Texas Instruments (TI) and its partners announced two video security reference designs that are based on TI's TMS320DM365 and ship with Linux SDKs. The IP camera design (pictured) from Appro Photoelectron offers HD/H.264 video, and the DVR design from UD Works provides multi-channel recording, says TI.

(Click for larger view of the TI/Appro DM365 IP camera reference design)

The DaVinci architecture TMS320DM365 SoC (system-on-chip) began sampling in March. The SoC is a higher-end version of TI's sub-$10, 720p-capable TMS320DM355, which began sampling in September 2007 and has been used in previous TI IP camera reference designs. (More recently, TI has also shipped a similar TMS320DM357 SoC model that is twice as expensive as the older DM355, but which adds H.264 compression, an Ethernet MAC, and a DDR2 memory controller.)

Aimed at media playback and camera-driven applications, the DM365 is touted as displaying 1080p video, even with the demanding H264 codec. Equipped with a 300MHz ARM926EJ-S core, plus multiple on-board peripherals, the SoC is available with a Linux-ready evaluation kit.

The SoC also offers TI's fifth-generation ISP (image signal processor), which is exploited by the new IP (internet protocol) camera and digital video recorder (DVR) reference designs, says TI. The ISP is said to enable video stabilization, face detection, and other video quality enhancements. The two designs also tap the SoC's ability to deliver HD video, using H.264, in high, main, or base profile at D1 rates (720p at 30fps or 1080p at reduced frame rate) with tri-streaming support, says TI.

The reference designs are touted as offering an electronic bill of materials (eBOM) of less than $40 for the IP camera and $60 for the DVR. Both designs integrate TI analog ICs, including power management and interface devices, helping to reduce development time, says TI.

TI/Appro DM365 IP camera reference design

Appro IP camera reference design

The Appro/TI IP camera reference design based on the DM365 SoC targets video surveillance applications. The design offers multi-codec support, including H.264, MPEG-4, MPEG-2, VC-1 and MJPEG, says Appro. Tapping the capabilities of the DM365's ISP, the camera is said to offer video stabilization, face detection, noise filtering, auto white balance, auto focus, auto exposure, and edge enhancement features. In addition, the design integrates a hardware connector to add an “ObjectVideo-enabled” video analytics daughter card that is based on TI's TMS320DM643x digital media processor.

Some features and specifications listed for the IP camera include:

• 5Mpixel CMOS sensor optimized for low light performance (TI lists it as an Aptina sensor whereas Appro says it comes from Micron)
• H.264 and MPEG4 video compression and triple stream
• Up to 1280 x 720 resolution
• Max. composite output — 720 x 480 (NTSC) and 720 x 576 (PAL)
• Min. color illumination — 0.5 lux F 1.2
• Min. B/W illumination — 0.2 lux F 1.2
• Power-over-Ethernet (POE) support
• Embedded web server
• Motion detection support
• Supports SD card for alarms and scheduled recording
• Supports USB interface for basic network setup
• Royalty-free Linux-based IP camera application and SDK (with source code), co-developed by Appro and TI

DM365 IP camera block diagram
(Click to enlarge)

UD DM365 DVR reference design

The UD Works-manufactured DVR reference design targets video surveillance applications, and is designed to work with networked video cameras such as models based on the Appro IP cam design. In addition to incorporating TI's DM365 SoC, the design is equipped with TI's new TVP5158 multi-channel video decoder. The decoder is said to offer flexible video outputs, negating the need to add a mux FPGA product, and provides auto contrast and video noise filtering features.

TI/UD DM365 DVR reference design

Some features and specifications listed for the DVR design include:

• Simultaneous record (65fps at D1 or 260 fps at CIF) and playback (30 fps), as well as storage, streaming, and display
• Multi-codec system allows triple stream per channel (H.264, MPEG-4 and MJPEG) for real-time signal processing
• Multi-channel support with two D1 or eight CIF channels
• Storage of compressed input (SATA and USB)
• Streaming of compressed input (Ethernet)
• Local display support of up to 800 x 600 resolution
• Local user interface (UI) support
• Pan, tilt, and zoom camera support
• Video timestamp support
• Ships with Windows PC-based video management software
• Royalty-free Linux-based DVR application and SDK (including source code) co-developed by UD Works and TI

DM365 DVR reference design (rear)

Availability

Both the DM365-based reference designs are now available for order entry, says TI, which did not list a final ship date for the products. The IP camera reference design is available for $800 from Appro Photoelectron, and the DVR reference design is available for $1200 from UD Works, says TI. (UD itself, however, shows the DVR kit price as $1,100, or $900 without a hard disk drive.) Appro shows pricing starting at $800 for the IP camera, and offers a variety of bundles with various combinations of JTAG, Code Composer Studio (CCSW), and either manual or automatic iris, ranging between $2,350 and $4,350.

More information on the IP camera design may be found at this TI page or this Appro page.

More on the DVR should be at this TI page or this UD Works page.

Both designs will be on display at ISC West, April 1-3, in Las Vegas, at the Sands Expo and Convention Center, booth #20069.

 
This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.