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Embedded Vision and Multi-Camera system Setup:
How to connect multiple cameras

XIMEA xiX cameras can be easily connected into multi-camera vision systems over Firefly and a PC

XIMEA offers xiX line of compact and high speed cameras suitable for embedded vision systems and especially for Multi camera setups.

While 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 with so called Firefly (FF) connectors through PCIe interface cables.

Contrary to FPC (Flexible printed circuit) cable the Firefly enables lengths of 1 to 3m with copper (ECUE type) and 5m to 100m with fiber (PCUO type with MTP trunk cable).

The Firefly camera models can be attached in several ways:

Copper
Fiber
xSwitch

Copper Firefly Cables

The simplest way is:

Direct Firefly connection

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 3-7m + Host adapter

Indirect Firefly connection

To connect the Firefly camera to a PC if you do not have xSwitch or Firefly host adapter, this succession of components will be required for a setup with copper cables.
It starts with the camera:

1. xiX camera with Firefly connector

Note: Choose the camera part numbers ending with FF

2. CBL-ECUE-X4G3-xM0 - Firefly cable

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

3. ADPT-MX-X4G3-FF-IPASS - Adapter 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. Copper or optical iPass cable


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

5. Host adapter for Gen3 x4



Fiber optics MTP Cables

This is the sequence of components for a setup with Fiber cables.
In this case, the cameras have to be powered using the GPIO connectors on the camera.

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


The details for power supply and synchronization or triggering are shown HERE
The connection starts with the camera:

1. xiX camera with Firefly connector

Note: Choose the camera part numbers ending with FF

2. Convert original copper connection to fiber optic

There are several choices:

2.1: CBL-PCUO-X4G3-0M10 - Optical cable

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

2.2: ADPT-1P-X4G3-FF-X4G3-MTP - Adapter to connect XIMEA Firefly cameras to MTP cable

ADPT-1P-X4G3-FF-X4G3-MTP.png

2.3: ADPT-MX-X4G3-FF-X4G3-MTP - Back part attachment to connect XIMEA Firefly cameras to MTP cable

Backside_adapter_converter_Firefly_connector_to_MTP_fiber_optic_cable.png


3. CBL-MTP-X4G3-FF-xM0 - MTP fiber cable

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

4. (OPTIONAL) MECH-OPA-S-ALIGNED - Optical patch adapter

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 - Host adapter card for MTP cables


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

iPass to MTP connection - Gen3 x4 lanes

Camera with iPass connector + MTP adapter + MTP cable + MTP host adapter

iPass to MTP connection - Gen3 x8 lanes

Camera with iPass connector + MTP adapter + MTP cable + MTP host adapter