NVIDIA Partner Network
Partners in the Development of Your NVIDIA Jetson-based Embedded Vision Application
Building on over 35 years' experience in machine vision, The Imaging Source is pleased to partner with NVIDIA to allow developers to quickly realize their embedded vision projects. The collaboration will speed time-to-market and improve performance of The Imaging Source cameras with NVIDIA® Jetson Orin™ platform.
The partnership advances The Imaging Source's strategy to extend the availability of their industrial and board cameras to MIPI CSI-2 and FPD Link™ III and soon-to-be-released GMSL2 interfaces which will open up The Imaging Source camera portfolio to a new audience of developers and partners.
The Imaging Source's pre-assembled embedded development kits for the NVIDIA Jetson Orin platform deliver plug-and-play efficiency for the rapid development of embedded vision and AI projects for applications in automotive, logistics, agriculture, automation and industrial internet of things (IIoT).
Computer Vision at the Edge
Affordable processing power, improved machine learning algorithms and overall reduced system footprint have allowed edge computing and developments in AI (especially deep learning) to converge. Deep learning enables machine vision solutions for applications whose inspection criteria are not readily quantified or defined - delivering new possibilities for inspection, assembly, and quality assurance applications.
The combination of NVIDIA's best-in-class AI functionality with The Imaging Source's wide portfolio of robust and reliable industrial cameras enables embedded vision developers to realize applications that were previously impossible or required significant programming effort.
The Imaging Source provides open source drivers to support its MIPI CSI-2, FPD-Link III, and soon-to-be-released GMSL2 cameras on the NVIDIA Jetson Orin platform.
Fig. 1: Low-cost processing power and advances in deep learning technologies have enabled the increasing adoption of edge-based vision applications.
Supported NVIDIA Platforms
NVIDIA Jetson Orin is the leading embedded platform for image processing and deep learning applications.
It delivers compact, power-efficient, cost-effective solutions and is ideal for computer vision and embedded vision tasks requiring significant processing power for high-performance AI computing.
Thanks to The Imaging Source's camera modules and NVIDIA reference designs including NVIDIA® Jetson Orin™ NX 16GB (or optionally NVIDIA Jetson Orin Nano or NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin) and carrier boards (2 to 4-channel MIPI CSI-2) our customers receive "ready-to-go" solutions from a single source.
Fig. 2: Powerful platform for embedded vision - The Imaging Source's Reference Design with NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX 16GB, carrier board with 2-channel MIPI CSI-2 interfaces and two 36S MIPI CSI-2 cameras.
Supported Camera Interfaces
The Imaging Source supports various camera interfaces for machine and embedded vision: GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, USB 2.0, MIPI CSI-2, FPD-Link III, and the upcoming GMSL2.
For a complete list of supported cameras and compatible JetPack version, refer to the NVIDIA's Robotics Edge AI Marketplace.
The MIPI CSI-2 protocol enables direct sensor-to-ISP connection, avoiding latency issues and minimizing footprint. The MIPI CSI-2 camera modules are perfect for single and multi-camera embedded vision applications in automotive and IoT as well as standard machine vision applications.
The Imaging Source's MIPI CSI-2 cameras, available with either FPD-Link III or GMSL2 serializer boards, offer nearly the same feature set as standard MIPI CSI-2 cameras but allow cable lengths up to 15 meters between the sensor and processor. Image data, commands and power supply are transmitted via a thin coaxial cable.
Fig. 3: Cameras for embedded vision from The Imaging Source. Shown here with MIPI CSI-2, FPD-Link III and GMSL2 interfaces.
USB3 Vision Cameras
The Imaging Source's 37 Series USB 3.1 board-level cameras provide a wide range of sensor options, making them well-suited to many markets and applications. The cameras are USB3 Vision and UVC compliant, offering sensor resolutions ranging from 0.4 MP to an impressive 20 MP. Developers will appreciate the versatile trigger and I/O options, as well as high-contrast images characterized by high dynamic range and exceptional color reproduction.
The 32U Series USB 2.0 board-level cameras offer modern camera architecture and are designed for cost-sensitive OEM and streamlined image processing tasks. Available with angled connectors, 32U Series board cameras provide maximum flexibility in a wide range of space-constrained applications.
The Imaging Control IC4 software enables OEMs, system integrators and end users to rapidly and easily evaluate and integrate The Imaging Source' cameras into their applications. Our comprehensive range of software tools are designed for intuitive use and are adapted to different application areas to ensure customers achieve the best results with our products.
Figure 4: The Imaging Source offers a broad portfolio of USB board-level cameras with trigger, I/Os, and connector options
GigE Vision Cameras
The Imaging Source's 47G Series board-level cameras feature a single-board design with an angled RJ45 connector, delivering an especially compact form factor, measuring just 36 x 36 x 18 mm. With robust data transmission and support for cable lengths up to 100 meters, the GigE board-level cameras ensure stable connectivity and flexible positioning in diverse environments.
The Imaging Control IC4 software enables OEMs, system integrators and end users to rapidly and easily evaluate and integrate The Imaging Source' cameras into their applications. Our comprehensive range of software tools are designed for intuitive use and are adapted to different application areas to ensure customers achieve the best results with our products.
Figure 5: Featuring an angled RJ45 connector, The Imaging Source's 47 Series GigE board-level cameras offer a versatile and cost-optimized imaging solution. Options shown above include cameras equipped with a C mount front plate as well as models with optional Power over Ethernet (PoE) for diverse application needs.