Camera
This guide explains how to adjust key camera settings, including time-lapse frequency, image quality, and night vision parameters.
The OcuTrap camera provides daytime and night vision capabilities, allowing users to configure image capture settings based on lighting conditions.
Camera Time-Lapse Mode
OcuTrap can automatically capture images at set intervals while the trap is in armed mode.
Configurable Option
- Photo Capture Frequency – Defines how often the camera captures an image while the trap is armed.
If images are too frequent, reduce the frequency to conserve battery and data. If you need more monitoring, increase the frequency to capture more activity.
Camera Image Settings
These settings control image quality, resolution, and night vision brightness.
- Image Quality – Adjusts resolution and compression. Higher quality means clearer images but increased data usage.
- Image Size – Defines the resolution of captured images.
- Maximum IR Brightness – Adjusts infrared light intensity in night vision mode to prevent overexposure or underexposure.
If daytime images look fine but nighttime images are too dark, increase Max IR Brightness.
If nighttime images are washed out or too bright, lower Max IR Brightness.
Limits for IR Brightness
| Setting | Min Value | Default Value | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max IR Brightness | 0 | 50 | 100 |
| Min IR Brightness | 0 | 20 | 100 |
Night Vision & Light Adaptation
Most users do not need to adjust light settings, as the camera is designed to work automatically. However, users can fine-tune these settings for optimal image clarity in specific environments.
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The camera automatically adjusts between color mode (daytime) and night vision (greyscale) based on ambient light levels.
Automatic Light Switching
- Dark Lux Threshold
- If ambient light falls below this value, the camera activates night vision mode (greyscale) and enables IR.
- Dynamic Light Adaptation
- When light is between the two thresholds, the IR brightness gradually adjusts to optimize visibility.
Limits for Light Thresholds
| Setting | Min Value | Default Value | Max Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dark Lux Threshold | 10.0 | 20.0 | 100.0 |
If daytime images are still in greyscale, lower Dark Lux Threshold so the camera switches to color mode sooner.
If nighttime images are still in color and too dark, increase Dark Lux Threshold to enable greyscale mode earlier.
Understanding and Adjusting Image Quality
If you experience image quality issues, use the guide below to fine-tune your settings:
| Issue | Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Daytime images appear too dark | Dark Lux Threshold is too high | Lower Dark Lux Threshold so the camera switches to color mode sooner. |
| Daytime images are blurry | Low image quality setting | Increase Image Quality in settings. |
| Nighttime images are too dark | IR brightness is too low | Increase Max IR Brightness to enhance night vision. |
| Nighttime images are too bright or washed out | IR brightness is too high | Lower Max IR Brightness to prevent overexposure. |
| Images have too much glare | Reflections from IR light | Adjust trap positioning or lower Max IR Brightness. |
| Images are too pixelated | Low resolution setting | Increase Image Size or Image Quality. |
How OcuTrap Adapts to Different Light Conditions
| Light Condition | Camera Mode | IR Brightness |
|---|---|---|
| Bright daylight (above dark lux threshold) | Color | Off |
| Low light/Night (below dark lux threshold) | Greyscale (night vision) | Between Max and Min IR Brightness |
Summary of Best Practices
For Most Users:
- No need to adjust light settings—the camera adapts automatically.
If Adjustments Are Needed:
- Improve night images → Increase
maxIrBrightness. - Fix overexposed IR images → Lower
maxIrBrightness. - Make daytime images clearer → Increase Image Quality.