Hierarchy

The MultiCam acquisition is a configurable hierarchical process. The general acquisition hierarchy is shown and explained below:

Activity

The channel is a “living” object that can be ACTIVE or not. When the channel is in the ACTIVE state, it performs the acquisition of one or several images during a period called activity. When the channel is not in the ACTIVE state, it does not perform any acquisition.

Sequence

The activity period of the channel is divided in smallest sub-activity periods called sequences. The origin of the name sequence comes from “video sequence” which means succession of images of a scene.  

Phase

The sequences are divided in smallest time periods called phases. The essential characteristic of a phase is that it corresponds to the filling of one surface.

Slice

Phases may be further divided in smallest sections called slices. A surface is filled with several small images (slices) captured at different times.

When there is only one slice per phase, the notions of slice and phase are merged. In that case, the term “slice” is omitted in the benefit of “phase”; this is the most common situation.