High-Speed Machine Vision Cable Solution for 5-Meter Passive Links
Infineon enables 3M to achieve reliable 10Gbps data transmission over extended passive cable lengths for industrial machine vision systems.
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How extended-distance USB3 machine vision cabling is achieved
Industrial machine vision applications such as quality inspection, automated manufacturing, electronics assembly, food processing and pharmaceutical production require high-speed data transmission over flexible camera placements. These environments often impose electrical noise, long cable runs and strict real-time processing requirements. Meeting these constraints without active repeaters is a common challenge for system designers seeking stable 10Gbps performance.
Infineon addressed this challenge by enabling 3M’s passive 5-meter industrial cable with its EZ-USB FX10 peripheral controller. This approach allowed the cable to maintain USB 3.2 data rates while operating with the robustness expected in demanding industrial environments.
Core technology enabling long-reach USB3 machine vision
The controller integrates a high-performance USB 3.2 physical layer with a 28 dB insertion-loss tolerance, programmable transmitter optimization and advanced receiver equalization. These capabilities ensured clean signal transmission across the passive metal cable even where electromagnetic interference was present. An integrated eye monitor supported real-time visibility into link quality, which helped simplify system validation and troubleshooting.
The resulting cable transmitted up to 10Gbps without the need for active repeaters or external signal boosters. Avoiding these components reduced system complexity and supported cost-efficient deployments while remaining compliant with the USB3 Vision standard.
Performance advantages compared to conventional cabling
Typical passive USB3 machine vision cables are limited to shorter lengths because signal attenuation increases rapidly with distance. By combining optimized PHY technology and signal-conditioning algorithms, the Infineon-powered 3M cable extended passive reach to 5 meters while maintaining high data integrity. This performance enabled greater flexibility in camera positioning and supported machine builders who need long-reach connectivity without sacrificing bandwidth or reliability.
Industrial applications enabled by the extended passive cable
The cable was suited for real-time inspection systems, robotic quality-control cells, automated production lines and intelligent factory deployments. Its reliability in electrically noisy environments made it particularly applicable to sectors such as automotive manufacturing, electronics production, food processing and pharmaceutical packaging where stable high-speed imaging is required.
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