BusinessWire
October 12, 2005 06:00 AM US Pacific Timezone

VMETRO Introduces CameraLink Interface and User Programmable Xilinx FPGA - Combined in a Single PMC

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 12, 2005--VMETRO announces the availability of the CAML-MOD3 a CameraLink adaptor module for VMETRO's high performance Xilinx Virtex II Pro based PMC-FPGA03 PMC module. Capable of capturing video from two base-mode cameras or one Base, Medium or Full mode camera, the CAML-MOD3/PMC-FPGA03 combination opens up a new range of performance options for developers by merging data acquisition with the benefits of a local user programmable FPGA. The FPGA can be used to implement functions such as edge detection, FFTs, digital filtering and correlation to benefit applications including target tracking, feature recognition or real-time filtering.

The CAML-MOD3 uses the rapidly emerging Mini CameraLink (MiniCL) HDR26 connector standard and is compatible with traditional CameraLink equipment employing the MDR26 connector. In Base mode, up to two cameras can be attached via separate cables; in Medium and Full modes, a single camera connects via two cables. The CAML-MOD3 supports the maximum CameraLink clock rate of 85MHz, allowing real-time transfer of sustained data rates up to 680Mbytes/sec into the FPGA (Full mode). With full-bandwidth video data streamed directly to a large user-programmable Xilinx Virtex II Pro XC2VP50 FPGA, real-time parallel processing of the video stream(s) is possible with minimal latency. Fast QDR SRAM and deep DDR SDRAM memory devices attached directly to the FPGA provide the local storage required for image processing algorithms. An efficient 64 bit PCI interface supplies the bandwidth necessary to transfer processed or raw video to the PMC host carrier.

Example firmware and host software for capturing CameraLink data, provided in VHDL and C++ respectively, allows developers to concentrate on implementing their own proprietary processing algorithms. Comprehensive PMC-FPGA03 library firmware for communicating with PMC-FPGA03 board resources, and host library software for implementing register and DMA-based board communication, simplify the development process further.

"The CAML-MOD3 enables our customers to capture high bandwidth data directly into FPGAs for application specific processing," comments Jeff Bateman, Senior Systems Engineer at VMETRO. "The combination of the CAML-MOD3, PMC-FPGA03 and support firmware and software enables image acquisition functionality to be easily integrated into traditional signal processing and data recording applications that are acknowledged as VMETRO core competencies."

The CAML-MOD3 is shipping now with a single unit price of $995.

About VMETRO

VMETRO offers products and services that enable clients to build superior high-end digital processing, recording and sensor I/O systems for their customers, on time! The products are based on open standards like VXS, VME, PCI, cPCI and RACEway. Founded in 1986 in Oslo, Norway, and in the US since 1987, VMETRO is the world's largest manufacturer of bus analyzers for standard buses such as VME and PCI. VMETRO also offers an extensive line of high-performance signal processing solutions, real-time data recorders, PMC I/O controllers and modules for real-time data processing, acquisition and networking. VMETRO merged with Transtech DSP Ltd (High Wycombe, UK) October 1, 2004, adding a powerful range of signal processing products to the VMETRO product range. VMETRO is traded on the Oslo Stock Exchange (OSE:VME). For more information, please visit www.vmetro.com