Microchip has a vision for PolarFire FPGAs in 4K video and imaging
High resolution, smart vision systems can be developing with Microchip’s cost-optimised PolarFire FPGAs. According to the company, the PolarFire FPGA imaging and video kit addresses the challenges of developing complex computer algorithms which enable systems to capture and display information and high resolution images.
The MPF300-Video-Kit includes IP and reference designs for capabilities claimed to be superior to alternative technologies to support up to 4K resolution in small, low power form factors for a variety of imaging and video applications.
Designers requiring high-performance computing, memory and connectivity resources to achieve high-resolution imaging with rich, vivid detail, can achieve this with field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) as they can perform thousands of tasks in parallel to maximise data throughput.
Microchip’s PolarFire FPGAs have memory and digital signal processor (DSP) resources suitable for these mid-bandwidth (4K/2K) imaging/video applications. In addition, they offer up to 50 per cent lower power than competing static random access memory (SRAM)-based devices.
The imaging and video development kit includes an ecosystem for customers, with comprehensive application-specific hardware, optimised intellectual property (IP) suite for image processing, sample reference designs, demonstration designs and collateral. This provides designers with the hardware and software needed to implement 4K resolution designs targeting PolarFire FPGAs. The MPF300-Video-Kit enables high-performance evaluation of 4K image processing and rendering using dual-camera sensors suitable for designing demonstrations for video stitching, static and dynamic object insertion, as well as real depth estimation based on disparity maps. The modular IP suite provides the ability to prototype and accelerate time to market, the kit can be leveraged for multiple projects to save costs, time and effort.
The MPF300-Video-Kit also includes industry-standard imaging interfaces bolstered by 4Gbyte on-chip double data rate fourth-generation (DDR4) and 1Gbyte flash memory for frame buffering and user configuration, respectively. There is also bi-directional mobile industry processor interface (MIPI) as a sensor interface and the choice of high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI), display serial interface (DSI) for display and serial digital interface (SDI) for broadcast-grade video.
The evaluation of reference designs for picture-in-picture (PiP) and edge detection are made easier with configurable resolution and image signal parameters. These features enhance the PolarFire FPGA imaging and video solution’s suitability for applications in surveillance and internet protocol (IP) cameras, automotive and other untethered/mobile use cases, machine vision/medical, smart home as well as applications in the industrial, aerospace/aviation and defence markets.
In addition to the dedicated hardware to enable evaluation of multiple imaging and video protocols on PolarFire FPGAs, there is an optimised intellectual property suite, sample reference designs, demonstration designs and collateral. A free one-year gold licence to Microchip’s Libero SoC Design Suite is also included.
