Path: Frequently Asked Questions | CVM technology related questions
Can the Ace16k chip be used as an image coprocessor?
Of course, in fact this is one of the main use cases of CVM
chips. Some operations are better suited to conventional DSPs,
some lend themselves to CVMs. Optimally distributing the operations
to the processors is key to achieving high performance.
Does the ACE16k chip have an optical input?
Yes, the ACE16k has a grayscale optical input at a
resolution of 128x128. There is no downsampling capability on the
chip, however all input images can be directly processed on
the chip.
How can the ACE16k chip be programmed?
The ACE16k can programmed on two levels: using the optimized
function library contained in the Bi-i Software Toolkit, or
directly using custom templates. The function library is accessible
from C++ programs running on the DSP or from a rapid prototyping
language called AMC. For further information on these functions and
AMC, please see the
Bi-i Programming Guide.
Specific information on the design of templates can be found in the
literature available in the
Publications section of
the site.
How does the ACE16k chip communicate with the DSP? How can my program communicate with the ACE16k chip?
The ACE16k is controlled by the DSP, all operations are
initiated by the DSP. The DSP also acts as a gateway for user data
to be processed by the ACE16k. This means that data must be
dowloaded/uploaded to/from the ACE16k through the DSP. One
exception is when the ACE16k's optical input is the source of the
data that the image processing operations are run on, then only the
results need to be downloaded to the DSP.
What are the currently available CVM chips?
The currently available CVM chip is the Q-Eye® (available from
AnaFocus
Ltd). The Combi configuration of the Bi-i® family of cameras
includes an ACE16k® chip (also produced by AnaFocus Ltd). The
ACE4k® chips are no longer supported as they are unavailable in the
Bi-i® family of cameras. New CVM chips are being developed, and are
expected to be available in the near future.
What is a CVM chip?
CVM stands for Cellular Visual Microprocessor, a special kind of
microprocessor architecture that is especially suited to image
processing applications. It contains a sensor and a processor
integrated into one chip. Read more about this architecture
here.
Which image processing operations can be performed on the ACE16k chip?
The ACE16k supports binary morphology, bitwise image arithmetic,
diffusion and custom template operations. Please see the Bi-i
Programming Guide and the Bi-i Programming Reference
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