ALLIED Vision Technologies Guppy PRO F-503 - Manual (Page 24)

FireWire
Guppy PRO Technical Manual V4.0.0
23
FireWire
Overview
FireWire provides one of the most comprehensive, high-performance, cost-
effective solutions platforms. FireWire offers very impressive throughput at
very affordable prices.
Definition
FireWire (also known as i.Link or IEEE 1394) is a personal computer and
digital video serial bus interface standard, offering high-speed communica-
tions and isochronous real-time data services. FireWire has low implemen-
tation costs and a simplified and adaptable cabling system.
IEEE 1394 standards
FireWire was developed by Apple Computer in the late 1990s, after work
defining a slower version of the interface by the IEEE 1394 working commit-
tee in the 1980s. Apple's development was completed in 1995. It is defined
in IEEE standard 1394 which is currently a composite of three documents:
• the original IEEE Std. 1394-1995
• the IEEE Std. 1394a-2000 amendment
• the IEEE Std. 1394b-2002 amendment
FireWire is used to connect digital cameras, especially in industrial systems
for machine vision.
Why use FireWire?
Digital cameras with on-board FireWire (IEEE 1394a or 1394b) communica-
tions conforming to the IIDC standard (V1.3 or V1.31) have created cost-
effective and powerful solutions options being used for thousands of differ-
ent applications around the world. FireWire is currently the premier robust
digital interface for industrial applications for many reasons, including:
• Guaranteed bandwidth features to ensure fail-safe communications
• Interoperability with multiple different camera types and vendors
Figure 1: FireWire Logo