WDR and Intelligent IP network camera reference designs augment TI's comprehensive portfolio of reference solutions
Comprehensive portfolio of robust reference designs include two new solutions
TI's flagship IP network camera reference design is the DM355IPNC-MT5 HD solution, developed with Aptina Imaging (a division of Micron) and is offered by Appro Photoelectron, Inc. This reference design utilizes the DM355 digital media processor based on DaVinci technology and Aptina's 5-megapixel HD security image sensor, the MT9P031, and allows video surveillance providers to add these cameras to their existing systems -- at the cost of a traditional analog video camera -- while gaining the flexibility to upgrade to an IP network when ready. This royalty free reference design is shipping now from Appro at a cost of US $795. For more information, please visit http://www.ti.com/ipnetcampr.
Complementing this flagship product, TI is also bringing to market a Wide Dynamic Range IP network camera reference design. The DM355IPNC-TC922 reference design includes the new TC922 WDR CMOS sensor from TI Japan, which is optimized for both high and low-light performance, making it suitable for environments with severe variations in illumination. This is critical as security cameras need to be able to capture details in both very bright and dark areas, even within the same scene or during rapid changes in lighting conditions.
The TC922 WDR sensor included in this reference design exceeds the image quality provided by charge coupled devices (CCD) found in traditional CCTV cameras with 800 x 600 SVGA as well as more horizontal and vertical lines, specifically 560 TV lines (TVL), thereby allowing a wider field of view and greater detail capture. Furthermore, the sensor's dynamic range can reach 94 decibels (dB), or more than 50 times the range of traditional CCD sensors that can only achieve 60 dB. This reference design offers dual-streaming capabilities of MPEG-4 SVGA, MJPEG at VGA resolution, and with G.711 audio; or triple-streaming capabilities of MPEG-4 VGA, MJPEG VGA, MPEG-4 QVGA and with G.711 audio.
Most importantly, the DM355IPNC-TC922 WDR IP network camera reference design is fully compatible with TI's flagship DM355-based IP network camera reference design, which will allow customers to leverage their existing investment in the TI software platform and help them to quickly develop a scalable portfolio of security cameras with a variety of capabilities. The new solution is also available with the same business model, including royalty-free codecs and Linux camera application source code. The DM355IPNC- TC922 WDR IP network camera reference design is open for order entry from Appro for US $815.
For customers in need of a solution with integrated video analytics, TI is offering the new DM355 Video Content Analytics (VCA) IP network camera reference design. ObjectVideo(R), the leader in intelligent video, will provide the analytics functionality. The DM355IPNC-VCA1 reference design is the industry's most comprehensive IP network camera reference design with integrated intelligent video capabilities and is the result of close collaboration between TI, ObjectVideo, Zero One Technology (ZOT), Aptina and Appro. This new VCA camera solution is also built on TI's flagship IP network camera reference design with the addition of the video content analytics daughter board.
This VCA board implements an embedded solution running ObjectVideo intelligent video analytics software on TI's TMS320DM6435 digital media processor based on DaVinci technology. The modular VCA board plugs in to the camera for cost-effective solutions that offer both video analytics-enabled and basic cameras from one reference design. To achieve additional customization, customers can select from four available DM643x digital media processors, which range from 300 - 700 MHz, are pin for pin and fully software compatible, which allows for easy hardware changes to obtain desired performance levels.
Like the WDR IP network camera reference design, the VCA solution is also fully compatible with TI's flagship DM355-based IP network camera reference design and is available with the same business model including royalty-free codecs and application source code, all of which helps customers leverage their existing investment in the platform and quickly create a complete IP network camera roadmap with the TI portfolio of products. The reference design further simplifies the integration of analytics by providing the ZOT modular VCA daughter board bundled with robust and simple object classification, trip wire and Area Of Interest (AOI) Inside from ObjectVideo. Customers are also able to select customized intelligent solutions at additional cost from ObjectVideo to adapt to their needs.
The DM355IPNC-VCA1 reference design will be sampling in early fourth quarter 2008 from ZOT for US $995, including the VCA daughter card. Customers can sign a production license agreement with TI and Aptina that provides the hardware and software design collateral for the flagship DM355-based IP network camera reference design, as well as 8 hours of support from ZOT. Developers can then purchase the VCA hardware module, bundled with the ObjectVideo software, from ZOT at the time of production starting at US $110 each.
Optimized reference designs reduce development time to four months
From device drivers and application software to hardware and image pipe tuning, a video surveillance camera system can often take more than 150 man months to develop. These three reference designs reduce system development to less than four months by including complete and optimized schematics, gerber files, as well as free Linux application source code and include the field- proven, robust, royalty-free bundled MPEG-4 and MJPEG video codecs that help to deliver exceptionally low noise levels and low-light sensitivity.
"TI met with ZOT and ObjectVideo at SecuTech in April 2008, at which time we discussed adding analytics functionality to our flagship IP network camera reference design. Working together and within a span of six months, ZOT is now announcing a differentiated product," said Danny Petkevich, video surveillance and imaging business manager, TI. "This is the perfect example of how customers can shorten their development time and get innovative products out to market quickly."
Demonstrations featuring these IP network camera reference designs can be seen at ASIS International 2008 in Atlanta, Georgia, September 15 - 18, 2008, in the ObjectVideo booth #3235.
Additional information about digital media processors based on DaVinci technology can be found on TI's website at http://www.thedavincieffect.com.
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