Mini delta ribbon (MDR) and shrunk delta ribbon (SDR) cable assemblies are both designed to carry video signals as specified in the Camera Link (CL) specification, and they have the same internal connections. MDR and SDR cables are incompatible with the higher speed Camera Link HS (CLHS) standard. CLHS connectors include CX4 and SFP/SFP+. A […]
FAQ
What are the seven variations of Camera Link Machine Vision connectivity?
Camera Link (CL) standardizes the hardware connection between cameras and frame grabbers. It includes specifications for data transfer, camera timing, serial communication, and real-time signaling. Camera Link variants include base, medium, full, deca, high speed (CLHS), PoCL (power over Camera Link), and PoCL Lite. Camera Link is a serial communication protocol standard maintained and administered […]
What are the most common connector styles used for MV systems?
Machine vision (MV) is an important tool in Industry 4.0, autonomous driving, and other advanced technologies. Various standard data connectors and application-specific vision system connectors support it. MV hardware consists of a camera or other imaging sensor and a computer that analyzes the images. Reliable, high-speed connectivity is required to link them. Examples of standard […]
Ensuring integrity in high-performance interconnects with connector backshells
This article examines how modern backshell technologies contribute to high-performance interconnects’ electrical and mechanical integrity and some key factors to consider during the specification phase. Today’s aerospace, defense, and medical applications demand connectors that offer high-speed and compact interconnections, withstand vibrations and shocks, and maintain immunity against electromagnetic and RF interference (EMI/RFI). Achieving this requires […]
FAQ on X- and Y-capacitors
X-capacitors and Y-capacitor placements are needed for performance and mandated for safety in most AC-line systems. What are X-capacitors and Y-capacitors? No, they are not references to various circuitry-related algebra problems that need to be solved, nor are they the tools of superheroes. Instead, they are AC-line capacitors mandated by good design practice and regulatory […]
How do car camera bus and FPD link compare?
Car camera bus (C2B) and flat panel display (FPD) Link are both technologies used in automotive vision systems, but they differ in their use cases, performance, and cost. Automotive high-definition link (AHL) is another choice for video connectivity, as is automotive Ethernet, a general-purpose networking technology. This article briefly compares FPD Link, C2B, and AHL. […]
The winding path to the infrared remote control: part 2
Today’s IR-based remote controls have little resemblance to their predecessors; it took the convergence of unrelated advances to get us here. Part 1 examined dead-end precursors to our present-day remote-control technology; this part examines the IR-based system now in near-universal use. Back to the future: the convergence of UHF bands, electronic tuning, and LEDs re-opens […]
The winding path to the infrared remote control: part 1
Today’s IR-based remote controls have little resemblance to their predecessors; it took the convergence of unrelated advances to get us here. We take the ubiquitous infrared-based (IR) remote control for TVs and other household devices for granted. They are small, lightweight, run for months on a battery (some are solar-powered), reliable, and easy to use […]
Achieving isolation in an isolation amplifier
Isolation amplifiers create a galvanic isolation barrier between input and output circuits to protect sensitive equipment and personnel from high voltages. Such isolation can be optical, capacitive, or inductive in an isolation amplifier. This FAQ will help us understand how each isolation type works and how they differ. How do optical isolation amplifiers work? Optical […]
FAQ on voltage and current sources: part 3
Voltage and lesser-known current sources provide important IC, circuit, and system functions. This section continues the discussion of current sources and related topics. Q: How do you construct a better current source than a voltage source and a resistor? A: There are several ways, but the most common is, ironically, to start with a voltage […]
