Camera Link
In machine vision systems, the choice of interface can determine the efficiency, image quality, and future viability of the entire solution. For many years, Camera Link has been the industry standard for transferring large volumes of image data. Camera Link is now competing with powerful interfaces such as CoaXPress 2.0.
What is Camera Link?
Camera Link is a standardized interface protocol that was specially developed for machine vision cameras. It enables image data to be transferred between the camera and frame grabber at high speed.
Key technical data
Maximum bandwidth: up to 850 MB/s (full configuration)
Cable length: typically up to 10 meters without repeater
Transmission: parallel data transmission, separate control lines
Connection: Special Camera Link cables and connectors
Synchronization: Hardware trigger and real-time transmission possible
Advantages and limitations of the Camera Link interface
Benefits | Limitations |
|---|---|
Industry standard with broad support Real-time transmission Proven reliability | Limited cable length Lower bandwidth compared to modern interfaces No single-cable solution for power supply and data Limited scalability for multi-camera systems |
CoaXPress 2.0 - The modern standard
CoaXPress 2.0 is a high-speed serial interface that has been specially developed for demanding machine vision applications. It combines high data rates with flexible cable routing and enables particularly compact and powerful image processing systems.
Key technical data
Maximum bandwidth: up to 1,200 MB/s per cable, up to 4,800 MB/s in total
Cable length: up to 40 meters
Transmission: serial data transmission, real-time communication
Single-cable solution: Power over CoaXPress (PoCXP) for data and power
Synchronization: Precise multi-camera synchronization
Comparison: Camera Link vs. CoaXPress 2.0
Feature | Camera Link | CoaXPress 2.0 |
|---|---|---|
Maximum bandwidth | up to 850 MB/s | up to 4,800 MB/s |
Cable length | up to 10 m | up to 40 m |
Power supply | Separate cable | Power over CoaXPress (PoCXP) |
Synchronization | Good, but limited | Precise, multi-camera capable |
Scalability | Restricted | very good |
Future viability | Decreasing | Industry standard |
Practical example: Interfaces for demanding applications
In the past, Camera Link was often the first choice for applications that required very high data transfer rates. This place has now been taken by the CoaXPress 2.0 interface.
This is how our racer 2 L line scan camera with CXP-12 interface (for example in applications in battery cell production) and up to 120 kHz at 16k resolution. The sensor performance could no longer be fully utilized with a Camera Link interface. The significantly longer cable lengths and the precise multi-camera synchronization of CoaXPress 2.0 offer additional advantages in the application.
Camera Link to CoaXPress 2.0: When is the switch worthwhile and how does it work?
Do you need more details about the differences between Camera Link and CoaXPress or would you like to know whether it's worth switching to CoaXPress 2.0? Our white paper covers these topics and more:
Detailed comparison of Camera Link and CoaXPress 2.0
What should be considered when switching?
Cost analysis of the systems