USB and GigE Connectivity for Modern Machine Vision

Over the decades, machine vision has adopted a number of industry standards from the more traditional Camera Link standard that involves the use of frame grabbers to the more mainstream USB 3.0 standard. To keep up with changing camera, processing, and integration technologies, the machine vision standards are consistently evolving, with each protocol serving various industrial niches. This article will discuss in detail the merits of the USB3 and GigE vision standards, how they keep pace with imaging technologies, and how augmenting the cabling is critical for optimal performance.