/// <summary>
/// Reads up to the specified number of characters from the serial buffer
/// </summary>
/// <param name="charsToRead">The (maximum) number of characters to read on call and the number
/// of characters actually read after the function call</param>
/// <returns>The read string from the serial port</returns>
public string SerialRead(ref uint charsToRead)
{
StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder((int)charsToRead);
NIImaq.CheckError(NIImaq.imgSessionSerialRead(_sid, sb, ref charsToRead, 1000));
return(sb.ToString());
}