- Email: [email protected]
Vision processor runs Unix-c
Vision processor runs Unix-c
Board lays German characters on video
A vision processor for DEC Q-bus and Multibus computers, ZIP 3216, has been announced by Arrow Computer Systems. Manufactured by Mercury Computer Systems, the 3216 is a specialist version of the new ZIP 3232 general-purpose floating point array processor, sharing the same VLSI architecture and, to avoid programming in microcode, c programming environment. As well as Unix, other operating systems that can be run on the processor are RT-11, RSX11 M(plus) and MicroVMS. The processor is a modular, threeboard set to which interface cards and memory are added as appropnate. For direct connections a lowcost RS 170 video interface module, ZIP-VID, is available. According to Arrow, memory is the only limitation to the size and resolution of image that can be processed --. on Q-bus systems up to 16 Mbyte of DRAM can be provided economrcally, it says. To control external devices such as Q-bus systems, analogue-todigital converters and digital-toanalogue converters, the processor has two standard discrete I/O channels. For Q-bus systems a ribbon cable accommodates video data rates up to 20 Mbyte s’. Library algorithms are provided to handle 2D and 3D models in binary, byte, 16 and 32-brt data formats. Scaling. rotation, correlation, transformation and filtering processes are available. Decision-making and nonlinear algorithms are executed at 10 MHz, claims Arrow. Benchmarking a 512 x 512 Image. rotational transformation and scaling took 236 ms. and erosion-dilation ran at 100 ms, the company says. (Mercury Computer Systems Inc. 600 Suffolk Street, Lowell, MA, USA. Tel. (617) 458 3700. Arrow Computer Systems Ltd, Arrow House, Blenherm Road, Longmead Industrial Estate, Epsom, Surrey KTl9 9BA. UK. Tel: (03727) 42557)
n
vol4
no 1 february
1986
‘Text- on - video ’ board Nash Electronics
from
Frazer
Eurocard-sized boards designed specifically for overlaying synchronized text on video images have been developed by Frazer-Nash Electronics of the UK. As part of a system, the FrazerNash ‘text-on-video’ board allows operators to hold an image from a video seqlrence and enter alphanumeric information, such as the time and/or a description of the scene. Alternatively, the data can be downloaded automatically when a particular activitv occurs; this faci11~1can be used, says the manufacturer, in a vision-based quality control system for identifying faulty components. The main components on the board are three members of the Mullard teletext chipset. (Mullard’s fourth teletext chip, a descrambler, is not used ) The board may be configured with CIMbus, VMEbus or Multibus I interfaces. Characters for overlaying may be chosen from the German character set, which gives a slightly wider range than the English set. (FrazerNash Electronics L td, Randalls Way, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7TX. UK. n Tel: (0372) 379717)
Imaging interface Hardware and software interfaces between a system used for image processing, the Numerix MARS432 array processor, and the Sperry 1100 series mainframe computer systems are to be jointly developed by the two companies. The rnterfaces are expected to be available after April 1986. The interface package will allow a number of users to share the array processor by incorporating It into the multiprocessing, multiprogramming environment of Sperry’s OS1 100 operatrng system Also, the interface will allow several array processors to be configured in one 1100 system. Data transfer rate with the interface IS 5 Mbyte s-’ and data formats are converted automatically. The MARS-432 processor, a 32. bit, 30 MFLOP unit with 64 Mbyte of directly addressable memory, is used typically for Image processing, seismic data processing and scientiflc applications. (Sperry Ltd, Computer Systems, Sperry Centre, Stonebridge Park, London N WI0 8LS. UK. Tel: 01-965 0511) rl
Software
routines
Core routines and algorrthms that embed smoothly Into software development applications in signal and image processing are provided In Math Advantage, a program development tool from Quantrtatrve Technology. Library routines for image processing applications in elude 2D convolutron and correlation, 2D to 4D coordinate transformation and 2D fast Fourier transform (FFT) Written entirely In either c or FORTRAN, the library is available for a range of systems, from 1 B-bit computers such as the IBM PC to supercomputers. The complete package Includes object code and supporting documentatron (Quanti ta ti ve Technology Corporation, 8700 SW Creekside PI, Suite D. Beaverton. OR 97005, USA. Tel. (503) 626-3081) I I
59
Board lays German characters on video
A vision processor for DEC Q-bus and Multibus computers, ZIP 3216, has been announced by Arrow Computer Systems. Manufactured by Mercury Computer Systems, the 3216 is a specialist version of the new ZIP 3232 general-purpose floating point array processor, sharing the same VLSI architecture and, to avoid programming in microcode, c programming environment. As well as Unix, other operating systems that can be run on the processor are RT-11, RSX11 M(plus) and MicroVMS. The processor is a modular, threeboard set to which interface cards and memory are added as appropnate. For direct connections a lowcost RS 170 video interface module, ZIP-VID, is available. According to Arrow, memory is the only limitation to the size and resolution of image that can be processed --. on Q-bus systems up to 16 Mbyte of DRAM can be provided economrcally, it says. To control external devices such as Q-bus systems, analogue-todigital converters and digital-toanalogue converters, the processor has two standard discrete I/O channels. For Q-bus systems a ribbon cable accommodates video data rates up to 20 Mbyte s’. Library algorithms are provided to handle 2D and 3D models in binary, byte, 16 and 32-brt data formats. Scaling. rotation, correlation, transformation and filtering processes are available. Decision-making and nonlinear algorithms are executed at 10 MHz, claims Arrow. Benchmarking a 512 x 512 Image. rotational transformation and scaling took 236 ms. and erosion-dilation ran at 100 ms, the company says. (Mercury Computer Systems Inc. 600 Suffolk Street, Lowell, MA, USA. Tel. (617) 458 3700. Arrow Computer Systems Ltd, Arrow House, Blenherm Road, Longmead Industrial Estate, Epsom, Surrey KTl9 9BA. UK. Tel: (03727) 42557)
n
vol4
no 1 february
1986
‘Text- on - video ’ board Nash Electronics
from
Frazer
Eurocard-sized boards designed specifically for overlaying synchronized text on video images have been developed by Frazer-Nash Electronics of the UK. As part of a system, the FrazerNash ‘text-on-video’ board allows operators to hold an image from a video seqlrence and enter alphanumeric information, such as the time and/or a description of the scene. Alternatively, the data can be downloaded automatically when a particular activitv occurs; this faci11~1can be used, says the manufacturer, in a vision-based quality control system for identifying faulty components. The main components on the board are three members of the Mullard teletext chipset. (Mullard’s fourth teletext chip, a descrambler, is not used ) The board may be configured with CIMbus, VMEbus or Multibus I interfaces. Characters for overlaying may be chosen from the German character set, which gives a slightly wider range than the English set. (FrazerNash Electronics L td, Randalls Way, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7TX. UK. n Tel: (0372) 379717)
Imaging interface Hardware and software interfaces between a system used for image processing, the Numerix MARS432 array processor, and the Sperry 1100 series mainframe computer systems are to be jointly developed by the two companies. The rnterfaces are expected to be available after April 1986. The interface package will allow a number of users to share the array processor by incorporating It into the multiprocessing, multiprogramming environment of Sperry’s OS1 100 operatrng system Also, the interface will allow several array processors to be configured in one 1100 system. Data transfer rate with the interface IS 5 Mbyte s-’ and data formats are converted automatically. The MARS-432 processor, a 32. bit, 30 MFLOP unit with 64 Mbyte of directly addressable memory, is used typically for Image processing, seismic data processing and scientiflc applications. (Sperry Ltd, Computer Systems, Sperry Centre, Stonebridge Park, London N WI0 8LS. UK. Tel: 01-965 0511) rl
Software
routines
Core routines and algorrthms that embed smoothly Into software development applications in signal and image processing are provided In Math Advantage, a program development tool from Quantrtatrve Technology. Library routines for image processing applications in elude 2D convolutron and correlation, 2D to 4D coordinate transformation and 2D fast Fourier transform (FFT) Written entirely In either c or FORTRAN, the library is available for a range of systems, from 1 B-bit computers such as the IBM PC to supercomputers. The complete package Includes object code and supporting documentatron (Quanti ta ti ve Technology Corporation, 8700 SW Creekside PI, Suite D. Beaverton. OR 97005, USA. Tel. (503) 626-3081) I I
59