Many other processors on the market target video systems,
including the PowerPC; Intel’s Pentium III, Celeron, and X86
processors; and AMD’s Geode SC2200. Ann Arbor Systems
uses Analog Devices’ Blackfin ADSP-BF533 DSP to power its
AXT100 thermal infrared-imaging camera (Fig. 4).
Startup company Stretch Inc. offers wrapped designs and software
around its S6000a configurable processor for building lowcost
networked surveillance cameras and digital video recorders.
The company says its approach can deliver 30 frames/s for an
H.264 codec video stream at D1 standard resolution—at a cost of
as little as $6.25 for the processor.
Some companies like Apollo Imaging Technologies try to cram
as much video circuitry into cameras designed for OEMs that
specialize in developing video analytics. These OEMs also have
IP primarily in the image-processing arena, as opposed to highperformance
image-processing hardware development.
Functioning as development platforms, such products typically
feature enough capability to replace a conventional camera, PC,
frame grabber, and associated cable, power supplies, and other
components, all within the space of an industrial camera.
THE RIGHT DEVELOPMENT TOOLS
Development tools as well as the software and its algorithms are
key to cost-effectively developing intelligent video systems while
meeting time-to-market. To that end, National Instruments’ NI
Vision represents one of the more powerful and comprehensive
development and software platforms.
NI Vision’s hardware ranges from plug-in devices for PCI and
PXI systems to image processing on the sensor itself with NI’s
Smart Camera (Fig. 5). Options include image-acquisition software
to acquire images from thousands of cameras, a top-notch
image-processing library, and a configurable interface for industrial
machine-vision applications.
“It is important that a smart camera’s software platform be
extremely open and flexible to handle a variety of different requirements.
That’s the philosophy behind NI’s approach,” says Matt
Slaughter, product marketing
manager for NI Vision. “A lot of
people are trying to make it easier
to use out-of-the-box vision
systems without having to invest
a lot of money.”
When Sylvania Lighting
needed to integrate machine
vision and motion hardware and
software to produce improved
metal-halide lamps, it turned to
NI’s products. It chose a Windows-
based PC along with NI’s
PCI7831R reconfigurable I/O
board with an on-board FPGA,
an NI PCI-7356 motion board,
and an NI PCI-8252 IEEE 1394
camera interface board. The development software included NI
LabVIEW, the NI Vision Assistant, and an NI LabVIEW FPGA.
Many popular operating systems are being used to develop
intelligent video systems. These include Windows CE, XP, .NET
and XP embedded (XPe), and VxWorks. Linux with its opensource
platform is another popular software choice.
INTERFACES
Several standard analog and digital interfaces are available, including
FireWire (IEEE 1394), GbE (Gigabit Ethernet), USB, and
Camera Link. Each accommodates different data-transmission
rates, cable lengths and types, interface boards, the number of
cameras supported, and plug-and-play capability (see “Different
Interfaces For Camera Signals,” Drill Deeper 18804).
GbE is a popular interface standard for high-performance,
machine-vision industrial cameras like the Dalsa Corp. Genie
Color series (Fig. 6). The Automated Imaging Association is overseeing
the standard’s ongoing development and administration. It
features a data-transfer rate up to 1000 Mbits/s for distances up to
150 m, exceeding those of FireWire, USB, and Camera Link.
Increased camera intelligence and greater functionality have
highlighted the need for a comprehensive application programming
interface (API). As a result, the European Machine Vision
Association (EMVA) has developed the GenICam standard,
which encompasses cameras, the types of transport layer interfaces,
and software libraries, regardless of type or brand name (Fig. 7).
The standard consists of GenApi for configuring a camera,
SFNC for a standard naming convention for common camera features,
and GenTL, a transport layer interface for frame grabbers.
GenApi is a current part of the official standard, release 1.1.0. The
GenTL specification is expected to be completed soon.
Wireless video connectivity has also improved. Developed to
increase both the range and transfer rate of wireless video signals,
the 802.11n protocol allows the use of advanced encryption techniques.
It features operating frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz and a
maximum data-transmission rate of 248 Mbits/s.
For more on the future of intelligent video, see “What’s Coming In
Machine Vision” at www.electronicdesign.com, Drill Deeper 18802.