Vista Imaging announced that its “digital imaging engine” processor family now supports the USB Video Class specification, a standard for use by operating system vendors and hardware manufacturers implementing USB video streaming devices. The USB Video Class spec supports MJPEG and uncompressed video formats along with typical camera controls such as brightness and saturation. Vista Imaging's digital imaging engine chips are used in applications such set-top boxes, video-based security systems, and PDA cameras including Pocket PCs, the company says.

Vista Imaging says its ViCAM III digital imaging engine chip can capture 30 frames/sec in VGA resolution using MJPEG format over a USB 1.1 compatible host port. The processor is intended for applications such as webcams, set top boxes, various types of standalone digital cameras, and PDA/smartphone cameras, the company says.

The chip incorporates Vista Imaging's advanced image processing datapath, a multi-endpoint USB 1.1 controller, industry standard JPEG Codec, RISC processor, frame memory controller, audio codec interface, and processor expansion port. Input can be from nearly any CCD or CMOS sensor up to 16 megapixels in size as well as standard video decoders for accepting video from camcorders, TV's and VCR's.

The new USB Video Class support software is being offered at no cost, in the form of a USB web cam reference design, for customers of the its ViCAM III hardware development platform.

According to Vista Imaging CEO Christopher Dopp, “USB Video Class support makes adding a compatible video device as easy as adding a mouse or keyboard, just plug and play.”

 
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