beginAcquisition

beginAcquisition is a software interface used to initiate the data collection process in instrument control and data acquisition systems. It designates the transition of a device from an idle or ready state into an active acquisition state, enabling sensors, cameras, spectrometers, or other data sources to begin sampling and transferring data to a host application.

In practice the command is provided as a method or function in device SDKs and driver libraries. It is commonly found in imaging and measurement domains, including digital camera SDKs, laboratory spectrometers, oscilloscope interfaces, and data acquisition (DAQ) hardware. Depending on the API, beginAcquisition may start a single acquisition, a continuous stream, or a configured number of frames.

Parameters and return values vary by API. Some versions accept configuration options such as exposure time, frame count, trigger mode, or channel selection; others use preconfigured settings. The function often returns a status code, boolean, or an acquisition handle. In asynchronous implementations, beginAcquisition may return immediately while the actual data capture proceeds in the background, signaling completion via events or callbacks.

Lifecycle and relationships: beginAcquisition is typically paired with endAcquisition or stopAcquisition to terminate data collection and release resources. It may involve resource allocation, buffer management, and synchronization with the host computer. Proper error handling and timeouts are important to avoid deadlocks or lost data.

Related terms include endAcquisition, StartAcquisition, and getAcquiredData, depending on the API.