ISP IP is customisable for mission-critical real-time imaging
Image signal processor (ISP) and high dynamic range (HDR) video specialist, Pinnacle Imaging Systems, has launched its Denali 3.0 programmable ISP IP.
The camera-ready, end-to-end HDR ISP leverages Pinnacle Imaging’s proprietary advanced algorithms to tone map high contrast scenes for mission-critical applications which require data-rich, real-time imaging.
Pinnacle Imaging has redesigned its ISP for more efficient power consumption, and incorporated an expanded 20-bit image processing pipeline in this version. It has also limited latency to less than 20 lines, all with no external DRAM or frame buffers required.
The Denali 3.0 ISP cores are adapted from Pinnacle Imaging’s patented HDR technology. Modelled on true human vision, the technology enables retention of local image contrast as well as details in highlights and shadows, all without producing halos or colour shifts, explains the company. The programmable ISP provides designers with the flexibility to customise processing. It is adaptable to support sensors of any resolution, non-traditional colour filter arrays (CFAs) and diverse HDR capture methods. Denali 3.0 runs exclusively in the FPGA fabric, allowing designers to free up on-chip CPU and GPU resources for advanced artificial intelligence (AI) functionality.
“We are thrilled that Pinnacle has successfully ported their Denali 3.0 ISP to our Zynq UltraScale+ family of MPSoCs, providing an adaptive ISP to meet our customers’ needs for mission-critical applications,” commented Chetan Khona, director, Industrial, Vision, Healthcare & Sciences at Xilinx.
Denali 3.0 can be configured to support all Xilinx Zynq 7000 series and Zynq UltraScale+ programmable SoCs.
It also offers native support for the ON Semiconductor AR0233 with a 20-bit image processing pipeline in Super Exposure Mode producing 120dB (20EV) of dynamic range with LED flicker mitigation.
Stephen Harris, director of Automotive Solutions Architecture for ON Semiconductor’s Automotive Sensing division, said: “[Pinnacle Imaging’s] programmable Denali 3.0 ISP expands their data processing pipe to support the Hayabusa family’s native super-exposure 20-bit output achieving highest possible dynamic range with LFM.”
As the demands on video analytics become more complex, whether by end users or integrated autonomous systems, Pinnacle Imaging is able to customize its Denali 3.0 IP cores to just about any image sensor making it a unique platform for automotive ADAS cameras, automotive vision systems, robotics, autonomous vehicles, as well as intelligent traffic systems. Denali 3.0 is an ideal ISP solution for security and surveillance, as well as commercial UAV applications.
Key Features of the Denali 3.0TM IP Core
For engineers and camera designers developing mission critical applications requiring the highest-quality video signal and ultra-fast response times together with the ON Semiconductor AR0233 CMOS sensor, Denali 3.0 delivers a real-time 20-bit data path capable of producing 120 dB or 20-EV steps of dynamic range (with LED flicker mitigation) while ensuring extremely low latency (less than 20 lines). Its unique HDR IP completely eliminates halo artifacts and color shifts. This allows Denali 3.0 to capture up to 1080p HDR video in real-time that is fully tone-mapped at 60 fps. Denali 3.0 is also able to accommodate automated or full-user control modes.
According to Pinnacle Imaging, these improvements ensure Denali 3.0 delivers best-in-class image quality for applications demanding native support of real-time HDR video for automotive, security and surveillance, robotics, medical, industrial, machine vision and automated sensory applications.
