Real-time capability: crucial for precise synchronization and minimal latency
Criterion | GigE (Gigabit Ethernet) | CoaXPress (CXP) |
Typical latency | Millisecond range | Microsecond range |
|---|---|---|
Bandwidth | Up to 1 Gbit/s (GigE), 10 Gbit/s (10GigE) | Up to 12.5 Gbit/s per cable |
Cable length | Up to 100 m (standard CAT cable) | Up to 40 m (at maximum bandwidth) |
Synchronization | Limited, depending on the network | Very precise, hardware-based |
Multi-camera support * | Large numbers possible, but with network limitations | Limited number, high scalability |
System costs | Inexpensive, standard hardware | Higher, CXP frame grabber required |
Typical applications | Monitoring, document capture, remote monitoring | Robotics, ophthalmology, surgery, high-speed inspection, 3D measurement, real-time quality control |
Integration | Simple, widely used | More complex, specific components required |
Suitable for | Applications with tolerable latency | Applications with extremely low latency |
* Cascadable switches allow a large number of cameras to be installed in one system with GigE, but the network limitations mean that real-time capability and latencies have to be compromised.
With CXP, cameras can be controlled very well and precisely. The 1:1 connection relationship, the limited channels on the frame grabber, and the limited PCIe slots in the PC make a multi-camera application very time-consuming and complex.
Light for precise synchronization
Extremely low latencies are essential in line-based vision applications, robotics, and medical technology. Pulsed light must be activated exactly in the microsecond range for image acquisition to ensure maximum exposure and efficiency. In dynamic processes, such as on conveyor belts or in ophthalmology, any delay has a direct impact: The object is not in the desired position or a laser cannot be switched off in time. Only precise synchronization and minimal latency can ensure process reliability in these demanding applications.
Vision hardware and software for real-time-capable image processing systems
Coordinated Basler hardware and software products provide a reliable solution for real-time image processing. The choice between GigE and CXP depends on the individual latency, bandwidth, and synchronization requirements of your application.