Microchip CoaXPress

CoaXPress

CoaXPress® technology is a standard for high-performance machine vision, industrial inspection and traffic monitoring systems. CoaXPress is the state-of-the-art method for connecting high-performance, high-resolution cameras to high-speed capture cards (i.e. frame grabbers). CoaXPress operates over standard 75-ohm, 50-ohm and shielded differential pair cables. CoaXPress Version 1.1 currently supports up to 6.25 Gbit/s per cable from the camera to the frame grabber. For the trigger and control function up to 20 Mbit/s can be sent simultaneously in the opposite direction via the same cable. Power is also supplied over the cable from the frame grabber to the camera. Furthermore, the CoaXPress standard allows for a number of cables to be used in parallel; for example, four cables offering up to 25 Gbit/s image data streaming with CoaXPress 1.1. CoaXPress is the only open and royalty free standard that allows video, camera control and triggering, and up to 13W of power to be delivered via a single, off-the-shelf 75Ω coaxial cable up to 100m with standard BNC, Micro BNC or DIN1.0/2.3 connectors. CoaXPress is also supported by GenICam, an Application Programming Interface standardized by European Machine Vision Association (EMVA) and has been widely adopted by many industry partners. It accelerates and simplifies application development as well as upgrading components of visions systems.

CoaXPress 2.0

CoaXPress 2.0: The Upcoming Standard The formulation of the CoaXPress 2.0 standard is nearly complete and the final draft is targeted to be released at the end of 2018. There is tremendous industry support for CoaXPress 2.0, the successor of CoaXPress 1.1, which will extend the available data transfer rates up to 12.5 Gbit/s per connection. Many camera and frame grabber manufacturers are adopting to this latest version of the standard. The CoaXPress 1.1 data rates remain available such that CoaXPress 2.0 products are backwards compatible. This increase in data rate is a significant improvement compared to the 6.25 Gbit/s. The doubling in speed allows for higher frame rates or higher camera resolutions, but moreover it also allows for the use of fewer and more flexible cables, as well as less frame grabber cards. These possibilities result in a reduction of system costs, while providing a flexible system design. With a clear and supported roadmap, system designers can be assured that if they integrate CoaXPress, they can upgrade the other components of their system as they need to for the next 10 years at least - without any need to investment of changing interfaces. If you’re interested in designing for the CoaXPress 2.0 standard with CXP-12 devices, get in touch with our experts who can discuss design options and ideas and provide support throughout the development process.