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JPEG stream input to HDMI output

Other Parts Discussed in Thread: AM3894

I have a Sony QX30 camera that I want to interface with and display the camera's video stream on an HDMI device. The camera outputs its video as a stream of JPEG still images. In order to convert the JPEG images into an HDMI signal, I want to use a processor that has a built-in HDMI PHY. After talking to a TI support person on the phone, it looks like my options are the Sitari AM3894, 3892, or 3874 as well as the DaVinci TMS320DM81x family.

I am knowledgeable in embedded design in general, but this is my first serious dive into digital video conversion using a microprocessor. I'm hoping to get some direction for the questions below:

1. The application will be very single-purpose: JPEG still images in, HDMI out. Probably at 1080p 30Hz. I'm looking for the most light-weight solution to do that. I won't be using most of the other functionalities of the chip. Which of the devices mentioned above would be a good place to start? Or does it not really matter which one I choose at this point?

2. I see references on some of these chips to built-in JPEG codecs. Does that mean the chip has hardware-level codecs that will do all of the JPEG-to-YCbCr converting for me? Will it be that easy or am I oversimplifying it?

3. Most importantly, what is the process flow that I will need to do for this project? At the highest level, I assume it will be something like:  a) Load in JPEG image from external source,  b) Convert JPEG image into a single video frame, c) Load video frame into HDMI video processor, d) Output frame of video over HDMI, e) Repeat. Which functions of the processor correspond to each of those steps? I'm hoping for a high-level description just so I can figure out which sections of the datasheets and reference manuals to focus on.

Thank you!

  • Moving this to the AM389X forum.

  • Maybe you can take a look at DM814x with DVRRDK software.
    It seems that it is a simple decode-display usecase which is already a demo in DVRRDK.
    The JPEG decode work is processed in HDVICP hardware.

    Usually the JPEG data comes from Ethernet/Wifi.

    BR,
    Eason
  • Thanks for your reply. I searched for the DVR RDK and found the UD Works website. I guess I'm a little confused, though. It looks like I have to purchase the DVR itself to actually access the design information? Since I don't know if it does exactly the user-case I want to do (JPEG to HDMI), I'm a little hesitant to drop the $1000+ on the kit. Am I misunderstanding?

  • Hi DVRRDK is SW and it can run on UD Works board or TI DM8168 EVM+Video Surveillance daughter board.
    You can also get the SW only. This SW is under NDA. please contact TI sales.

    BR,
    Eason
  • I just spoke to a TI rep on the phone and he had difficulty finding any information on the DVRRDK. His search led him to the CARDVRRDK (www.ti.com/.../CARDVRRDK), which is made by nSketch, but we weren't able to find a link to the software on their website.

    That being said, I'm hoping for more of an answer to #3 in my first post above. Before I can begin to understand the code from a development board, there are a few basics concepts I need to understand first. Any help in that area would be greatly appreciated.

  • Hi ,
    Did you talk to TI guys or disty?
    DVRRDK is under NDA , so it might not be able to be searched on TI website. This software already has demo to decode bitstream to video and display on build-in HDMI.

    BR,
    Eason