Camera interfaces
There have also been many changes in computer technology, with the original ISA bus having been superseded by PCI which is now replaced by PCI Express. Additionally, new interfaces with sufficiently high bandwidths to deliver usable video data have emerged, including USB3 Vision, FireWire A and B and Gigabit Ethernet.
A good utility to identify the optimum interface for a particular application is the STEMMER IMAGING LensSensor app available on iOS and Android devices and on Windows.
Common machine vision interfaces
| Interface | Cable length | Data rate (MB/s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| GigE Vision | > 100 m | < 110 | Most common interface formachine vision, ideal for most applications and complies to the industries GenICam standard. No interface card needed. Low cost |
| USB3 Vision | < 5 m | < 350 | Ideal for faster applications with shorter cable lengths. Meets the industries GenICam standard. No interface card required and lowcost. |
| CameraLink | 7 - 15 m | < 850 | First machine vision camera standard. New V 2.0 meets the industries GenICam standard. Requires interface card and is therefore more expensive. |
| CoaXPress | < 100 m | > 2400 | GenICam compliant, long cable length and the fastest. Does require an interface card and is more expensive. Simple Coax cable is an advantage. |
| CameraLink HS | 15m/300m | > 2000 | Next generation CameraLink, built-in error correction, datadistribution, GenICam compliant and supports fiber and copper interfaces. Interface card required. |
Legacy camera interfaces
In addition to the above interfaces there are a number of legacy interfaces that are still selling in large numbers in OEM applications. These include FireWire and Analogue. However, for new developments we would recommend the interfaces listed below.
Other camera interfaces
The above interfaces have been developed with industrial machine vision in mind. Features such a detailed camera control, non-standard image resolutions and pixel depths, asynchronous triggering of the camera and error detection and correction are typically included. However, there are many industries where these features are not required such as broadcast, security and multimedia. Each market has adopted standards that meet the needs of their applications. As STEMMER IMAGING provides cameras that address these markets they are detailed below.
| Interface | Target market | Description |
|---|---|---|
| SDI/HDSDI | Broadcast &Medical | Free running video meetingbroadcast standards such as 1080p.Uses standard coax cables, butdoes not provide camera control,long cable lengths are possible. |
| HDMI, DVI andVGA | Broadcast &Multimedia | Designed as a monitor interfaceproviding a direct camera tomonitor connection for broadcaststandard free running video withshort cable lengths and no cameracontrol. |
| ONVIV | Security | Provides multiple compressedcontinuous video streams overEthernet networks. Providescamera discovery and cameracontrol. |
| UVC | Multimedia | Plug and play video standard ongeneric interfaces such as USB.Initially developed for webcamswith limited camera control.No specific drivers are required foruse with operating systems such asWindows and Linux. |