DCAM Video Framecapture Development EVM-Kits

DCAM Frame Capture Development EVM-Kits combine the features of the UC1394a-1 and UC1394a-3 multi-chip modules with software support for FireWire camara use. They provide perfect entry platforms for embedded video imaging developers needing to connect and capture video from an IEEE1394 DCAM camera and develop customized DSP application software.

The kits provide the ability to individually program the onboard TMS320C5000 DSP processor, with camera framecapture and control using a DSP resident API software library. Processed results and control/status information can be communicated to external hardware over a variety of interfaces. Options for FPGA programming further extend possibilities for FPGA based pre-processing and customized I/O interfaces.

• All necessary hardware and licenses included
• Fully compliant with the IIDC 1394-based Digital Camera Specification V1.3
• Supports all DCAM features, such as brightness, gain, white balance, etc.
• Supports all DCAM formats and video modes, including partial image (format 7)
• On-board SDRAM for storing / processing image data
• FPGA based image pre-processing possible
• DSP on-chip and FPGA-based interfaces for connectivity to external hardware
• Fully IEEE 1394a compliant, fully interoperable with IEEE1394b
• Application examples included
• Carrier PCB allows convenient operation on the desk
• Allows further asynchronous IEEE 1394 data communication to other IEEE 1394 bus members, concurrent to IEEE 1394 camera operation

DSP Master Board Support Packages

The DCAM Video Framecapture Development EVM-kits contains the a DSP Master Board Support Package (BSP) for the multi-chip module being used. These BSPs consists of an FPGA design with associated software for the DSP. The BSPs use the FPGA to add FIFO buffered IEEE1394 streaming.

For the UC1394a-1, the BSP FPGA design is used to extend address, data, and control lines of the DSPs External Memory Interface (EMIF), providing great flexibility for integrating external hardware. For the UC1394a-3, the BSP FPGA design extends data and control lines managed by a "Peripheral Interface", which provides an efficient mechanism for interfacing a single register of FIFO interface (individual digital I/O lines from the DSP can be used if additional addressing is required).

FPGA Programming - If the DSP Master BSP isn't Sufficient!

FPGA development is supported by an optional FPGA Development Package. Besides other features, it includes the DSP Master FPGA as a project, so that it can be modified and expanded by the customer. Customized FPGA designs can then be used in the DCAM Framecapture Development Kit just like the default, unmodified DSP Master FPGA.

IEEE 1394 FireWire Considerations

Isochronous Communications

The main difference between the DSP Development and DCAM Framecapture EVM-Kits with other ultra-compact IEEE 1394 streaming solutions such as the Bridging or Streaming-Development EVM-Kits, is that with the DSP Development and DCAM Framecapture Kit configurations isochronous IEEE 1394 data streaming is performed with isochronous data being transferred to or from onboard RAM (see block diagrams). The Bridging and Streaming-Development solutions direct the isochronous data to an extra external hardware streaming interface, without loading the DSP processor or its EMIF. Directly interfacing onboard RAM with the isochronous FireWire interface provides the benefit of DSP access to transmitted and received isochronous data, although onboard bus load does need to be considered more carefully.

Software Development Tools

For DSP software development, Code Composer Studio from Texas Instruments is required. This powerful development environment provides extensive software resources, such as DSP/BIOS and a chip support library for the TMS320VC5501/02/09. Further, it supports very comfortable debugging when using a JTAG emulator. Data can then be displayed in real time by TI's real-time data exchange (RTDX). When not using an emulator, code can be created and tested using the simulator configuration of Code Composer Studio. All examples and source code included in the Development Kit were created and tested with Code Composer Studio so that they can readily be used by the customer. For evaluation, a time-limited version of Code Composer Studio is available from Texas Instruments.

UC1394a DCAM Framecapture Development EVM-Kit Configurations