Last November, I wrote about the new partnership with Altera and Eutecus that uses parallel algorithms and specialized co-processors integrated into a Cyclone IV FPGA for video surveillance. This launch targets high-performance, real-time machine vision applications and the system combines a FPGA hardware-processing platform with an Acquisition Control Unit (ACU), Data Transfer Engine (DTE), Image Processing Unit (IPU) and a state-of-the-memory architecture.
The Sapera FPGA environment combines a point-and-click graphical interface with FPGA-based image processing libraries--includes more 150 imaging functions. This technology comes bundled with a bit accurate software version of the FPGA library functions for rapid functional simulation but also automatically generates necessary infrastructure to call user functions using a Sapera Software Development Kit. Algorithms include single pass or complex iterative algorithms. Other highlights are bit-accurate software functions that permit verification of algorithm behavior and seamless interface to Xilinx tools.
The vision processor supports a wide variety of cameras, including multi-tap area, line scan cameras, color and monochrome modes; also 8-bit 10 tap configurations. The company adds that the platform will be ready in 1st quarter of 2012.
Teledyne DALSA
