Instruction Manual

Data interface
Goldeye Technical Manual V2.5.0
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Data interface
The Goldeye xy-008/032 camera models are available in two different data
interface versions, Camera Link Base and Gigabit Ethernet.
In the following paragraphs first the Camera Link interface is described. To bet-
ter understand the Gigabit Ethernet version it is important to know that this
camera internally uses Camera Link compatible signals.
The adaptation to Gigabit Ethernet is done by a third-party Camera Link frame
grabber inside the camera. Thus, many of the attributes and features mentioned
in conjunction with the Camera Link interface are also valid for the Gigabit
Ethernet interface version.
Camera Link interface
Camera Link is an interface for the transfer of digital video data. The standard
defines data transfer on a physical base and determines connectors, cables and
components for transmission and reception. Three different configurations
(base, medium and full) are available, distinguishing between the numbers of
parallel transferred data bits. While the base configuration operates with one
cable, for the medium and the full configuration two cables between camera
and frame grabber are necessary.
The transmission components apply the Channel Link technology. 28 parallel
data bits each are serialized in a ratio of 7:1 and transferred in connection with
the clock signal via altogether five differential signal pairs. By using LVDS, net
clock rates up to 85 MHz can be achieved and cable lengths up to 10 m are pos-
sible. Moreover four different control signals for camera control (CC1 – CC4)
from the frame grabber to the camera are available as well as a bi-directional
serial communication channel that is also designed differentially. The follow-
ing drawing illustrates the Camera Link signals in the base configuration that is
used in the Goldeye CL-008/032 models.