The USB video device class is a USB device class that describes devices
capable of streaming video like webcams, digital camcorders, transcoders, analog
video converters and still-image cameras.
The latest revision of the USB video class specification carries the version
number 1.5 and was defined by the USB Implementers Forum in a set of documents
describing both the basic protocol and the different payload formats.
See also the List of USB video class devices
Devices = Webcams =
Webcams were among the first devices to support the UVC standard and they are
currently the most popular UVC devices. = TV receivers and video recorders =
UVC v1.1 support transmission of compressed video streams, including
MPEG-2 TS, H.264, MPEG-4 SL SMPTE VC1 and MJPEG.
Formats Uncompressed YUV formats YUY2, NV12
DV formats SD-DV, SDL-DV, and HD-DV Frame-based
Video stream formats like MPEG-2 TS, H.264, MPEG-4 SL, SMPTE VC1, and MJPEG
Revision history For detailed history on releases, see
the revision history section of the published USB UVC documents, available
from the USB.orgdocs page. Operating system support
Android Android supports USB video devices.
Linux USB video class support for Linux is
provided by the Linux UVC driver, although as of May 2012 support for
still-image capture is not yet implemented. Since Linux 2.6.26 the
driver is included in kernel source distribution.
OS X OS X ships with a UVC driver included
since version 10.4.3, updated in 10.4.9 to work with iChat.
Windows Windows XP has a class driver for USB
video class 1.0 devices since Service Pack 2, as does Windows Vista and
Windows CE 6.0. A post-service pack 2 update that adds more capabilities is
also available. Windows 7 added UVC 1.1 support. Support for UVC 1.5 is
currently only available in Windows 8. Most device manufacturers do, however,
provide their own drivers tailored to the capabilities of the product in
question. FreeBSD
FreeBSD added the uvc driver for UVC devices in Jan 18, 2011; added in the
9.0 release. NetBSD
NetBSD added the uvideo driver for UVC devices in September 2008; added in the
5.0 release. OpenBSD
OpenBSD added the uvideo driver for UVC devices in April 2008; it appears in the
4.4 release. PlayStation 3
The PlayStation 3 added support for UVC compatible webcams in firmware version
1.54 MenuetOS
MenuetOS added support for UVC compatible webcams in version 0.87
Solaris Solaris includes support for UVC webcams
in the form of the usbvc driver for OpenSolaris. The driver ships with
Solaris Express build 56 and later. References
^ a b c d e f USB Device Class Definition for Video Devices, Revision
1.5, June 2012 ^ "Linux UVC driver and tools, Status".
^ Mac OS X 10.4.9 update "Includes iChat support for USB Video Class webcams."
Apple Inc. April 8, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2010.
^ The updated USB Video Class driver for Windows XP with Service Pack 2 is
available ^ USB Video Class Driver Overview.
Microsoft. Retrieved July 22, 2014. ^ "UVC(4) FreeBSD Kernel Interfaces
Manual". 2012-08-06. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
bsd.gw.comman-cgi?uvideo++NetBSD-current penbsd.orgman.cgi?query=uvideo&sektion=4
www.opensolaris.orgcommunityprojectsuvc/