Extending the Working Distance of Point Grey USB 3.

0 Cameras
Technical Application Note TAN2013001 Revised January 22, 2013

1.1 Subject
Technical Application Note (TAN2013001): Extending the Working Distance of Point Grey USB 3.0 Cameras

1.2 Applicable Product(s)

Point Grey USB 3.0 imaging devices

1.3 Application Note Description

This application note describes the common USB 3.0 accessories that are available on the market for extending the working distance of the camera.

1.4 Preparing for Use

Before you use your Point Grey USB 3.0 camera, we recommend that you are aware of the following resources: Getting Started Manual for the cameraprovides information on installing components and software needed to run the camera. The Getting Started manuals can be downloaded from the Point Grey Website. Technical Reference for the cameraprovides information on the cameras specifications, features and operations, as well as imaging and acquisition controls. The technical references can be downloaded from the Point Grey Downloads page. FlyCapture SDKcontains utilities to configure the camera such as Driver Control GUI, update firmware and drivers, and check setup. As well, contains the FlyCapture API for use in creating your own applications. FlyCapture can be downloaded from the Point Grey Downloads page. Firmware updatesensure you are using to most up-to-date firmware for the camera to take advantage of improvements and fixes. The latest firmware can be downloaded from the Point Grey Downloads page.

PGR, the Point Grey Research, Inc. logo, FlyCapture, Digiclops, Dragonfly, Dragonfly Express, Chameleon, Firefly, Flea, Ladybug, Zebra, Scorpion and Triclops are trademarks or registered trademarks of Point Grey Research, Inc. in Canada and other countries. Copyright 2013 Point Grey Research, Inc. All rights reserved.

Point Grey Research TAN2013001

Extending the Working Distance of USB 3.0 Cameras

1.5 Introduction
Extending the working distance of USB 3.0 cameras is a common challenge that many users face. Longer cables also mean higher cable cost. This application note describes currently available accessories on the market and help users select the most appropriate accessory for their requirements.

1.6 Passive Cables

Length Price 0.3 m 5 m Low

These are the most common USB 3.0 cables found on the market. They come in a wide variety of colors, length and connector combinations. Commonly offered lengths are between 0.3 m (1 ft) to 1.8 m (6 ft), with some vendors offering up to 10 m. However Point Greys testing has shown that cables longer than 5 m are less reliable. Point Grey recommends using a passive cable that is 5 m or less in length. Point Grey offers passive USB 3.0 cables in 3 m and 5 m lengths. These cables have been tested and qualified by Point Grey. Part Number ACC-01-2300 ACC-01-2301 Description 3-meter USB 3.0 Cable Type-A to Micro-B 5-meter USB 3.0 Cable Type-A to Micro-B

1.7 Active Cables

Length Price 5 m+ Medium

Active cables have a microchip embedded in the cable that helps boost the data signal and signal integrity. Active cables are typically offered in 5 m lengths or longer. These are often used with a passive cable to extend the total working distance of the camera. Some cables also allow for an external power connection in order to provide more power to the connected USB device. For vendor recommendation, please refer to Point Grey Third-Party Products page.

Revised 22-Jan-13

Copyright 2013 Point Grey Research, Inc. All rights reserved.

Point Grey Research TAN2013001

Extending the Working Distance of USB 3.0 Cameras

1.8 Hubs
Length Price 0.3 m-1 m Medium

A USB 3.0 hub is typically used to connect multiple USB 3.0 cameras to the same host. While it is not the most cost efficient solution, a hub can still be used to increase the cable length in a multi camera system. Hubs typically come with a short cable of about 0.3 m to 1 m connecting the host to the hub. Users can purchase longer cables and further extend the hub from the host. Point Grey recommends hubs that allow for external power to ensure the cameras are properly powered. Point Grey also offers a 4-port hub which has been tested and qualified. For more information on using Point Grey USB 3.0 cameras with USB 3.0 hubs, please refer to TAN2012005. Part Number ACC-01-6000 Description 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub

1.9 Fiber Optic Extenders

Length Price 50 m+ High

Fiber optic extenders extend cable length using optical cables instead of copper cables. The data is transmitted using light instead of an electrical signal. This allows the working distance to increase beyond 50 m. Two common implementations of Fiber Optic Extenders will be described in the following section.

1.9.1 Optical Extender

Optical extenders consist of two devices: a local extender and a remote extender linked by a standard fiber optic cable. The local extender is connected to the host, while the remote extender is connected to the USB 3.0 device. The extenders are used to convert the electrical signals to an optical signal and vice versa. Since the fiber optic cable does not carry electrical power, the remote extender needs to be connected to an external power source in order to supply power to the USB 3.0 device. This setup allows users to use standard optical and copper cables that are widely available. Users can easily swap out different cables and adjust the overall length as desired.

Revised 22-Jan-13

Copyright 2013 Point Grey Research, Inc. All rights reserved.

Point Grey Research TAN2013001

Extending the Working Distance of USB 3.0 Cameras

1.9.2 Active Optical Cable (AOC)

This setup is similar to the optical extender setup and offers a smaller overall physical package. This is achieved by integrating parts of the local extender in to the cable. However this makes the fiber optic cable into a proprietary cable which may even have a proprietary connection with the remote extender. Since the fiber optic cable does not carry electrical power, the remote extender needs to be connected to an external power source in order to supply power to the USB 3.0 device. For vendor recommendation, please refer to Point Grey Third-Party Products page.

1.10 Other Cable Attributes

Locking Connections Most cables do not offer locking connectors on either end. Users who wish to purchase passive USB 3.0 cables with locking connectors should contact Point Grey or other Machine Vision camera accessory providers. High Flex High flex cables are used in moving applications where the cable is under tight physical stress due to bending. These cables are often thicker and the cost/length ratio is a lot higher. For vendor recommendation, please refer to Point Grey Third-Party Products page. Angle Connectors Some users may seek out USB 3.0 cables with angle connections for applications where space is a constraint, such as in embedded applications. Angle connectors are used to maximize the space inside an enclosure. For vendor recommendation, please refer to Point Grey Third-Party Products page. Daisy Chain Certain cable vendors advertise the ability to chain multiple cables together to increase the overall cable length. This type of setup has not been extensively tested by Point Grey.

Revised 22-Jan-13

Copyright 2013 Point Grey Research, Inc. All rights reserved.

Point Grey Research TAN2013001

Extending the Working Distance of USB 3.0 Cameras

1.11 Additional Downloads and Support

Point Grey Research Inc. endeavors to provide the highest level of technical support possible to our customers. Most support resources can be accessed through the Support section of our website.

Creating a Customer Login Account

The first step in accessing our technical support resources is to obtain a Customer Login Account. This requires a valid name and email address. To apply for a Customer Login Account go to the Downloads page.

Knowledge Base
Our Knowledge Base contains answers to some of the most common support questions. It is constantly updated, expanded, and refined to ensure that our customers have access to the latest information. USB 3.0 Frequently Asked Questions Recommended and unsupported USB 3.0 system components Troubleshooting known USB 3.0 configuration issues Will my computer support my USB 3.0 camera? What cards and drivers will work with my USB 3.0 camera? How does my USB 3.0 camera appear in Device Manager?

Product Downloads
Customers with a Customer Login Account can access the latest software and firmware for their cameras from our Downloads page. We encourage our customers to keep their software and firmware up-to-date by downloading and installing the latest versions.

Contacting Technical Support

Before contacting Technical Support, have you: 1. Read the product documentation and user manual? 2. Searched the Knowledge Base? 3. Downloaded and installed the latest version of software and/or firmware? If you have done all the above and still cant find an answer to your question, contact our Technical Support team.

Revised 22-Jan-13

Copyright 2013 Point Grey Research, Inc. All rights reserved.