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VIDEO OVERLAY CONTROLLER OFFERS LINUX-READY SDK

By Eric Brown
2009-05-18
　
　The PC/104-Plus format VAC2000 is the latest in a line of video processing boards from Cambridge, UK-based Advanced Micro Peripherals (AMP). Designed to ease host processing load and thereby enable the use of fanless, low-power CPUs, the 3.6 x 3.8-inch VAC2000 is built around a TVIA CyberPro 5202 display processor, which is described as a 2D 64-bit graphics accelerator with an 8MB frame buffer. The board accepts either two S-Video inputs, or up to four composite video inputs from video cameras, DVRs, TV broadcasts or other NTSC/PAL sources, says AMP.

　　　　　　　　　　　The AMP VAC2000

　　The VAC2000 can implement video overlay and annotation processes using up to 256 translucency levels of alpha blending, with the output simultaneously driving a composite or S-Video TV video monitor, analog VGA, and a DVI monitor, says the company. A preview output is also said to be able to monitor the input video channels.

Sample VAC2000 SDK application: Text overlay onto live video source with alpha-blended backgrounds

　　The VAC2000's dual analog NTSC/PAL inputs can be alpha-blended together, or mixed with computer generated graphics and text. The alpha blending function can also be used to quickly conceal or reveal video, text, or graphics, says AMP. Multiple video windows can also be scaled and displayed on a single screen for picture-in-picture systems, says the company.

Major specifications and features of the VAC2000 are said to include:

TVIA CyberPro 5202 display processor with 8MB frame buffer
Either 4 x composite or 2 x S-Video input channels per board
VGA/TV or flat panel (TMDS) output
256 levels of per pixel alpha blending, or by defined rectangular region
Industry-standard MMCX connectors for video I/O signals
Optional small panel mount adapter module for single-link DVI-D socket
Operating temperature -- 32 to 140 deg. F (0 to 60 deg. C); or optional -40 to 185 deg. F (-40 to 85 deg. C) version
Dimensions -- 3.6 x 3.8 inches (PC/104-Plus)
Power -- +5V power supply
Operating system -- Linux, Windows, QBX

Sample VAC2000 SDK application: Dual-channel demonstration showing alpha-blended graphics on main video window

　　Available in Linux, Windows, and QNX versions, the VAC2000 software development kit (SDK)is said to provide a high-level API for configuring and controlling the board via 500 internal registers. Functions are provided for capture and overlay, drawing, alpha blending, TV output, and blitting, says the company. The SDK includes support libraries, drivers, and numerous example applications, accompanied by source code.

The sample applications are said to include:

Merging of daylight and infra-red video images for military environments
Text annotation of video for traffic monitoring
Superimposition of crosshair graphics onto battle zone target area video
Visible watermarking
Command and control consoles
Vehicle telematics
Medical instrumentation
Security installations