- Gigabit Ethernet ports are common on PCs and laptop computers, so there is no need for special interface cards or expensive/complicated frame grabbers in order to operate a GigE Vision camera.
- GigE provides high bandwidth to transmit uncompressed image data from a camera to a host computer in real time at speeds that exceed the requirements of most industrial machine vision applications. This negates the need for complex and expensive interfaces like Cameralink.
- Gigabit Ethernet provides a high performance camera interface to convey control and image data over long cable lengths. Cable lengths up to 100 meters long using inexpensive CAT5e cabling are possible. Even longer distances are possible using switches or fiber optics. Such long cable lengths far exceed the maximum cable lengths of Cameralink, firewire, and USB.
- GigE Vision is compatible with standard Gigabit Ethernet hardware allowing networking of cameras. This is especially useful in situations requiring multiple views and opens up new machine vision applications in Intelligent Traffic Systems (ITS) and public security imaging.
What is so great about GigE Vision and Gigabit Ethernet?
GigE Vision is quite exciting because it provides many features that are unavailable in other camera interfaces. The combined features of high data rate (required for uncompressed video or imaging applications), ubiquitous computer interface hardware, low cost cabling, and widespread popularity make Gigabit Ethernet an attractive interface option for machine vision cameras. With the advent of GigE Vision, a standardized camera communication protocol from the Advanced Imaging Association (AIA), GigE has become more attractive still. Here are a few of the compelling benefits of GigE Vision-compliant cameras:
- GigE Vision allows multicasting of image data simultaneously to multiple computers for distributing the image processing load across separate computers.
- CAT5e or CAT6 Ethernet cables can be easily manufactured on-site using low cost cabling and tools. This feature is especially useful for outdoor installations where cameras may be mounted on poles or buildings and where the cable must be routed as the site demands.
- The new GigE Vision standard provides ease of use that surpasses other common camera interfaces.
- The fast successor to GigE, 10GigE, offers 10 gigabit per second (Gbps) data rates that when applied to cameras means that parallel interfaces like Camera Link are no longer be necessary even for high-speed applications