GMSL2 cable VS GMSL3 cable

Both GMSL2 and GMSL3 cables are coaxial cables used to support high-bandwidth video and data transmission. The main difference lies in the supported protocol versions and performance requirements. Here is a comparison:

1. Data Rate and Resolution Support

GMSL2 Cable

Data Rate: Supports data rates up to 6 Gbit/s.
Resolution Support: Supports cameras up to 8 megapixels, and supports 4K resolution displays and video streams through Display Stream Compression (DSC) technology.
Application: Suitable for transmitting single high-resolution camera data, or 4K display video streams.

GMSL3 Cable

Data Rate: Supports forward link rates up to 12 Gbit/s, which is twice that of GMSL2.
Resolution Support: Mainly supports multi-channel 4K resolution video stream transmission, and can daisy-chain multiple displays and cameras.
Application: Designed for scenarios that require multi-channel video stream aggregation, such as ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System), surround view cameras, and daisy-chain connections for in-vehicle displays.

2. Cable requirements and parameters

Common cable types

GMSL2 and GMSL3 systems typically use shielded coaxial cables (such as RTK031, etc.) or twisted pairs to transmit signals.
Fakra or HSD connectors are commonly used in these systems to ensure the reliability and anti-interference of high-frequency signal transmission.

Transmission distance:

GMSL2 Cable: On standard shielded coaxial cable, the transmission distance is typically 15 to 20 meters, depending on the cable type and transmission rate.
GMSL3 Cable: Due to the higher signal rate, the transmission distance is generally 10 to 15 meters, and high-quality cables and connectors can extend the distance.

3. Key Features and Benefits

GMSL2

Provides compressed and uncompressed video data transmission.
Supports Ethernet tunneling, allowing Ethernet data transmission over a single cable (up to 1.5 Gbit/s reverse channel rate).
Suitable for mainstream automotive systems with high-resolution single cameras and displays.

GMSL3

Enhanced multi-device aggregation capabilities, allowing video streams from multiple cameras or displays to be transmitted over a single cable.
Supports higher data rates and more complex system architectures, such as multi-channel 4K display video streams.
Provides an ideal solution for multi-sensor and display connectivity in autonomous vehicles.

4. History and evolution of GMSL

GMSL (2008): supports 3.125 Gbit/s for transmitting high-definition display or camera video streams.
GMSL2 (2018): supports 6 Gbit/s and adds display stream compression and Ethernet tunneling functions.
GMSL3 (2021): supports 12 Gbit/s, optimizes multi-device aggregation, daisy chain connection, and enhances system flexibility.

GMSL2 cable VS GMSL3 cable

Attribute	GMSL2 Cable	GMSL3 Cable
Data Rate	Up to 6 Gbit/s	Up to 12 Gbit/s
Resolution Support	Supports 4K displays (via DSC technology)	Supports multiple 4K video streams
Device Connectivity	Suitable for single camera or single display connections	Supports multi-camera aggregation, daisy-chained displays
Transmission Distance	15–20 meters (depending on conditions)	10–15 meters
Backchannel Rate	187.5 Mbit/s or 1.5 Gbit/s	187.5 Mbit/s or 3 Gbit/s
Key Features	Supports Display Stream Compression (DSC) and Ethernet tunneling	Supports multi-camera aggregation, high-speed daisy-chaining
Typical Applications	Single camera systems, 4K video streaming displays	Autonomous driving systems, multi-camera ADAS, multi-display connectivity
Cable Type	Shielded coaxial cables or twisted pairs	High-quality shielded coaxial cables
Release Date	2018	2021
Cost	Lower	Higher
Use Cases	Moderate complexity systems (e.g., infotainment systems, single-camera ADAS)	High-complexity systems (e.g., autonomous driving, surround view, multi-display setups)