In the previous edition of Technology deep dive, we learned what a UVC camera is. We also learned some of the characteristics of UVC cameras and had a brief look at the benefits they offer. In today’s blog, we will dive a little deeper into why UVC cameras are one of the most popular camera solutions in the embedded vision world. We will also have a look at some of the most popular new-age applications where UVC and USB cameras are used.
6 reasons why UVC cameras are preferred in embedded camera applications
As you know, USB is one of the most commonly used interface standards in embedded camera systems. This is because USB or UVC cameras meet some of the most critical camera requirements of a vast majority of embedded vision applications. These include:
- High bandwidth
- Easy integration with USB3 Vision standard
- Plug-and-play capability
- Low development costs
- Backward compatibility
- Multi-device connectivity
Let us now look at each of them in detail.
High bandwidth
Today’s cutting-edge embedded vision applications demand cameras to work faster by offering high frame rates while still maintaining high resolution. This can only be achieved with cameras that come with high bandwidth. UVC cameras are perfect for this as the USB 3.1 interface can provide good video quality with a maximum bandwidth of 10 Gbps.
To learn more about the bandwidth of UVC cameras, please refer Table 1 in the article What is a UVC camera? What are the different types of UVC cameras?
Easy integration with USB3 Vision standard
USB3 Vision is a communication interface standard introduced for vision applications. It is based on the USB 3.x interface standard. If a camera utilizes the USB3 Vision standard, then its integration is easy and becomes compatible with a wide range of products.
Plug-and-play capability
The plug-and-play feature of USB makes it easy to integrate camera modules into embedded devices. Since USB cameras do not require any additional driver installation, the camera can be automatically detected and read by the host. This feature also significantly reduces maintenance costs.
Low development costs
If you are running on a tight budget, UVC cameras are a good choice. The USB interface has the ability to power the device over the same cable – eliminating the need for an additional power supply. This reduces clutter and cabling costs.
Backward compatibility
The backward compatibility feature of UVC cameras allows a recent version (say USB 3.0) to operate with a device that uses an older version (say USB 2.0). This makes UVC cameras ‘engineer-friendly’ since many embedded systems even today use the USB 2.0 interface.
Multi-device connection
A single USB slot enables the primary embedded system to manage up to 127 devices – connected using hubs. USB cameras also combine other interfaces’ positive features and offer integrated memory for high stability. Depending on your application’s requirements, you can choose between different versions of USB to deliver image data from the camera to the PC reliably and quickly.
We hope this blog gave you an understanding on why UVC cameras are one of the most popular camera solutions used in embedded vision applications. If you are looking for help in integrating USB cameras (or MIPI and GMSL cameras) into your devices, please write to us at [email protected].
