HSLink, CoaXpress offer potential to augment Camera Link

STUTTGART, GERMANY. Two potential follow-ons to the Camera Link interface standard gained attention at Vision 2009, with Dalsa introducing its HSLink and firms including Active Silicon, Adimec, and Components Express supporting CoaXpress. For the latter, the Japanese Industrial Imaging Association is addressing standardization issues.

Dalsa’s HSLink builds on the strengths of Camera Link while carrying the image data, configuration data, and low-hitter real-time triggering signals required in high-performance applications. Compatible with GenICam, it employs off-the-shelf components to implement a scalable bandwidths from 300 to 6000 Mbytes/s in x1 to x20 configureations. Jitter is limited to 3.2 ns to support the low-jitter needs of line-scan cameras.

CoaXpress proponents position the new interface as addressing deficiencies in Camera Link, GigE Vision, and FireWire. CoaXPress, they say, overcomes limitations related to cable length, speed, and ease of use. It supports data rates to 6.25 Gbps over a single coax cable and up to 25 Gbps using four cables. It supports cable lengths beyond 100 m without requiring hubs or repeaters. Its proponents also cite fixed, low latency and precise triggering capability.