Clarify Pi deployment policy and PIC-paced strobe

Author: MakerTobey

ARCHITECTURE.md

@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ If you want to verify that “who owns what logic” is consistent in code, star
 Configuration is primarily driven by environment variables (`RIO_*`) plus a small number of config/constants in `software/config.py`.
 - **Hardware vs simulation**: routine dev/tests use `RIO_SIMULATION=true`; hardware runs use `RIO_SIMULATION=false`.
 - **Feature toggles**: modules such as droplet analysis, flow, heater can be enabled/disabled via env vars (see `software/README.md`).
-- **Control mode**: strobe-centric vs camera-centric mode is selected via `RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE` (see deployment/software docs).
+- **Strobe pacing**: PIC-paced only (camera is triggered by the PIC; no multi-mode selection).
 - **ROI mode**: `RIO_ROI_MODE=software|hardware` (software default). Hardware ROI applies only on camera backends that support it; otherwise the app falls back to software ROI.
 
 Example configuration files live under:

hardware-modules/strobe-imaging/strobe_pic/README.md

@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ The host driver should treat the `main.c` packet switch as authoritative for pay
 
 ## Compatibility notes
 
-- Host-side strobe behavior has multiple orchestration modes (strobe-centric vs camera-centric). Ensure the selected host mode is compatible with the firmware/trigger wiring you’re using.
+- Host-side strobe behavior is PIC-paced only (camera is triggered by the PIC). Ensure wiring matches this trigger direction.
 - If you use the hardware-trigger variant, verify the GPIO trigger pin wiring and the corresponding interrupt configuration.
 
 ## AI-generated notice

pi-deployment/configurations/README.md

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ This directory contains example configuration files and documentation for the Ri
 
 ### Detailed Reference Examples
 
-- **`config-example-strobe-centric-32bit.yaml`** - Detailed 32-bit PIC-paced configuration
+- **`config-example-strobe-centric-32bit.yaml`** - Detailed 32-bit PIC-paced configuration (legacy filename)
 
 ## Documentation
 

scripts/deploy/create-pi-deployment.bat

@@ -113,10 +113,9 @@ echo echo ""
 echo echo "Setup complete!"
 echo echo ""
 echo echo "To run the application:"
-echo echo "  1. export RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE=strobe-centric  # or camera-centric"
-echo echo "  2. export RIO_SIMULATION=false"
-echo echo "  3. export RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED=true"
-echo echo "  4. python main.py"
+echo echo "  1. export RIO_SIMULATION=false"
+echo echo "  2. export RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED=true"
+echo echo "  3. python main.py"
 echo echo ""
 echo echo "Or use the run.sh script after setting environment variables."
 echo echo ""
@@ -132,14 +131,12 @@ echo.
 echo cd "$^(dirname "$0"^)"
 echo.
 echo # Set default environment variables if not set
-echo export RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE=${RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE:-strobe-centric}
 echo export RIO_SIMULATION=${RIO_SIMULATION:-false}
 echo export RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED=${RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED:-true}
 echo export RIO_FLOW_ENABLED=${RIO_FLOW_ENABLED:-false}
 echo export RIO_HEATER_ENABLED=${RIO_HEATER_ENABLED:-false}
 echo.
 echo echo "Starting Rio microfluidics controller..."
-echo echo "Control mode: $RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE"
 echo echo "Simulation: $RIO_SIMULATION"
 echo echo "Droplet detection: $RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED"
 echo echo ""

scripts/deploy/create-pi-deployment.sh

@@ -288,7 +288,6 @@ echo "Next steps:"
 echo "  1. If legacy camera is not enabled, run: sudo raspi-config → Interface Options → Legacy Camera → Enable"
 echo "  2. Reboot if you changed camera settings: sudo reboot"
 echo "  3. After reboot, run the application:"
-echo "     export RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE=strobe-centric  # or camera-centric"
 echo "     export RIO_SIMULATION=false"
 echo "     export RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED=true"
 echo "     python main.py"
@@ -309,14 +308,12 @@ cat > "$DEPLOY_DIR/run.sh" << 'EOF'
 cd "$(dirname "$0")"
 
 # Set default environment variables if not set
-export RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE=${RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE:-strobe-centric}
 export RIO_SIMULATION=${RIO_SIMULATION:-false}
 export RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED=${RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED:-true}
 export RIO_FLOW_ENABLED=${RIO_FLOW_ENABLED:-false}
 export RIO_HEATER_ENABLED=${RIO_HEATER_ENABLED:-false}
 
 echo "Starting Rio microfluidics controller..."
-echo "Control mode: $RIO_STROBE_CONTROL_MODE"
 echo "Simulation: $RIO_SIMULATION"
 echo "Droplet detection: $RIO_DROPLET_ANALYSIS_ENABLED"
 echo ""

software/configurations/README.md

@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ This directory contains example configuration files and documentation for the Ri
 
 ### Detailed Reference Examples
 
-- **`config-example-strobe-centric-32bit.yaml`** - Detailed 32-bit PIC-paced configuration
+- **`config-example-strobe-centric-32bit.yaml`** - Detailed 32-bit PIC-paced configuration (legacy filename)
 
 ## Documentation