Camera Link Range Extender over Fiber User Manual
9.1 Camera Link cables
Camera Link® is a robust communications link using a dedicated cable
connection and a standardized communications protocol. Camera Link
is a hardware specification that standardizes the connection between
cameras and frame grabbers. It defines a complete interface which
includes provisions for data transfer, camera timing, serial communications, and real time
signaling to the camera. Camera Link was built for real time, high bandwidth (maximum 850
MB/s) parallel communication. It is a well-established and distributed industry standard, and
there are many Camera Link products on the market today.
9.2 Fiber cables
Optical fibers are widely used to permits transmission over longer distances and at
higher bandwidths than other forms of communication. Fibers are used instead of metal wires
because signals travel along them with less loss and are also immune to electromagnetic
interference.
Fibers that support many propagation paths or transverse modes are called multi-mode
fibers (MMF), while those that only support a single mode are called single-mode fibers (SMF).
Multi-mode fibers generally are used for short-distance communication links and for applications
where high power must be transmitted. Single-mode fibers are used for most communication links
longer than 300 meters (1,000 ft.).