FPGA-based evaluation for image processing

The RC300 and RC2000-Pro are FPGA-based evaluation and prototyping boards claimed to offer new capabilities for designers of image processing and data streaming applications.

The RC300 and RC2000-Pro are FPGA-based evaluation and prototyping boards claimed to offer new capabilities for designers of image processing and data streaming applications.

The RC300 package provides a desktop environment intended for evaluation and development of high-performance, high-throughput FPGA and soft-core microprocessor based applications such as robotics and industrial vision systems, video compression, video distribution, high-speed encrypted VPN, packet filtering and network intrusion detection.

To facilitate the use of the board for these types of applications, the package provides a 6Mgate Xilinx Virtex II FPGA with direct access to four large banks of ZBT SRAM (totalling 32Mbyte) and a DIMM socket for customer-provided DRAM.

High-performance video, including stereoscopic video applications, is enabled by the dual video inputs and outputs, including both digital video to the DVI standard and analogue video.

As an option, the board can be supplied with a high-resolution 1024 x 768 12.1in TFT/touchscreen offering a quality and size of display unique in the industry and providing potential for sophisticated demonstrations of imaging applications such as in-car infotainment.

Communications are provided by dual gigabit Ethernet MAC/PHYs and 10/100/1000Base-T sockets offering capability for data streaming, data distribution and high-performance network applications.

The board also offers a USB 2.0 connection for high-speed bit file download and for host to FPGA application communications.

To assist with debug, application status reporting and user interaction, the board has eight user-programmable LEDs and a 4 x 16 character LCD as well as audio in/out, including SPDIF digital out, PS2 keyboard and mouse connectors and dual RS232 ports.

The RC2000-Pro package provides an environment for the development of high-performance FPGA/hard-core processor based SoC applications, particularly in the area of image processing.

The package is composed of a high-performance FPGA development environment and supporting software including platform abstraction layer (PAL) and datastream manager (DSM) support, allowing rapid development of platform-independent Handel-C applications using the Celoxica DK Design Suite.

The hardware is based on a PCI mezzanine card (PMC) featuring either a XC2VP70 or XC2VP100 Xilinx Virtex-II Pro Platform FPGA.

The PMC card also provides a high speed PCI interface, DDR SSRAM and DDR SDRAM external memory, programmable clocks, temperature monitoring, battery backed encryption and flash boot facilities.

The PMC card can be adapted to customer requirements by fitting an optional daughter module offering a range of I/O and/or additional memory configurations.

For use in a standard PC/PCI environment, the PMC card is supported by a dual PMC to PCI carrier card providing 64bit 66MHz primary and secondary PCI via an Intel 21154 PCI-PCI bridge device.

PMC Pn4 user I/O connections can be routed between the PMC sites or can be connected to an onboard I/O connector.

The PMC card can also be used in a CompactPCI environment through the use of a dual PMC to CPCI carrier card.

The RC300 will be available later this month (March 2004) with prices starting at $12,500 including power supply and supporting software for Windows 2000 and Windows XP platforms.

The RC2000Pro range is now available with boards starting at $15,000 including supporting software for Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Celoxica also offers the DK Design Suite and other software products supporting the Software-Compiled System Design methodology as well as a broad range of design services and other off-the-shelf FPGA prototyping cards.

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