SLVS-EC: The High-Speed Interface for Next-Generation Vision

Rising Bandwidth Needs 

As imaging systems push toward higher resolutions and faster frame rates, traditional interfaces such as MIPI D-PHY and sub-LVDS often cannot keep up with the growing data demands. SLVS-EC supports up to 12.5 Gbps per lane, providing the high bandwidth required for modern vision systems. By reducing the number of lanes needed, it simplifies hardware design while enabling reliable transmission of increasingly large data volumes. 

Simpler and More Reliable High-Speed Design 

SLVS-EC embeds the clock into each data lane, eliminating the need for shared clocks and strict lane-length matching. This simplifies PCB routing, improves signal stability, and lowers pin count-advantages that become increasingly important as imaging systems scale in complexity and size. The embedded clocking also reduces timing errors, making high-speed designs more robust and easier to implement. 

Long-Distance, High-Integrity Transmission 

Many imaging setups require the sensor and processing electronics to be physically separated. SLVS-EC enables reliable high-speed links over several meters, which can be modeled and validated using transmitter and cable IBIS data. Eye-diagram simulations help engineers confirm signal integrity early in the design process, while built-in CRC error detection and ECC error correctuion ensures continuous monitoring of link quality and protects against data loss in electrically noisy or long-cable environments. 

FRAMOS SLVS-EC Receiver IP 

The FRAMOS SLVS-EC receiver IP core fully implements the SLVS-EC standard, supporting multiple protocol versions including an upcoming 12.5 Gbps mode. It converts SLVS-EC bitstreams into sensor pixel data and integrates easily into Xilinx FPGA and ASIC platforms. Reference designs on Xilinx hardware demonstrate setup, configuration, and essential processing such as demosaicing, providing engineers with a pre-validated foundation for building high-speed imaging pipelines quickly and reliably. 

Conclusion 

With high-speed performance, embedded clocking, long-range capability, and built-in error detection, SLVS-EC delivers the reliability and scalability needed for next-generation vision systems. Combined with the FRAMOS receiver IP core and reference designs, it enables faster development of advanced imaging solutions, reducing risk and ensuring high data integrity for demanding applications.