Image Acquisition Card
| Cat | Products Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-038 | 4-Port PCIe GigE Network Adapter | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-039 | 4-Port PCIe PoE Network Adapter | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-040 | 4-Port PCIe USB 3.0 Expansion Card | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-041 | 4-Port PCIe PoE+ GigE Network Card | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-042 | Standard 4-Port PCIe GigE Network Card | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-043 | 2-Channel Camera Link Frame Grabber with PoCL | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-044 | I/O-Enhanced Camera Link Frame Grabber | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-045 | 4-Port PoE GigE Vision Frame Grabber | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-046 | 4-Port GigE Vision Frame Grabber | |
| AIMRSE-RV-VCP-047 | 4-Port PoE GigE Vision Frame Grabber (Low Power) |
Introduction
An Image Acquisition Card, commonly referred to as a Frame Grabber, is a specialized PCIe hardware component designed to offload high-bandwidth imaging data from industrial cameras to a host PC. Unlike standard network cards, these boards provide deterministic data transfer, microsecond-level triggering synchronization, and onboard FPGA processing. They are essential for high-end vision systems utilizing CoaXPress or Camera Link protocols, where massive data rates from ultra-high-resolution cameras exceed the capabilities of standard consumer interfaces.
Working Principle
1. Signal Reception
The card receives high-speed serialized data streams from the camera via specialized coaxial, fiber-optic, or parallel cables with zero packet loss.
2. Protocol Decoding
An onboard FPGA decodes the complex protocol (e.g., CXP-12), performing real-time tasks like Bayer interpolation, shading correction, and pixel reordering.
3. DMA Transfer
Utilizing Direct Memory Access (DMA) via PCIe lanes, the card streams processed images directly into the PC's RAM, bypassing the CPU to minimize latency.
4. Software Handover
The host driver notifies the vision application (e.g., HALCON) that a complete frame is available in the memory buffer for immediate AI or geometric analysis.
Key Technical Specifications
-
High PCIe Bandwidth
Supports PCIe Gen3 x4, x8, or x16 interfaces, providing throughput capacities of up to 12.5 GB/s to accommodate multiple ultra-high-resolution cameras. -
Deterministic Triggering
Features low-jitter hardware I/O for precise synchronization between camera exposure, encoders, and strobed illumination with microsecond accuracy. -
PoCXP / PoCL Support
Integrated Power-over-CoaXPress or Power-over-Camera Link allows the card to power the camera directly through the data cable, simplifying system wiring. -
Onboard Image Pre-processing
FPGAs can be programmed to perform look-up tables (LUT), noise reduction, and image rotation hardware-side, saving significant host CPU cycles. -
Multi-Tap Reconstruction
Advanced handling of multi-tap sensors, ensuring seamless image reconstruction even when data is transmitted through multiple parallel channels. -
Industrial Ruggedness
Designed with active cooling or robust heat sinks to maintain stable operation during continuous, high-load data acquisition in 24/7 production lines.
Standard Protocols
CoaXPress 2.0 (up to 12.5Gbps per lane)
The leading interface for high-speed, long-distance transmission over coaxial cables. Supports high frame rates for 8K and 16K line scan or area scan cameras.
Camera Link (Full / 80-bit)
The established industrial standard for deterministic, low-latency parallel data transfer. Ideal for specialized semiconductor and scientific imaging applications.
Optical Fiber (QSFP+ / SFP+)
Utilized for ultra-long distance transmission (up to 10km) and total electrical isolation in environments with extreme electromagnetic interference.
Typical Applications
Semiconductor Inspection
Capturing ultra-high-resolution images of wafers and dies at extremely high speeds to detect sub-micron defects in real-time.
Web & Foil Inspection
Managing high-speed line scan data for continuous surface inspection of paper, film, and metal foils on fast-moving production rollers.
Flat Panel Display (FPD)
Testing OLED and LCD panels using multiple 100MP+ cameras synchronized via a single high-performance acquisition board.
Selection Guide
Maximum system throughput depends on matching the acquisition card to your camera's data output. At AIMRSE, our engineering team evaluates the following to ensure system stability:
- Interface Bandwidth: Matching the number of lanes (x4, x8, x16) to the total expected Data Transfer Rate (DTR) of all connected cameras.
- I/O Requirements: Selecting cards with isolated I/O ports if the system requires external encoder signals or PLC handshaking for line scan synchronization.
- Memory Buffering: We utilize cards with significant onboard DDR memory to buffer data during bursts, preventing frame loss when the PC bus is busy.
- Protocol Choice: Balancing cable cost and flexibility (CoaXPress) against established legacy standards (Camera Link) or long-distance needs (Fiber).
Interface & Signal Standards
Our acquisition cards adhere to strict industrial protocols to guarantee interoperability and reliability:
- Transmission: Full CoaXPress 1.x/2.0 and Camera Link 2.1 compliance.
- GenICam Support: Unified GenTL producer for seamless software integration.
- Electrical Protection: Opto-isolated I/O for high immunity against factory floor noise and ground loops.
Software & Driver Ecosystem
We provide a comprehensive software stack optimized for high-throughput data management and low-latency response:
- Low-level kernel drivers for Windows 10/11 and Linux (64-bit).
- C++, C#, and Python SDKs for custom buffer and I/O control.
- Native support for VisionPro, HALCON, and LabVIEW.
- Onboard FPGA development kits (Optional) for custom image processing.
Related Products
Technical data represent typical values. As applications vary, we recommend consulting our technical team to ensure the best fit for your specific requirements.
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