# Radiometric Thermal Module Interfaces: USB, MIPI or DVP

How temperature data leaves a radiometric thermal core over USB, MIPI CSI-2 or DVP, why analog video cannot carry it, and five questions to ask before design-in.

Source: https://thermal.torsuntech.com/resources/radiometric-thermal-module-usb-mipi-dvp/

[Resources](https://thermal.torsuntech.com/resources/) / USB, MIPI or DVP

# USB, MIPI or DVP: getting temperature data out of a radiometric thermal core

“How do we get the temperatures into our system?” usually comes right after “what does the image look like?”. The answer depends on your host hardware more than on the core. Here is how the options compare, with MINI 640-2 Radiometric as the example.

## What temperature data is

A radiometric core gives you a value for every pixel in every frame, usually raw 14- or 16-bit numbers that the calibration turns into temperature. That is ordinary digital data, so any digital interface can carry it: USB, MIPI CSI-2, a parallel bus (often called DVP), or SPI on small sensors.

Analog video (PAL or NTSC over CVBS) cannot. It carries a picture already scaled for display, so treat an analog output as a preview, never as a measurement.

## USB: the quickest start

USB suits products that already have a PC, an Android device or a single-board computer inside. One cable carries image, temperature data and control, and the temperature data comes through the SDK. Watch cable length and cheap hubs, and check that the SDK exists for the operating system your product will run, not only for your development PC.

## MIPI CSI-2: for embedded boards with a camera input

If your product is built around an ARM processor with a camera interface, MIPI (2-lane on this core) keeps everything on a short flex cable and leaves USB free. The cost is driver work on your side: the receiver has to accept the frame format, and raw 16-bit frames do not always map neatly onto the formats a camera pipeline expects. Get the exact frame format before you lay out the board.

## DVP (parallel): for FPGAs and microcontrollers

A parallel bus is simple to capture in an FPGA or a microcontroller with a camera port, at the cost of many lines. Check logic levels before connecting anything: on this core, DVP and I²C default to 1.8 V and can be switched to 3.3 V by command.

## Control is a separate decision

Settings and commands go over UART, I²C or USB. Decide which port your host uses for control separately from the video path.

## Five questions to ask before you design in

- Which interface versions of the module carry temperature data, and are samples available in that version?

- What exactly comes out: full-frame temperature, or spot values such as maximum, minimum and centre?

- What is the frame format and frame rate on that interface?

- Is there an SDK for your host operating system and processor, and what does it do versus what you write yourself?

- Which connector and logic levels does the module use, and is there an adapter board for bench testing?

## MINI 640-2 Radiometric interfaces

MINI 640-2 Radiometric comes in USB Type-C, MIPI (2-lane) and DVP versions, all with temperature output, and samples are in stock for each. On a Windows PC the USB version appears as a USB camera, with no driver to install. Temperature output can be full frame or spot readings (maximum, minimum and centre). On the USB version, temperature readout and control go through TSDK, our SDK for this module, with versions for Linux (Ubuntu, Raspberry Pi, Jetson); application features are built on top of it. TSDK has been tested on our modules and is provided after payment is confirmed.

[View the MINI 640-2 Radiometric connector pinout](https://thermal.torsuntech.com/products/mini-640-2-radiometric/#pinout)

## Tell us your host platform.

Send the processor, the operating system and the interface you plan to use. We reply within 24 hours on working days.

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