USB3 Cameras for machine vision
Dimensions of an USB 3.0 camera
The dimensions of most USB3 cameras are 29x29x29mm, which are indicated by MER2. The ME2S series have a dimension of 29x29x38.8mm. The biggest family is the MARS series, which mainly employs big Sony IMX sensors, with a dimension of 62x62x53.77mm.
There are cameras with and without housing available. The USB3 board-level camera series is suitable for high volume OEM projects.
VA Imaging has a strong portfolio of industrial USB3.0 cameras. On this page you have an overview of all our USB3 camera models.
You can also find at the bottom of this page more general information such as features and benefits of an industrial USB3.0 camera.
Embedded Vision and an industrial USB3 camera?
Our USB3 cameras are working with the following Embedded platforms:
- Developer boards that have a ARMv7 or ARMv8 processor, such as Raspberry Pi 4, Odroid, NVIDIA Jetson TX1, TX2 and Tegra TK1
- Developer boards using an Intel X86 platform such as UP-Board
To support these platforms we offer the following tools:
- Drivers for Linux
- Example scripts in C++, C# and python
Is your embedded platform not included? Reach out to us to see whether we support it!
See also our example how to connect an USB3 camera to a Raspberry Pi.
Cables and hubs for an industrial USB 3.0 camera
These USB3 cameras have a large bandwidth of 400 megabytes per second. Therefore, there is a lot data being sent over the USB3 cable to the computer. That is why it is essential to use a certified USB3 cable. Cheaper USB3 cables are often of bad quality, whereby the maximum amount of bandwidth is not utilized. This results into an instable system. All USB3 cables in our online shop are officially certified by Daheng Imaging and are 100% compatible with all our industrial USB 3.0 cameras.
The standard cable length of USB3 is a maximum of 4.6 meters. If you need to cover bigger distances you can use our USB3 active cables which go up to 50 meters. Another, often cheaper, option for longer cable lengths is to use our GigE cameras.
Does the industrial USB3 camera work on the USB3 port on my computer?
An important aspect that is often overlooked is the USB3 chip of the computer. Older computers with first generation USB3 ports often cause instable bandwidth. The latest generation of computers with USB3 ports do not have any issues, but some older computers might not work properly with USB3. Of course, you also have the option to expand your current computer system with one of our USB3 frame grabbers, which are extensively tested with our cameras. By doing this, you are guaranteed of a stable image transmission and you have the option to connect multiple industrial USB cameras to one computer. If you want to learn more about this, check out the article on our Knowledge Center about the USB3 connection.
Difference between USB2 cameras and USB3 cameras?
USB2.0 is an older USB-technology than USB3. USB3 is a suitable interface for high resolution and high-speed cameras and has a maximum bandwidth of 400 megabytes per second. This is 10 times faster than USB2 and 4 times faster than GigE. Every computer and almost all developer boards nowadays come with a USB3 port. The USB 3.0 camera uses less processing power than a USB2 camera, and there are more USB3 cameras. USB3 is in fact the successor of USB2, which means that USB2 isn't really developed any further. The development of industrial USB 3.0 cameras on the other hand, is in full swing. So if a USB3 camera fits in with your budget, you should definitely go for one.
DirectShow and Software Development Kit (SDK) for an USB3 camera
Daheng Imaging’s industrial USB3 cameras are USB3 Vision compliant. The USB3 Vision Standard is developed by the European Machine Vision Association (EMVA). Daheng Imaging is associated both with the EMVA and AIA (Automated Imaging Association). The AIA is responsible for the further development and administration of the USB3 Vision protocol. This standardized protocol ensures that our industrial USB 3.0 cameras can communicate with all the standard image processing software packages. Examples are Matlab, Halcon, Adaptive Vision and Labview.
Free SDK for industrial USB 3.0 cameras
There is a free SDK available for this camera. With the help of our SDK you can simply control and modify parameters. The SDK contains example programs in the following languages: DotNet, C++ and C#. This allows for a simple integration into your software.
Our DirectShow driver for Microsoft Windows ensures that commercial programs recognize our cameras as a “webcam”. The camera will be automatically work after installing the driver in programs such as Skype and Ispy (recording software).
Questions about these USB3 cameras?
Are you considering buying an industrial USB3 camera, but do you still have a few questions. Or would you like to be advised in selecting the right USB camera? Feel free to contact us then, we are eager to help you.