Introduction
Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter allows connection of Gx series cameras (models
G0 to G4) to the control computer using Ethernet interface and TCP/ P protocol
stack (this means over Local or Wide Area Networks).
Gx series of CCD cameras are equipped with USB 2.0 interface with 480 Mbps
transfer speed. USB interface brings numerous advantages beside the very high
transfer speed. For instance USB connectors and cables contain also lines
dedicated to provide power to attached devices, so the G0 and G1 cameras are
connected to the host computer only by single cable (power requirement
of the cooled CCD cameras of G2, G3 and G4 series is significantly greater
than the USB line can provide and these cameras use their own power supply).
USB cables are standardized, which is why they cannot be confused and
plugged the wrong way etc. Also software support of USB devices is designed
from the ground up to provide “Plug-and-Play” experience. Users need not
to perform any device configuration, assign unique addresses etc.
A disadvantage of USB connection is the limited distance between a host PC
and USB device. The maximum length of single USB cable is limited
to 5 meters. This distance can be prolonged to 10 or 15 meters with the help
of so-called Active USB Extenders, but a cable connection and active USB
repeater (hub) must be placed every 5 meters. Very long USB connections can
be also power-limited. The energy, provided by the host PC, is consumed
by active repeaters and also long power lines with non-zero electrical resistance
cause drop of supply voltage.
The problem of connection of Gx CCD cameras over a long distance is solved
by Gx Camera Ethernet Adapter, offering remote camera connection over
Ethernet interface. The core of the adapter is an embedded computer with a
software on the local Flash drive.
Three models of Gx Camera Ethernet Adapters are available:
•The largest “standard” variant uses a PC-compatible motherboard
equipped with the ntel Atom processor. No moving parts are present
in the device, the processor needs no fan and is cooled only passively.
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