This week we are introducing a new Genlock function for all RealSense depth cameras which use global shutter imagers. This currently includes the D435 and D435i stereo depth cameras. Genlock allows one or more video streams to be exactly synchronized in time to an external trigger.
This feature is an improvement over our prior multiple camera configuration capability which allowed one RealSense camera to act as the trigger with other cameras in the configuration being driven to fire by the trigger – that feature had some limitations in that only predefined frame rates could be used, and using a non-RealSense device was almost impossible.
Some places where users will find genlock useful are allowing for unique frequencies such as 24fps for film or animation, or significantly slower frame rates. It also allows the use of a separate RGB camera, for example when creating high quality scene captures, using a separate high resolution RGB camera to drive the RealSense depth cameras with perfect synchronization can lead to better results.