There have been many exciting developments over the past several years with the introduction of new vision technologies and standards. We have seen the launch of new benchmarks—such as Camera Link HS, CoaXPress, and most recently USB 3.0 Vision—join the ranks of well-established standards such as Camera Link and Gig E Vision. Each one of these standards has its own unique specifications and capabilities such as data transfer rates, camera control, or trigger latency. However, all of these technologies share one common need: none of these systems will function without the use of a cable. The cable is critical in providing the pathway for data from computer-to-camera and camera-to-computer.
It is the essential lifeline between the device and its host. Unfortunately, that link may come up short—literally—for your specific application and may be overlooked until the time of implementation. We have received a few calls over the years from frantic system integrators and end users as they have recognized that they are exceeding the effective length of cables in their application. Each application and standard has a particular maximum effective cable length. In this article, we will explore this phenomenon and provide guidance on how to select appropriate cables for your project.