Matrox Rapixo CXP Quad Data Forwarding frame grabbers

The Matrox Rapixo CXP Quad Data Forwarding — the latest product in the Matrox Rapixo CXP series of frame grabbers — combines CoaXPress 2.0 connectivity with a data forwarding option to help distribute image processing across multiple computers. The frame grabbers offer high-rate acquisition while minimising CPU load; PC-based machine vision systems equipped with a frame grabber can thus deliver high throughput or perform demanding processing.

The data forwarding capability is available on two boards, one offering CXP-6 speed and the other supporting CXP-12 speed. It works by relaying images to another computer using four output connections running at up to 12.5 Gbps. The data forwarding functionality retransmits all image data prior to being stored in the onboard memory and is accomplished without the involvement of the host computer, minimising system latency. Multiple frame grabbers can be used, in a daisy-chain manner, to transfer an image to multiple computers. Each computer can then process a different part of the image or perform different processing on the whole image.

The series of frame grabbers includes models with one, two or four connections for interfacing to independent cameras. Supporting data rates of either up to 6.25 Gbps (CXP-6) or up to 12.5 Gbps (CXP-12) per connection, the Quad, Dual and Single models provide right-sized connectivity. Matrox Rapixo CXP Pro models — based on Xilinx Kintex UltraScale devices — meanwhile allow for integration of controlling, formatting and streaming logic of various interfaces directly on the frame grabber.