Video camera input for the TMS320C6416

David,

The right answer is to not do this. The C6416 DSK was not designed with this application in mind. Instead, look at the TMDXEVM368 EVM for one example.

If you want to learn a lot about video interfaces and connecting to a general-purpose interface like the C6416 EMIF, you can build a daughtercard with buffers and logic and find a way to make it work. But it will take a lot of effort while leaving you as an expert at what you have done.

If what you want is to use the C6416 because you have one and you want to copy someone else's design for expedience, then you should search TI.com and the TI Wiki Pagesand the forums to see if there has been any prior discussion. A good internet search engine will help find things on these sites, too.

Regards,
RandyP

Hi Randy

Thanks for your reply. I basically have designed an image processing algorithm and to get better results than using simple file I/O, I would like to test it using real-time data. The best way to get real-time data is to use a camera and a mock setup of the environment I'm designing to. I've found a few modules online like the OV7410, so I may be looking to use the McBSP interface to use I2C in order to get image data to the board. Does that sounds plausible? 

Cheers 

David

David,

Does the OV7410 have a serial I2C interface for the image data? If not, it is not plausible. If it does not meet the datarate you want to achieve, it is not plausible.

Do you have to use the C6416 EVM? There are other, easier choices for video.

Regards,
RandyP

Hi Randy

From here: http://www.quasarelectronics.com/kit-files/datasheets/schipsensors.pdf it says the OV7410 is I2C compatible. In terms of throughput, I seen that the latest version of I2C is capable of 3.4Mbps. However, at a reasonable frame rate of 30fps, this gives 113.3Kbps (3.4Mbps/30fps) per frame. And based on the the array size of the OV7410 (510x492), this gives 250920 pixels. This gives 0.45bitsPerPixelperSecond (113.333Kbps/250920pixels). Based on this it appears to not be feasible to be honest. What do you make of my calculations and assumptions? The board was just the only board we have just now, it may be subject to change. But for the time being it is the development board of choice. What's EVM? 

Cheers 

David

I've just noticed that the Ov7410 only provides analogue output, so one of the other (digital) versions would be better. I may get away with one of the digital versions that use 352x488 resolutions, this would reduce the volume of data requiring transmission.

DSK = Developer's Started Kit or DSP Starter Kit
EVM = EValuation Module

The EVMs usually have a larger set of peripherals implemented. The DSKs are usually lower cost development boards. I usually use them interchangeably.

The pdf you referenced says there is an "I2C Control Bus" and that the Digital Outputs are 4 bits or more.

Since you are new to video hardware, I recommend you go to the TI.com, click on Training and Events in the center, and look for DSP training on Video & Imaging. There is On-demand training for a lot of video-related topics, including hardware and specific applications. You also need to study the OV7410 datasheet and their documentation to understand how you are supposed to get video out of the sensor. The DSP training will help you learn how to get video into a DSP, but we warned that they will be more likely to talk about using one of our DaVinci video processors; there might be some older app notes on getting video in/out of a C6416, but not nearly as much material as there is on the DaVinci family.

Do a search on the E2E forum for OV7410 and see what discussions you can find. Those may help a lot. The red search box in the upper right corner of this forum page is a great tool, and be sure to select "Everything" for your search since the DaVinci products are in a different forum. Those parts have DM in the part number, such as DM365. Many of the OMAP processors have video support, also.

Regards,
RandyP

Thanks Randy. I have a DSK so it also has a PCI and the McBSP; although I'm not too sure on it's use. I was looking at the OV's as they were the first cameras I had come across that were available for purchase. I've not yet came across any standalone PCI cameras. I'll have a look at those resources and also about changing the board being used.

Thanks a lot for your help!

David