DEFINITION
6Gbps GMSL2 serializer/deserializer links with PoC coax power and 15m+ reach — full-link reference designs for ADAS and surround-view camera arrays on NXP/NVIDIA platforms.
Specifications
Typical configuration for reference; final specs confirmed per project.
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Forward rate | GMSL2: 6Gbps (backward compatible with GMSL1 3Gbps links) |
| Benchmark platform | FPD-Link III: 4.16Gbps (DS90UB953/954) |
| Transmission medium | 50Ω coaxial cable or 100Ω shielded twisted pair (STP) |
| Transmission distance | 15m+ @6Gbps (depending on cable specification) |
| Carried content | Uncompressed video + I2C/UART/GPIO reverse control + PoC power |
| Video formats | YUV422 / RAW8/10/12, up to 4K@30fps class |
| Link diagnostics | Online BER monitoring, open/short line detection, CRC auto-retransmission |
| Operating temperature | -40℃ ~ +105℃ (automotive grade) |
| Typical devices | MAX9295A / MAX9296A / DS90UB953 / DS90UB954 |
How It Works
The distance between smart-vehicle cameras and the domain controller can reach several meters or more — board-level interfaces such as MIPI CSI-2 cannot carry signals that far. A GMSL2 serializer (e.g. MAX9295A) packs the sensor's MIPI data into a 6Gbps high-speed serial stream, sends it over one 50Ω coaxial cable (or shielded twisted pair) to a deserializer (e.g. MAX9296A), which restores MIPI/parallel data for the SoC to process.
The GMSL2 link multiplexes over one cable: a forward high-speed video channel (6Gbps), a reverse control channel (I2C/UART/GPIO passthrough for sensor configuration) and PoC coaxial power (no separate power wiring at the camera). The link includes CRC checking, retransmission and online diagnostics (open/short detection), greatly simplifying the harness and improving reliability.
Applications
- Surround-view / multi-camera aggregation: 4–8 GMSL2 cameras into one domain controller, with clean wiring and high sync accuracy
- Long-distance front-view transport: 10m+ wiring from windshield to engine-bay controller with signal integrity maintained
- Streaming mirror / smart screen: long-distance real-time video from trunk cameras to front-cabin displays
- Domain-consolidation upgrades: smooth migration from legacy analog CVBS to digital HD architectures
Solution Advantages
- Module + link in one package: camera modules, serializer/deserializer reference designs and PoC filter networks delivered together
- Dual-platform compatibility: volume-production experience on both GMSL2 (ADI/Maxim) and FPD-Link III (TI), selected per customer platform
- Signal-integrity capability: impedance simulation, eye-diagram debugging and EMC remediation experience for reliable 15-meter-class transmission
- Measured long-distance data: BER test reports for coax and STP cables at various data rates delivered with the solution
