It gives access to every parameter and command the library implements, and to every method of the interface: setParam(…), getParam(…), getParams(…), executeCommand(…), decodeAndExecuteCommand(…), openCamera(…), initCamera(…), closeCamera(), isCameraOpen() and isCameraConnected().

After a successful write the application prints the value the controller holds afterwards. For a parameter the controller re-reads from the camera it says Set, camera reports …, so the operator sees what the camera adopted rather than what was asked for; the two differ whenever the camera clamps or ignores a write. For LOG_MODE, CUSTOM_1, DDE_MODE and DDE_LEVEL it says Set, controller stored … instead and claims nothing about the camera: the first three are kept on the controller’s own side, and DDE_LEVEL reaches the camera only while DDE_MODE is 1.

If the camera cannot be opened at startup the application reports it and still enters the menu, so that LOG_MODE can be raised to see the library’s own diagnostics and the connection menu can retry.

The test application output will look like:

================================================
FlirBosonCamera tester v3.0.0
================================================

Init string (USBBOSON or <device>;<baudrate>, empty line for USBBOSON):

Choose option:
 1 - Set camera param
 2 - Get camera param
 3 - Get all camera params
 4 - Execute camera command
 5 - Send encoded command
 6 - Connection state
 7 - Reopen with initCamera(...)
-1 - Exit
Choose option: 1
Camera params:
 5 - LOG_MODE                 | 18 - GAIN_MODE
19 - GAIN                     | 22 - PALETTE
23 - AGC_MODE                 | 28 - DIGITAL_ZOOM
33 - NOISE_REDUCTION_MODE     | 36 - NUC_MODE
37 - AUTO_NUC_INTERVAL_MSEC   | 39 - DDE_MODE
40 - DDE_LEVEL                | 56 - CUSTOM_1
 0 - any other ID, to see how the library rejects it
Choose param (-1 to exit to main menu): 22
Set palette: 0 - White hot, 1 - Black hot, 2 - Rainbow, 3 - RainHC, 4 - Ironbow, 5 - Lava, 6 - Arctic, 7 - Glowbow, 8 - Graded fire, 9 - Hottest: 4
Set, camera reports 4

Option 3 prints the whole parameter set twice, once value by value through getParam(…) and once as a structure through getParams(…):

getParam(...):
  LOG_MODE                 = 0
  GAIN_MODE                = 3
  GAIN                     = 18.7097
  PALETTE                  = 4
  AGC_MODE                 = 1
  DIGITAL_ZOOM             = 0
  NOISE_REDUCTION_MODE     = 1
  NUC_MODE                 = 1
  AUTO_NUC_INTERVAL_MSEC   = 300000
  DDE_MODE                 = 0
  DDE_LEVEL                = 0
  CUSTOM_1                 = 0
  IS_OPEN                  = 1
  IS_CONNECTED             = 1
getParams(...):
  initString               = /dev/serial/by-id/usb-FLIR_Boson_386477-if02;921600
  logMode                  = 0
  gainMode                 = 3
  gain                     = 18
  palette                  = 4
  agcMode                  = 1
  digitalZoom              = 0
  noiseReductionMode       = 1
  nucMode                  = 1
  autoNucIntervalMsec      = 300000
  ddeMode                  = 0
  ddeLevel                 = 0
  custom1                  = 0
  isOpen                   = 1
  isConnected              = 1

A parameter the camera does not provide is printed as -1 followed by (not available), so a missing reading is never mistaken for a real one.


Table of contents