TI brings Pro Quality to Inexpensive Digital Cameras

Those of you who think that high-end digital cameras are too expensive raise your hand. Now raise your hand again if you’d like to see that picture quality in regular point and shoot cameras. Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) (NYSE : TXN) has used its DSC silicon to offer a production- ready software reference design, based on DaVinci technology for improving picture quality. The idea behind DaVinci is that by using both a general-purpose processor and a DSP, the control and media portions can both be executed by processors that excel at their respective tasks. The integration of these two components into one chip simplifies the system design and allows for more efficient communication between the two components. Manufacturers can use the reference design to bring the type of burst capture performance now found only in digital single-lens reflex (D-SLR) cameras to low-cost, point-and-shoot digital cameras. In addition, by enabling high-definition (HD) video on digital cameras priced as low as $99, TI is setting a new bar for DSC performance at competitive retail prices. TI’s DSC solution includes a flexible processor, software with enhanced post-processing algorithms and a development framework. The new reference design includes production-ready software for a completely functional digital camera, complete with scene modes, color settings and various advanced features. It also includes a suite of development tools, software and technical support. In collaboration with Micron Technology, Inc., TI offers a version of the reference design that uses Micron’s 8-megapixel (MP) complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor to achieve full 8-megapixel resolution frame rates in excess of 5 fps. Using the Micron CMOS imager and TI’s processor based on DaVinci technology, burst capture modes are at least 2X the performance found in the fastest CCD-based, point-and-shoot cameras. In addition, Micron’s sensor combined with TI’s reference platform delivers a low-power design with 720p (progressive) 30 fps HD video capability. The new reference design features a digital media processor based on DaVinci technology is optimized for the digital camera market and may be beneficial for other digital imaging consumer electronics such as camcorders, digital photo frames, solid state digital video recorders, photo printers, video surveillance systems and more.