An explanation of the USB Video Class (UVC)

At IDF, I talked with Terry Moore, CEO of MCCI.  He explained the USB Video Class (UVC).

Video Class, in this case, means moving video from a web camera or digital video camera to another device like a display, or PC, or game console.

UVC is built into Windows, Mac OX, Linux, FreeBSD, and the PS3.

Simply, UVC makes it easier by standardizing video drivers. So any Video Camera could use the standard UVC driver in those platforms.  The Video Camera maker only needs to worry about the embedded firmware in the Video Camera itself.

UVC splits the data in to control and video (payload) streams.  It defines how to move video through the standard drivers.  It was updated to address USB 3.0 in 2012 (that’s this year).  See Terry Moore’s explanation below.

See the YouTube video of Terry Moore explaining UVC here.  And hopefully embedded below, if this works.

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My Hat

During our annual training this week, several smart people asked me: “What’s with USB 3.0 all the time?”

To which I respond, “What other protocols are there?”

Check out Scott Knowlton’s PCIExpress Blog here – http://blogs.synopsys.com/expressyourself/2012/11/29/pci-express-3-0-%e2%80%93-testing-1-2-3%e2%80%a6/

(It’s his second entry so please encourage him by visiting his blog and subscribing).

Also, here a neat installation video for a USB Wall Power Socket with built in USB. I thought I’d have to do separate wiring for the USB, but apparently not.  I blogged about this USB Wall Socket back in January when I reported that USB 3.0 Tablets would be available