New DaVinci DSPs for Video Application - Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments introduced the the TMS320DM647 and TMS320DM648,  two new DaVinci technology- based DSPs for multi-channel video security. The new DSP chips are based on TI's latest TMS320C64x+ DSP core, providing a seamless migration path for existing video processing applications based on the TMS320DM642. Applications of these new DSP chips includes IP video servers, digital video recorders (DVR), machine vision systems and imaging applications. DaVinci’s programmable architecture provides a framework for supporting highly differentiated functionalities,  including video analytics, dual streaming, customized codecs and compression.

The new DSP chips are the first DaVinci processors enabled by XDS560 Trace module, a non-intrusive, hardware-based trace tool offering advanced visibility and capabilities for debugging the specialized problems that arise in high-performance, real-time embedded applications. Trace can be further utilized to fine-tune code performance and cache optimization of complex multi-channel applications.

TI recently released four TMS320DM643x processors providing a 50 percent cost reduction for cost-sensitive applications and three TMS320DM644x processors offering greater integration for consumer media applications. With the DM647 and DM648 announced today, TI extends the original DM64x product roadmap by delivering new high performance DSPs that also benefit from the cost reduction and integration of previous DaVinci processors.

Several innovations contribute to the DM648 DSP's two-fold increase in performance when compared to the DM642 processor. The C64x+ core provides 20 percent better cycle performance, 20 to 30 percent higher code density, twice as many 16-bit MMACs per cycle, four times the EDMA bandwidth and is 100 percent code compatible with the C64x core. The DM648's increase in clock speed and faster H.264 processing due to the integrated Video and Imaging Coprocessor (VICP) increases performance at almost the same price as the DM642.

The new processor reduces system BOM by more than $40 compared to the DM642 processor: two extra video ports remove the need for a $7 video multiplexer, the integrated SGMII port with switch interconnects up to four devices to provide the functionality of an $8 PCI bridge, and an approximately $25 FPGA required for video preprocessing like color space conversion, resizing, de-interlacing, etc. is eliminated by an on-chip VICP. With the extended functionality and programmability of TI DSPs, designers can eliminate the need to consider expensive and constraining FPGAs and can instead focus their resources on further product differentiation. The DM648 offers 512 KB of L2 cache and two Ethernet MACs with a switch while the DM647 has 256 KB of L2 cache and one Ethernet MAC port.

TI’s DSP Third Party Network provide leading-edge video analytics technology,  including object recognition and tracking, as well as support for customizing codecs to implement security-specific modifications, such as adjusting bit rate and quality or providing codec information for security identification. Additional optimized codecs and a video security media system that offer multi-channel, high resolution and low latency features are also available from Ittiam Systems.

The VICP, an instruction-based engine that provides front-end preprocessing, works in parallel to the main DSP core and includes the VICP Functional Library with efficient color-space conversion, image resizing and de-interlacing functionality. It will be available with the release of the Beta-version DM648 Digital Video Development Platform (DVDP), which has multi-channel codecs, all the software necessary to build a complete video processing system, and DM648-based hardware developed by industry leader Lyrtech. The DVDP also utilizes complementary components, including the TVP5154 video decoder from TI, and provides an efficient platform for evaluation of DaVinci technology to jumpstart product development.

Pricing for 10K unit qty:

• TMS320DM647 DSP: $39.95 (720 MHz version)
• TMS320DM648 DSP: $49.95.

More info: DaVinci DSPs for Multi-Channel Video Security