GMSL2 is a high-speed video + data + power transmission interface designed by Maxim/Analog Devices, widely used in automotive cameras, robotics, drones, and machine-vision systems.
⭐ What GMSL2 Does
GMSL2 can transmit through a single cable:
- High-resolution video (up to ~6 Gbps)
- Control signals (I²C / UART / GPIO)
- Power-over-Coax (PoC)
- Low-latency data streams
Cable length: 15–20 meters with excellent signal integrity.
⭐ Why GMSL2 Is Popular
-
Long cable distance without image loss
- Power + data on one cable (PoC)
- Very low latency
- Supports up to 4K resolution
- Strong EMI/EMC performance (important in cars and robotics)
⭐ How GMSL2 Works (Simple)
GMSL2 is a SerDes system:
Serializer (camera side):
Converts MIPI CSI-2 → GMSL2 high-speed serial.Cable:
Coax or STP.Deserializer (processor side):
Converts GMSL2 → MIPI CSI-2 → into your SoC/CPU.
⭐ Typical Use Case
Camera → MAX9295 Serializer → Coax → MAX9296 Deserializer → MIPI CSI-2 → Jetson / Orin / CM4 / NXP / Qualcomm
⭐ GMSL Versions Comparison
| Version | Speed | Cable | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| GMSL | ~3 Gbps | Coax/STP | Older generation |
| GMSL2 | ~6 Gbps | Coax/STP | Most common today |
| GMSL3 | 12+ Gbps | Coax | Latest ADAS systems |
⭐ When to Use GMSL2
Use GMSL2 if you need:
- A camera far from the computer
- Stable, low-latency, long-distance video
- Avoiding USB dropouts or high latency
- Automotive-grade reliability for robots/drones