Posted to News on 18th Mar 2007, 11:25
VisualApplets for FPGA programming in image processing
Firstsight Vision is introducing a new software tool that simplifies the programming of FPGA devices (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) for image processing applications. This tool, VisualApplets, uses graphic data flow models generated from a combination of operators and filter modules from imaging processing libraries; these are then compiled into a loadable hardware applet.
VisualApplets is designed primarily for use by software programmers in industrial image processing, although a working knowledge of hardware programming can be beneficial. Firstsight Vision says that VisualApplets is hardware-independent, so users may re-use and port code from one hardware platform to another.
Applets created with VisualApplets can include arithmetic and morphological manipulation of pixels, logic for classification work, and complex colour processing and compression. VisualApplets includes both synthesis and high-level simulation, providing full control over the ultimate visual output from the application at all times. Hardware applets can be displayed on microDisplay configuration software or integrated into applications via an SDK.
VisualApplets currently supports the microEnable III/-XXL hardware platform and runs under Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows XP. Contact Firstsight Vision for more information.
