How to connect multiple cameras setup or Embedded Vision system¶

XIMEA offers xiX line of compact and high speed cameras suitable for embedded vision systems and especially for Multi camera setups.
The main approach is to interconnect multiple of these cameras directly through the xSwitch platform.

Other possible options are based on attaching the camera versions either with a so called Firefly (FF) cable connectors or by using fiber connection through PCIe interface cables.

Contrary to FPC (Flexible printed circuit) cable the Firefly cable enables lengths of 1 to 3m with copper - ECUE type.

For applications where longer distances are required, fiber optic cable connection can be used - referenced as MTP and SFF-8644.
Both of these can offer 5m to 100m, with fiber MTP trunk (PCUO type) of cable or SFF-8644 cable.

Thus, the Firefly camera models can be attached in several ways:

xSwitch
Copper
Fiber MTP
Fiber SFF-8644

Below is a more detailed visualization of the overall connection and its parts.

Copper Firefly Cables¶

Direct Firefly connection¶

The simplest way is:

Camera with Firefly connector + Firefly cable + Firefly host adapter

xSwitch Firefly connection¶

To connect up to 8 cameras through xSwitch you will need the following:

Camera with Firefly connector + Firefly cable + Firefly xSwitch XS-8P-X2G2-FF-X8G3 + iPass cable + Host adapter

Indirect Firefly connection¶

To connect the Firefly camera to a PC these components will be required for a setup with copper cables.

1. xiX camera with Firefly connector ¶

It starts with the camera.

Note: Choose the camera part numbers ending with FF.

2. CBL-ECUE-X4G3-xM0 ¶

This is a Firefly cable - XIMEA offers lengths of up to 3m.

Note: The small "x" in the cable part number stands for 1, 2 and 3m.

3. ADPT-MX-X4G3-FF-IPASS ¶

This is an Adapter board from Firefly to Ipass.

Note1: To supply power use with CBL-ADPT-PWR-0M10 + PSU.
Note2: Another option is ADPT-MX-X4G3-FF-M2-AVM - Only for Auvidea JN30 Jetson Nano Carrier board.

4. iPass cable ¶

Copper or optical cables.

Note: The iPass copper cables can range from 1m to 7 m.

5. Host adapter for Gen3 x4 ¶

Host adapter with one or more ports that can host iPass cables with up to 4x lanes.

Fiber optics MTP Cables¶

This is the sequence of components for a setup with MTP Fiber cables.
In this case, the cameras have to be powered using the GPIO connectors on the camera. Power supply and synchronization / triggering

Note: To power and Trigger/Synchronize the cameras additional cables are needed available under the following numbers:
A03ZR03ZR28H51B (5cm), A03ZR03ZR28H102B (10cm), A03ZR03ZR28H152B (15cm), A03ZR03ZR28H203B (20cm), A03ZR03ZR28H254B (25cm), A03ZR03ZR28H305B

1. xiX camera with Firefly connector ¶

The connection starts with the camera.

Note: Choose the camera part numbers ending with FF

2. Convert copper connection to fiber optic¶

There are several choices:

2.1: CBL-PCUO-X4G3-0M10

This is an Optical cable converter.

Warning: This is a fragile part that needs to be fixed and encapsulated.

2.2: ADPT-1P-X4G3-FF-X4G3-MTP
This is an Adapter dongle to connect XIMEA Firefly cameras to the MTP cable.

2.3: ADPT-MX-X4G3-FF-X4G3-MTP
This is a Back part attachment to connect XIMEA Firefly cameras to the MTP cable.

3. CBL-MTP-X4G3-FF-xM0 ¶

This is an MTP fiber optic cable.

Note: The small "x" in the part number stands for 5, 10, 20, 30, 53 or 100m.

4. (OPTIONAL) MECH-OPA-S-ALIGNED ¶

This is an Optical patch adapter and it can be used in cases when a separation of the optical MTP cable path is needed.

Note: This is the Aligned version.

5. HA-1P-X4G3-MTP-X8G3 ¶

This is a Host adapter card for MTP cables.

Note: 1P or 2P - represents the number of ports allowing cameras to be connected in parallel.

Fiber optics SFF-8644 Cables¶

This is the sequence of components for a setup with SFF-8644 Fiber cables.
In this case, the cameras have to be powered using the GPIO connectors on the camera. Power supply and synchronization / triggering