Demo
CoaXPress Camera Simulator for testing & validating imaging systems
- Simulates all CoaXPress pixel formats
- Supports BMP and RAW input image files
- Pattern generator for transmitting color and grayscale test patterns
- Fully programmable image timing and data parameter configuration via user-friendly GUI
- API methods for developing user simulator applications
- User-configurable Camera Control (CC) lines for triggering options
- Ideal for testing tailored designs developed on Gidel’s customizable Frame Grabbers and Jetson Edge Computer
- Form factor: full-height, single-slot, half-length PCI Express card
- Optional: Low Profile
CamSim-X: CoaXPress Camera Simulator
The CamSim-X is a high-performance CoaXPress camera simulator designed for testing and validating imaging systems and Frame Grabbers. Fully compliant with CoaXPress standards, it generates video streams and test patterns that accelerate development, ensure robust validation, and reduce time-to-market.
Performance and Simulation Capabilities
The CamSim-X supports all CoaXPress pixel formats and delivers unmatched flexibility for developers. It transmits BMP and RAW image files as well as grayscale and color test patterns using its built-in generator. Moreover, users can program image timing and data parameters through an intuitive GUI, providing full control over simulation accuracy and flexibility. As a result, engineers gain both precision and efficiency during testing.
Flexible Development Tools
The CamSim-X offers a complete development environment:
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Application Software: GUI-based control for transmitting images, configuring parameters, defining timing, and displaying results.
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API Methods: A robust set of APIs for Windows and Linux, enabling tailored simulator applications.
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User-Configurable CC Lines: Programmable Camera Control lines for versatile triggering and synchronization.
In addition, these tools ensure seamless integration into diverse workflows and simplify the process of creating custom test setups.
Boosting Productivity and Reducing Costs
By enabling simulation in a low-cost lab environment, the CamSim-X eliminates reliance on expensive cameras during early-stage development. Furthermore, its data-flow repetition capability ensures reproducible testing, allowing engineers to validate algorithms and quickly identify and resolve rare bugs. Consequently, teams achieve higher productivity, lower costs, and stronger confidence in their imaging systems.
Why Choose the CamSim-X? (CoaXPress Camera Simulator)
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Fully compliant with CoaXPress standards.
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Flexible test pattern generation with BMP/RAW and color/grayscale options.
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FPGA-based transmission for accurate, repeatable simulations.
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GUI and API support for fast customization.
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Cost-effective solution for developing and validating imaging pipelines.
The CamSim-X provides engineers with a reliable, flexible, and cost-effective CoaXPress simulator. Therefore, it is the ideal choice for teams aiming to streamline development, accelerate testing, and improve long-term system reliability.
Need a CoaXPress frame grabber? Check out the HawkEye-CXP and the Proc10A-CXP Grabbers.
For a Jetson-based CoaXPress grabber solutions, see FantoVision40-CXP12 and FantoVision40 Edge Computers.
Looking for a Camera Link Simulator solution? visit Camsim-CL product.
General
CoaXPress Link Modes
- Up to 4x 12.5 Gb/s links, up to 500MB/s for a single link and up to 1 GB/s aggregate for 2-4 links.
- For higher bandwidth, please contact Gidel.
Supported CoaXPress speeds
- 1.25 Gb/s | CXP-1
- 2.5 Gb/s | CXP-2
- 3.125 Gb/s | CXP-3
- 5 Gb/s | CXP-5
- 6.25 Gb/s | CXP-6
- 10 Gb/s | CXP-10
- 12.5 Gb/s | CXP-12
User Image Source
- Raw Files
- DNG Raw Files
- BMP Files
Output Pixel Formats
- Raw - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- Mono - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- Bayer - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- RGBA - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- RGB - (8, 10 and 12 bits/color)
- YUV (YCbCr) - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- YCbCr601 - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- YCbCr709 - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
Max. Resolution
- Horizontal: 16 K pixels (24-bit)
- Vertical: 65 K lines (16-bit) or infinite in Line scan simulation
Connectors
- 4x HD BNC (CoaXPress)
- 15-pin header I/O
Memory
1 GB | 8 GB | 16 GB
Camera Types
- Area
- Line Scan
Form Factor
Full-height, single-slot, half-length PCIe card
Optional: low profile
Optional: low profile
Host Bus
PCIe x8 Gen. 3,
Power
5-32W: Depends on user application and FPGA Type
Cooling
Passive cooling | Active cooling (fan)
MTBF
> 400K hours
Environmental conditions
Temperature
Operating ambient air temperature: 0 – 55° C
Humidity
- Continuous Operation: 10 - 80% (non-condensing)
- Peak Operation: 10 - 90% (non-condensing)
Environmental Compliance
The CamSim-X is highly modular!
Want to observe tailored Camera Simulator according to your Vision?
CamSim-X SDK
CamSim
The CoaXPress Camera Simulator provides a complete environment for generating, controlling, and analyzing CoaXPress video streams.
It enables developers to replicate real-world camera operation with full control over image formats, timing, and synchronization—ideal for testing frame grabbers, vision systems, and processing algorithms before real hardware is available.
Application Features
Simulation & Control Tools
The CoaXPress Camera Simulator provides full control of stream generation and timing via an intuitive GUI and a C/C++ API. You can transmit from BMP/RAW files or built-in pattern generators; adjust image timing and data parameters; repeat identical sequences for deterministic debugging; and drive user-configurable Camera Control (CC) lines. The system supports machine-I/O signaling and allows optional software/FPGA customization for extended machine simulation workflows.
Supported CoaXPress speeds
- 1.25 Gb/s | CXP-1
- 2.5 Gb/s | CXP-2
- 3.125 Gb/s | CXP-3
- 5 Gb/s | CXP-5
- 6.25 Gb/s | CXP-6
- 10 Gb/s | CXP-10
- 12.5 Gb/s | CXP-12
User Image Source
- Raw Files
- DNG Raw Files
- BMP Files
Output Image Format
Simulate CoaXPress image formats including:
- Raw - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- Mono - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- Bayer - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- RGBA - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- RGB - (8, 10 and 12 bits/color)
- YUV (YCbCr) - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- YCbCr601 - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
- YCbCr709 - (8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 bits/color)
Image Resolution
Resolutions up to 16K × 65K and infinite line-scan length are supported for stress testing continuous pipelines.
Links, bandwidth, and connectors
Drive up to 4 × 12.5 Gb/s CoaXPress links (up to 500 MB/s per link and 1 GB/s aggregate) using 4× HD-BNC connectors, enabling high-throughput validation of grabbers and host chains.
I/O and timing control
Use CC lines for trigger modes and synchronize with external machinery via RS-422, opto-coupler, LVTTL GPIO up to 30 V @ 0.9 A. Fully program frame/line timing to emulate camera behaviour for both area and line modes.
Application Interfaces
GUI Applications
CamSim
APIs
- CamSim with supporting examples
- Gen<i>Cam - making it compatible with any CoaXPress frame grabber that adheres to the Gen<i>Cam standard
Software Compatibility
Third-party software
Gen<i>Cam: For providing a generic software interface that enables third-party machine vision applications to configure features and acquire data from our simulator using the GenTL transport layer.
Operation Systems supported
- Windows 11
- Windows 10
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2016
- Linux (kernel 2.6.x- 6.12)
| Name | Description | Type | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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CamSim-X
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Datasheet | 132.9 KB | ||
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CamSim-X
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Block Diagram | PNG | 122.9 KB | |
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CamSim-X
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System Overview | JPG | 60.3 KB | |
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CamSim AppNote
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Accelerating image processing development and validation with camera simulation | 534.4 KB |
Concurrent Real-Time (Guest Article) – From Lab to Real-Time with Camera Simulation
See how CamSim™ delivers reproducible CoaXPress/Camera Link inputs for real-time validation. This guest article with Concurrent Real-Time shows how teams replay exact frames, synchronize multi-camera pipelines, and run closed-loop tests without risking optics—so bugs are deterministic and fixes are confirmed fast.
Read CCRT Article
VSD – How to Accelerate Image Processing Development with Camera Simulation
Vision Systems Design explains how camera simulation speeds testing, lowers costs, and improves repeatability—especially for multi-camera/HDR scenarios. Practical overview of using field sequences and controlled replay to validate algorithms before on-site installs.
Read on VSD
InVision-News – Camera Simulator with CXP-6 to CXP-12
Gidel announces an upgrade to their CamSim camera simulator with CoaXPress interface from CXP-6 to CXP-12
Read on InVision
Gidel CamSim-X Camera Simulator Now Supports CXP-12 Interface
Upgrade your testing capabilities with Gidel’s updated CamSim platform, now featuring full CXP-12 support. This enhancement doubles CoaXPress speeds from…
Read more
FAQ
The CamSim-X is a high-performance CoaXPress camera simulator designed for testing and validating imaging systems and Frame Grabbers. By generating video streams and test patterns, it allows developers to validate algorithms, identify rare bugs through reproducible data-flow repetition, and accelerate time-to-market without relying on expensive cameras during early-stage development.
The CamSim-X is fully compliant with CoaXPress standards, supporting all pixel formats and link speeds from 1.25 Gb/s (CXP-1) up to 12.5 Gb/s (CXP-12). It features 4x HD-BNC connectors, supporting up to 4x 12.5 Gb/s links with an aggregate throughput of up to 1 GB/s for 2-4 links.
The simulator offers unmatched flexibility in data generation. Users can transmit BMP, RAW, and DNG RAW image files, as well as grayscale and color test patterns using its built-in generator. It supports a comprehensive range of output pixel formats—including Raw, Mono, Bayer, RGBA, RGB, and YUV (YCbCr 601 & 709)—with bit depths ranging from 8 to 16 bits per color.
Yes. The system is engineered to simulate both standard Area scan and Line scan cameras. It supports horizontal resolutions up to 16K pixels and vertical resolutions up to 65K lines (or infinite in Line scan simulation).
To simplify integration into diverse workflows, the CamSim-X includes an intuitive Application GUI (for Windows) for configuring parameters and transmitting images. For automated or custom test environments, Gidel provides a robust API suite for both Windows and Linux, along with programmable CC (Camera Control) lines for versatile triggering and synchronization.
All models offer the same full-standard compliance and logic capabilities, but differ in onboard memory to accommodate different dataset sizes:
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CamSim-X-Lite: 1 GB Onboard Memory.
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CamSim-X: 8 GB Onboard Memory.
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CamSim-X-16G: 16 GB Onboard Memory for massive high-resolution image sequences.
All Gidel products come with a 12-month warranty, dedicated technical support, and regular firmware and driver updates to ensure high-performance reliability in demanding, long-term deployments.
Need more? Check out our other products!
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