Date: 28/02/2011

HD video Camera development kit and reference design by Lattice Semiconductor

Lattice Semiconductor has released Lattice HDR-60 Video Camera Development Kit, a production-ready High Definition (HD) video camera development system based on the LatticeECP3 FPGA family. Lattice says this kit is equipped with an Aptina 720p HDR sensor, with a 1080p HDR sensor planned in Q2 2011, the Kit also offers the industry's fastest auto-exposure, greater than 120dB system dynamic range, a highly efficient Auto White Balance algorithm and 2D noise reduction - all in streaming mode through the FPGA without the need for an external frame buffer, enabling extremely low latency and further reducing system cost. On-board DDR2 memory also enables applications such as 3D noise reduction, image stitching from multiple sensors, image rotation and de-warping.

The key features of this kit are:
Pre-loaded with a plug and play evaluation Image Signal Processing (ISP) pipeline based on Intellectual Property (IP) Cores from Lattice partner Helion GmbH.
The IP delivers 1080p performance at 60 frames per second with 2D noise reduction and High Dynamic Range (HDR).
Form factor is designed to fit into commercially available camera housings and capable of supporting two sensors simultaneously.
Supports rapid evaluation and prototyping of high-definition HDR video cameras for security and surveillance, traffic control, video conferencing and automotive applications. Schematics and layout files are available free to all purchasers, further accelerating time to market.
Offers fully integrated HDR image signal processing pipeline from sensor to HDMI/DVI display.
Features two USB ports, RJ45 Ethernet port, a Broadcom Broadreach PHY and a built-in BNC connector, offering support for Ethernet over RG6 coaxial cable for distances up to 700 meters at 100Mbps for customers incorporating compression encoders into their designs.
The Development Kit also supports easy programming over standard low-cost USB cable.
The evaluation camera reference design included with the Kit supports sensors up to 16 megapixels.

"Our goal with the Lattice HDR-60 Video Camera Development Kit is to enable camera manufacturers to jump start their FPGA-based high definition camera programs by providing a high quality HDR Video Camera reference design engineered to minimize system BOM, while addressing both legacy infrastructure and future-proofing the customer's investment," said Niladri Roy, Senior Manager of product marketing at Lattice Semiconductor. "With full 1080p60 support and the ability to scale up to 16MP sensors, as well as support for Ethernet over coaxial cable, the Lattice HDR-60 Development Kit offers nearly twice the functionality at less than half the price of any comparable kit currently available."