Venture-backed Nethra Imaging is using a Linux-based smartphone reference design to demonstrate its “print-quality” auto-focus camera SoC (system-on-chip), at the first-ever 6Sight “Future of Imaging” conference today in Monterey, Calif. The reference design, based on a Freescale i.MX31 processor, was supplied by GDA Technologies.

GDA launched its i.MX31-based Linux smartphone reference design in April. GDA co-founder Gopa Periyaden, said at the time that the design would enable device developers to evaluate a broad range of mobile phone subsystems, such as cameras, GSM/EDGE baseband processors, LCDs, keypads, and WiFi and Bluetooth radio modules.

Nethra's imaging chips

Nethra says its NI-2060 image processor chip outperforms DSPs (digital signal processors) and ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits) when processing 3.2 megapixel images. Based on a 32-bit ARM7 core, the chip interfaces via the I2C bus, and offers a simple API for camera applications, according to the company.

Typical NI-2060 implementation
(Source: Nethra; click to enlarge)
Nethra says its imaging chips are optionally available with advanced features not available elsewhere, including:

• Adaptive light processing
• “Enhanced” night mode
• Electronic image stabilization (EIS)
• Red eye detection and correction

The chips also feature standard image processor features, such as bad pixel correction, lens shading, gamma correction, de-mosaicing, color correction, sharpening, smoothing, and color space conversion, Nethra says.

The NI-2060 is part of Nethra's NI-20xx family, which comprises:

• NI-2050
  • “Bare die” version
  • ARM7TDMI core, 32KB of SRAM and 64KB eFlash
  • I2C, SPI, PWMs, GPIOs and integrated PLL
  • 3MP CCD/CMOS image sensor support
  • “High quality” image processor
  • 54MP/s performance
  • Adaptive light processing and smooth scaling engine

• NI-2060
  • Appears to be the NI-2050 core, packaged in an 8 x 8 x 1 CSP (chip-scale package)

• NI-2070
  • NI-2050 in CSP
  • Adds EIS, enhanced night mode, and red eye detection in hw
  • Support for up to 16MB of external SDRAM

• NI-2080
  • Includes 8MB of stacked SDRAM
  • Adds EIS, enhanced night mode, and red eye detection in hw

• NI-2090
  • NI-2050 and 2MB of stacked SDRAM
  • 8 x 8 x 1.2mm CSP
  • Adds EIS and enhanced night mode

Availability

Nethra appears to be sampling the NI-2060 now.

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