Agility introduces programmable platform for image and signal processing

The folks at Agility Design Solutions, who specialize in embedded system solutions enabling rapid implementation of complex image and signal processing algorithms, have announced the availability of their new RC240 programmable development and prototyping platform.

The RC240 is said to be ideal for the design and optimization of high-performance, high-throughput algorithms using an FPGA and an ARM 922T core in digital entertainment, communications, in-car infotainment, robotics, and machine vision applications.

The RC240 was designed to provide developers with a flexible prototyping platform that supports a wide range of popular peripherals and interfaces allowing developers to focus on their unique algorithm implementation instead of the laborious development of the peripheral and interface connections. This typically allows developers to complete projects as much as 75% faster.

The RC240 includes a 4M gate Xilinx Virtex-4 LX40 FPGA, direct access to 12 Mbytes of pipelined SRAM, 128 Mbytes of SDRAM for FPGA use, and 128 Mbytes of SDRAM for ARM CPU use. The RC240 is supported by both the Agility PixelStreams Video IP library and Agility's C to FPGA design environment, DK Design Suite, to deliver a complete solution for rapid development and prototyping of image and signal processing algorithms. The RC240 peripherals and interfaces include:

• Video:
  • Camera-link interface
  • Optional CMOS camera
  • VGA/DVI output
  • Optional 8.1" 1024 × 768 LCD touch screen
   
   
• Audio AC97 compatible:
  • On-board microphone and stereo speakers
  • Line-level input (stereo)
  • Line/headphones output (stereo)
   
   
• Communications:
  • USB 2.0: 1x to FPGA, 1x to ARM, 2x from ARM
  • Gigabit Ethernet
  • RS232
   
   
• Extras:
  • 3 axis accelerometer
  • Dual channel 65Msps A to D converter inputs
  • Dual channel 125Msps D to A converter outputs
  • CAN bus
  • 4 servo control outputs
  • ATA compatible expansion port
  • SDIO card socket

Pricing and availability
The RC240 is available now as a stand-alone product or as part of a complete design kit bundle including Agility's DK Design Suite. Stand-alone board pricing starts at US $5,000. For more information, please visit www.agilityds.com or contact Agility at sales@agilityds.com.