GigE Vision IP Core

The first component of the IP Core is the Top Level Design. It is an interface between external hardware (imager, sensors, GigE PHY) and FPGA internal data processing. We deliver this module as VHDL source code that can be adapted to custom hardware.

The Framebuffer core interfaces to the FPGA vendor specific memory controller. The framebuffer allows frame buffering and image partitioning. This is necessary to implement the packet resend function.

Some parts of the design are compiled files only (for example the GigE Vision control protocol library), while other parts as source code. The design framework comes with all the necessary design files and cores, Vivado or Quartus project files. It is configured either as a GigE Vision camera system with an optional CMOS imager, or as an embedded GigE Vision host (receiver). This system is used as a reference design and evaluation board. The reference design uses the Xilinx or Intel development tools (not in the scope of delivery).

GigE Vision is a standard communication protocol for vision applications based on the well-known Ethernet technology. It allows easy interfacing between GigE Vision devices and PCs running TCP/IP protocol family. Sensor to Image offers a set of IP cores and a development framework to build FPGA-based products using the GigE Vision interface. Due to the speed of GigE Vision, especially at speeds higher than 1 Gb/s, senders and receivers require a fast FPGA-based implementation of the embedded GigE core. GigE Vision cores are compatible with Xilinx 7 Series devices (and higher) and Intel Cyclone V devices (and higher).

The Video Acquisition Module of the reference design simulates a camera with a test pattern generator. This module is delivered as VHDL source code, which has to be replaced by a sensor interface and pixel processing logic in the camera design.

The GigE Packet Composer sends all data to the Ethernet MAC and implements the high-speed GigE Vision Streaming Protocol (GVSP).

Sensor to Image MVDK development kit is a flexible evaluation platform for machine vision applications. It supports GigE Vision host and device reference designs for various Enclustra FPGA modules with Intel and Xilinx FPGAs.

S2I’s GigE Vision FPGA solution is delivered as a working reference design along with FPGA IP cores. This minimizes development time and allows for top-notch performance at a small footprint, while leaving enough flexibility to customize the design. Sensor to Image cores are compact and leave enough space in the FPGA for your application.

A feature-rich software toolkit that provides the building blocks needed to quickly and easily design high-performance video applications that use minimal CPU resources.

• Filter driver and acquisition library for Windows
• Sample applications, including GigE Vision/GenICam compliant viewer

An FPGA integrated CPU (MicroBlaze, NIOS, ARM) is used for several non-time-critical network and configuration tasks and it runs the GigE Vision Control Protocol (GVCP). This software is written in C and can be extended by the customer.