USB 2.0, USB 3.0 Cameras by Sentech-Leading Edge Technology Now

USB 2.0, USB 3.0 Vision Compliant Cameras from Sentech America, Inc. are setting the bar for flexible, high-performance CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) and CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) video devices.

Always described as ‘high performance’ and ‘versatile’, these compact, progressive scan, USB (Universal Serial Bus) cameras are rich with user-friendly menu set up and control formatting, digital zoom and image capturing. Sentech USB cameras contain an SDK, DirectX®, Twain, LabVIEW™, and Linux® drivers, as well as Sentech Viewing Software, which increases their desirability. However, what are the differences between the two?

The obvious distinctions between USB 2.0, USB 3.0, is USB 2.0 is recognized as being High-Speed, while USB 3.0 as being SuperSpeed USB.

USB 2.0 cameras from Sentech are compact, second generation USB CCD cameras and include five image resolution styles: Video Graphics Array (VGA) 640 x 480; Extended Graphics Array (XGA) 1024 x 768; Super Extended Video Graphics Array (SXVGA) 1280 × 960; Super Extended Graphics Array (SXGA) 1360 x 1024 and Ultra Extended Graphics Array (UXGA) 1600 x 1200, all of which allow hardware-triggered image capturing, and monitor compatibility. Available in board or cased configurations, the USB connector can be located on the top or rear of the camera, and its versatility allows it to be mounted on all four sides. Available in black/white and color models, the frame rates go from 90 frames per second (fps), to 30fps, 22fps, 19fps and 15 fps respectively, and sensor sizes on these progressive scan cameras range from 1/3", 1/3, "1/3", 1/2" and 1/1.8" respectively. While USB 2.0 cameras were developed to focus on multiple industrial imaging applications, they also excel in the fields of life science, traffic and security applications. [caption id="attachment_6524" align="alignright" width="252"] Sentech STC-TC83USB-A, Machine Vision Progressive Scan Cased USB 2.0 Camera[/caption] The Sentech STC-TC83USB-A is a prime example of a compact USB 2.0 progressive scan color cased camera. It maintains a 1/3” color CCD, and produces 29.18 frames per minute (XGA), digital zoom image capturing, auto/manual (Software Selectable) shutter speed and gain, as well as being loaded with user-friendly menu set up and control. Offered in either board or cased styles, with a top or rear USB connector, it is a perfect example of USB 2.0’s flexibility, particularly in video surveillance. Now let’s see about Sentech’s USB 3.0 cameras. These housed cameras also come in black/white and color model choices, have CS lens mount, optical filters that include an infrared cut filter for the color models, or without infrared cut filter for the black/white models. Fast, at 14 frames per second at Full Scan, and 30 frames per second at 2 Megapixels for ROI (Region Of Interest) they are revered for their speed. Available in free-run exposure mode with an exposure time of 16μs - 0.97s (full scan), and trigger exposure mode whose exposure time is 16μs - 0.97s (full scan), they include image capture, digital zoom and additional feature-rich options. In a nut shell, USB 3.0 expertise has a higher power supply, higher bandwidth, longer cable lengths and lower times of inactivity. [caption id="attachment_6526" align="alignright" width="300"] Sentech STC-MBCM33U3V USB 3.0 Vision CMOS Camera[/caption] The STC-MBCM33U3 USB 3.0 camera is available in black or white housing, and mono or color video recording. With its 1/3” VGA CMOS (CMOSIS CMV300) image sensor, it has full progressive scan and a delivers a quick 480 frames per second. With the camera’s global shuttering, the resulting image stays  free of blurring. Perfect for use as traffic cameras because of the need for instantaneous photo capturing, the images produced are crisp and clear. Because of their high speed recording, USB 3.0 cameras applications include microscopy, medical imaging, Intelligent Transportations Systems (ITS), motion capture for automotive crash testing, security, industrial automation, even the recording of a golf club's rapid, continuous movement. Other differences between USB 2.0, USB 3.0? Innately speaking, wire connections: the USB 2.0 uses 4 wires, (two for data and two for power) and support half-duplex communication where data only moves in a single direction at a specified time. With USB3.0’s total of 9 wires, its dual-simplex data interface permits two uni-directional data suppliers, each one handling communication for only one direction. USB 2.0 transfer rate for PC (Personal Computer) to USB (Universal Serial Bus) is 480 Mbps, 40 times faster than what came before it. Because of this increased bandwidth, digital cameras, CD burners and video equipment can be linked with USB. The 3.0’s ‘Super Speed’ transfer style allows data transmission rates to rise to 5 gigabytes per second (625 megabytes per second), more than ten times faster than the high speed of USB 2.0’s at 480 megabits per second (60 megabytes per second). A USB 3.0 port is backward compatible with USB 2.0 devices and cables, but will then run at USB 2.0 speeds. Making the variation between the two even more straight-forward, USB 3.0 port colors are blue or have ‘SS’ initials on the plugs. Significant bandwidth transfer rates differences between USB 2.0, USB 3.0 are also noted: 480Mbit/s for the USB 2.0, (a 40-times increase over USB 1.1); 3.2 Gbit/s (0.4 GB/s or 400 MB/s) or greater for USB 3.0. Power also differs: 2.5 W for the USB 2.0 and 4.7 to 7 W for the USB 3.0, as well as cable length: 5 meters for the USB 2.0, and 3meters (tested and verified) for the USB 3.0, allowing improved bulk transferring, and greater efficiency in power management. With Sentech’s consistent evolution into new and exciting technology, their USB 2.0, USB 3.0 video cameras continue to hold a permanent position in the progress of future camera designs. Aegis Electronic Group, Inc. through their partnership with Sentech America, Inc. is ready to fulfill all of your USB 2.0, 3.0 camera needs.