User Manual

FireWire

Guppy PRO Technical Manual V4.0.0

FireWire

Overview

FireWire provides one of the most comprehensive, high-performance, cost-

effective solutions platforms. FireWire offers very impressive throughput at

very affordable prices.

Definition

FireWire (also known as i.Link or IEEE 1394) is a personal computer and

digital video serial bus interface standard, offering high-speed communica-

tions and isochronous real-time data services. FireWire has low implemen-

tation costs and a simplified and adaptable cabling system.

IEEE 1394 standards

FireWire was developed by Apple Computer in the late 1990s, after work

defining a slower version of the interface by the IEEE 1394 working commit-

tee in the 1980s. Apple's development was completed in 1995. It is defined

in IEEE standard 1394 which is currently a composite of three documents:

• the original IEEE Std. 1394-1995

• the IEEE Std. 1394a-2000 amendment

• the IEEE Std. 1394b-2002 amendment

FireWire is used to connect digital cameras, especially in industrial systems

for machine vision.

Why use FireWire?

Digital cameras with on-board FireWire (IEEE 1394a or 1394b) communica-

tions conforming to the IIDC standard (V1.3 or V1.31) have created cost-

effective and powerful solutions options being used for thousands of differ-

ent applications around the world. FireWire is currently the premier robust

digital interface for industrial applications for many reasons, including:

• Guaranteed bandwidth features to ensure fail-safe communications

• Interoperability with multiple different camera types and vendors

Figure 1: FireWire Logo