28 March 2008

TI & Aptina Offer IP Network Camera Ref Design Using DaVinci

Texas Instruments Incorporated and Aptina Imaging, a division of Micron Technology Inc., have released a DM355IPNC-MT5 high-definition (HD) IP network camera reference design based on TI's DaVinci TMS320DM355 digital media processor, utilising an ARM9 core, and Aptina's 5-megapixel HD security image sensor.

Unlike traditional CCTV cameras, the DM355IPNC-MT5 allows for simple scalability while providing remote viewing and storage capabilities in a distributed network. Complexity and cost of the network are reduced by utilizing the TI/Aptina reference design, producing a field of view of 1280 x 720 pixels, whereas traditional surveillance systems typically use two D1 cameras each seeing 480 x 720 pixels to capture the same scene. Additionally, by leveraging Aptina's 5-megapixel image sensor, image quality is greatly improved with the sensor delivering exceptionally low noise levels and low-light sensitivity.

The IP camera reference design also supports analog output for existing CCTV customers who are not yet ready to migrate to IP allowing them use the camera system to future-proof their investment. Functioning at 400mW during HD MPEG-4 encode, the TI/Aptina camera can operate at less than 3W, reducing the power requirements of even complex networks.

On the processor front, TI’s DM355 SoC puts together an 270MHz ARM926EJ-S core with PC-style peripherals and an integrated HD-video encoder.

With an electronic bill of materials (eBOM) costs of less than $40, video surveillance providers will be able to add these cameras to their existing systems at the cost of a traditional analog video camera and have the flexibility to upgrade to an IP-based HD network camera, when ready, the companies explained.