FLIR cameras that utilize CXP are capable of providing more data transfer than GigE can handle. The purpose of providing CXP ports on the camera is so that a user can connect to a frame grabber. Most PC's do not have built-in BNC ports so it is necessary to either install a PCIe frame grabber or use one externally.

GenICamCamera

Some cameras support both GigE and CXP or CL. A common use case is to use GigE for camera control only. The control does not take nearly as much bandwidth as the image streaming. CoaXPress or Camera Link can then be used to stream image data to a frame grabber which can handle the bandwidth. In general, it is cheaper to upgrade your computer's network card than it is to purchase a frame grabber.

GigE Vision is probably the most common option for capturing images with FLIR cameras. In fact, that is the point of GigE. GigE is shorthand for gigabit ethernet which simply implies an ethernet connection that can handle at least 1Gbps.

GenICamPython

What is GenICam? GenICam is an abreviation for generic interface for cameras. This is a machine vision standard which was created for the sole purpose of making it easy to integrate cameras into user-built software. It is essentially a common API for machine vision cameras that spans across companies. This allows an end user to use any GenICam compatible software with their hardware even if they are provided by two sompletely separate companies. GenICam can be though of as the standard for controlling machine vision cameras. The image streaming process does not happen through GenICam but instead through one of the following complimentary standards: Gige Vision USB3 Vision CoaXPress CameraLink Comparing different GenICam connections Interface Bandwidth max Cable length max 1Gbps 100m 4Gbps >10m CXP-6 Single 6Gps 60m CXP-12 Single 12.5Gbps 30m CXP-6 Quad 25Gps 60m CXP-12 Quad 50Gps 30m CL Single 3Gps 20m CL Base 7Gps 20m CL Full 15Gps 20m The table below shows the major differences (bandwidth and cable length) between each of the GenICam interfaces. How to use GenICam GenICam lets you easily control the cameras. First, it is best to choose a software to develop with. This link has some info: Which SDK should I use?. There are many options for any GenICam compatible cameras. We offer the Spinnaker SDK for free to connect to FLIR cameras. The next thing to do is find your camera's GenICam ICD. This is a document that lists all of the available control registers for the camera. Most software comes with a GUI that lets you browse these registers and make changes in real time. In general, it is possible to connect the camera to one interface for control and another interface for image streaming. This can provide several advantages, such as using an external frame grabber to acheive a higher recording rate. GigE Vision GigE Vision is probably the most common option for capturing images with FLIR cameras. In fact, that is the point of GigE. GigE is shorthand for gigabit ethernet which simply implies an ethernet connection that can handle at least 1Gbps. Most laptops have an ethernet port which can be used for GigE communication since it only requires a standard ethernet cable for transmission. This is the main advantage of GigE over other interfaces; it is accessible. Cameras that support GigE Vision BlackFly Ax5-series A6xx-series A6xxx-series A8xxx-series X-series RS-series GigE Vision uses either a CAT5 or CAT6 ethernet cable which is common and cheap. This means that GigE can be transferred over an IP network. Netowrk traffic will take up more bandwidth and can interrupt communications with GigE Vision cameras. However, ethernet routers can shield the communications from unwanted traffic. A standard PoE switch can be used to provide Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.3af) to a camera. This reduces cabling because the cameras don't require a separate power supply. The main disadvantage of GigE over other standards is that it has limitted bandwidth. Generally speaking, a low-resolution camera operating at a slow frame rate does not require anything more than 1Gbps. For example, an A35 running at 60Hz takes about 65Mbps running at full frame. At the same frame rate, an A8303 takes about 850Mbps which is much closer to the maximum that GigE can handle! Some cameras support both GigE and CXP or CL. A common use case is to use GigE for camera control only. The control does not take nearly as much bandwidth as the image streaming. CoaXPress or Camera Link can then be used to stream image data to a frame grabber which can handle the bandwidth. In general, it is cheaper to upgrade your computer's network card than it is to purchase a frame grabber. USB3 Vision USB3 Vision is also an easy to use standard which does not require much extra hardware. It only requires a USB cable and a USB 3.0 port. A USB 3.0 port is marked with a blue piece of plastic on the inside of it. A USB 2.0 port will still work with this communication but it will reduce the available bandwidth. In general, USB3 provides better bandwidth capabilities than GigE. However, the cable is much shorter than ethernet. Cameras that support USB3 Vision BlackFly T1k with HSI box CoaXPress CoaXPress is similar to the two previously mentioned standards. It uses a typical BNC cable to provide communications. The standard allows for longer cable lengths than any option other than GigE Vision. FLIR cameras that utilize CXP are capable of providing more data transfer than GigE can handle. The purpose of providing CXP ports on the camera is so that a user can connect to a frame grabber. Most PC's do not have built-in BNC ports so it is necessary to either install a PCIe frame grabber or use one externally. This offers a lot of bandwidth compared to the other previously mentioned standards. The advantage of CXP is that multiple cables can be used in parallel to acheive a higher maximum bandwidth. For example, the X-series cameras need two CXP cables in order to communicate properly. Cameras that support CoaXPress A8xxx-series X-series RS-series Camera Link Camera Link can also accept multiple cables like CXP. Camera Link requires a 26-pin cable for communications. This makes it less accessible than any of the previously mentioned standards. The advantage of CL is that it is very reliable. The short cable length means that it can transmit data without the concern for ropped frames. For example, when using a FLIR X-series connected to the HSDR via Camera Link, you can virtually be guaranteed that no frames will drop when running at thousands of frames per second. With Camera Link, you are generally forced to control the camera with GigE as well. The GenICam standard allows video to flow through one set of cables while control goes through another. Cameras that support Camera Link X-series RS-series

GenICamdownload

The next thing to do is find your camera's GenICam ICD. This is a document that lists all of the available control registers for the camera. Most software comes with a GUI that lets you browse these registers and make changes in real time.

In general, it is possible to connect the camera to one interface for control and another interface for image streaming. This can provide several advantages, such as using an external frame grabber to acheive a higher recording rate.

GenICamsoftware

GenICam can be though of as the standard for controlling machine vision cameras. The image streaming process does not happen through GenICam but instead through one of the following complimentary standards:

GenICamC++

Most laptops have an ethernet port which can be used for GigE communication since it only requires a standard ethernet cable for transmission. This is the main advantage of GigE over other interfaces; it is accessible.

This allows an end user to use any GenICam compatible software with their hardware even if they are provided by two sompletely separate companies.

GenICaminterface

CoaXPress is similar to the two previously mentioned standards. It uses a typical BNC cable to provide communications. The standard allows for longer cable lengths than any option other than GigE Vision.

GenICam is an abreviation for generic interface for cameras. This is a machine vision standard which was created for the sole purpose of making it easy to integrate cameras into user-built software. It is essentially a common API for machine vision cameras that spans across companies.

This offers a lot of bandwidth compared to the other previously mentioned standards. The advantage of CXP is that multiple cables can be used in parallel to acheive a higher maximum bandwidth. For example, the X-series cameras need two CXP cables in order to communicate properly.

GigE Vision uses either a CAT5 or CAT6 ethernet cable which is common and cheap. This means that GigE can be transferred over an IP network. Netowrk traffic will take up more bandwidth and can interrupt communications with GigE Vision cameras. However, ethernet routers can shield the communications from unwanted traffic.

GenICam lets you easily control the cameras. First, it is best to choose a software to develop with. This link has some info: Which SDK should I use?. There are many options for any GenICam compatible cameras. We offer the Spinnaker SDK for free to connect to FLIR cameras.

The advantage of CL is that it is very reliable. The short cable length means that it can transmit data without the concern for ropped frames. For example, when using a FLIR X-series connected to the HSDR via Camera Link, you can virtually be guaranteed that no frames will drop when running at thousands of frames per second.

A standard PoE switch can be used to provide Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.3af) to a camera. This reduces cabling because the cameras don't require a separate power supply.

GenICamBrowser

Genicamapp

The main disadvantage of GigE over other standards is that it has limitted bandwidth. Generally speaking, a low-resolution camera operating at a slow frame rate does not require anything more than 1Gbps. For example, an A35 running at 60Hz takes about 65Mbps running at full frame. At the same frame rate, an A8303 takes about 850Mbps which is much closer to the maximum that GigE can handle!

With Camera Link, you are generally forced to control the camera with GigE as well. The GenICam standard allows video to flow through one set of cables while control goes through another.

Camera Link can also accept multiple cables like CXP. Camera Link requires a 26-pin cable for communications. This makes it less accessible than any of the previously mentioned standards.

USB3 Vision is also an easy to use standard which does not require much extra hardware. It only requires a USB cable and a USB 3.0 port. A USB 3.0 port is marked with a blue piece of plastic on the inside of it. A USB 2.0 port will still work with this communication but it will reduce the available bandwidth.

Prism scopes offer a compact size with a wide field-of view. Sharp picture with fast target acquisition. Great for shooters with astigmatisms.