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The SuperSpeed USB solution
for Imaging Data |
Webcams and low resolution image capturing devices are nothing new, but the market is continually demanding higher
resolution, faster frame rate, image data. Something that USB 2.0 speeds (480Mbps) simply cannot offer. This has resulted in a niche application area for USB 3.0 (4.8Gbps) interfaced cameras to exploit. |
Simpler to implement than a Ethernet IP camera, a standard Universal Video Class (UVC) USB device will plug into
a standard PC USB port (preferably USB3.0 for performance) and load standard UVC drivers allowing the device to be accessed by a multitude of existing video player apps as well as user defined bespoke apps. |
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Having identified this market need, the FT602 from FTDI Chip, provides an ideal bridge between video equipment and a USB 3.0 port. Additionally by using the devices’ multi-channel capability the device is able to offer video streaming from upto 4 multi-plexed feeds allowing for greater flexibility with inspection camera input or for surround vision. |
The FT602 device is provided in a 76 pin QFN package allowing for relatively simple PCB tracking and soldering. The non-USB interface of this bridge is a 32 bit wide FIFO interface. This FIFO interface is best integrated with a fast FPGA which will handle the video capture and control the FIFO transfer to the FT602. |
Achievable data rates |
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For inspection equipment frame rate is as important as resolution, and with the FT602 the following rates are achievable: |
As a general rule of thumb: |
75% of FIFO interface bandwidth is achievable @100MHz FIFO clock, the pixel rate is 200 Mpix/s |
This translates to: |
HD: 1280x720 @ 200 Mpix/s * 0.75 = 162 Hz refresh rate |
F-HD: 1920x1080 @ 200 Mpix/s * 0.75 = 72Hz refresh rate |
U-HD: 3840x2160 @ 200 Mpix/s * 0.75 = 18Hz refresh rate |
Development Aids |
In addition to the IC itself two development boards and sample firmware are offered to assist in developing with the FT602, the UMFT602A – HSMC connector, and the UMFT602X – FMC Connector. Key features: |
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Supports USB 3.1 GEN 1 Super Speed (5Gbps)/USB 2.0 High Speed (480Mbps) transfer |
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UVC 1.1, Raw YUV422 |
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Up to 4 video input channels. One I2C bus master interface for video source device configuration |
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Supports multi voltage I/O: 1.8V, 2.5V and 3.3V |
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High speed connector for FIFO bus : FMC(Field Programmable Mezzanine Card) or HSMC (High Speed Mezzanine Card) |
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FMC connector is compatible with most Xilinx FPGA reference design boards |
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HSMC is compatible with most Altera FPGA reference design boards |
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Multi powered options: external DC powered, BUS powered, FMC/HSMC powered |
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Hardware Reset |
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Micro-USB3.0 receptacle |
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The HSMC and FMC connector options are both provided to ensure the compatibility with common FPGA development platforms from both ALTERA and Xilinx, and as such example firmware is supplied for both ALTERA and Xilinx platforms too.
Further information on this device and development modules with supporting FPGA code may be accessed here. |
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