VSP Enhances Digital Still Cameras

Debuting as the second member of the ViSP family, the CW4511 visual signal processor (VSP) is claimed as the industry's first programmable controller that can operate at the speeds and power levels to process full motion video on a digital still camera format. The device hosts a variety of video capabilities including CIF MPEG4 encoding and decoding at 30 fps and VGA MPEG4 encoding at rates at up to 15 fps with decoding at 30 fps. It is also said to be power efficient for use in battery operated equipment. When performing CIF encoding of MPEG-4 streams at 30 fps, the VSP consumes approximately 300 mW. Other features include unlimited and continuous shooting at 3 to 4 fps with a 3.3 Mpixel sensor, support for image sensors up to 12 Mpixels, MJPEG encode/decode at 30 fps, JPEG2000 encode/decode at greater than 2 Mpixels/s, and DVD-quality MPEG-4 encoding at 30 fps using two chips and decoding at 30 fps using a single chip. In addition, the CW4511 integrates a serial processor, eliminating the need for a microcontroller. Software support includes digital camera reference design pipeline and middleware libraries, Nucleus PLUS RTOS with uTRON API (optional), and Metrowerks CodeWarrior. Available in a 256-pin BGA, price is $19.95 each/10,000. CHIPWRIGHTS, Newton, MA. (617) 928-0100.