VP7615

The VP7615 iCamHost™ Processor chip can decode the signals from a variety of iVision™ compatible digital video cameras (such as Silicon Vision's iCam™) and process them for use in a host computer system. Digital cameras can offer real cost and performance gains in applications which require a digital video input, and iVision technology realises both these benefits. In a typical analog camera the digitised output from the CCD imager is normally encoded into an analog composite video signal which then has to be redigitised at the input to the host system. By employing the iVision approach the output from the camera is maintained as a digital signal, but in a format which allows for a low cost 9- wire connection to the host. Eliminating the unnecessary conversion to an analog signal and back again not only saves cost, but also avoids any possible degradation of image quality. Other benefits include direct control of the camera from the host and the ability to power the camera from the host system so saving the cost of a separate power supply.

The VP7615 supports two software selectable CamPort™ interface ports, either of which can receive the digital video from an iVision™ compatible digital video camera. The output is a standard colour digital video signal, similar to standard composite analog-digital decoder chips such as the Philips SAA7110 and SAA7111. All iCamHost™ operating modes are controlled by the host PC via an I²C interface.

Hardware I/O controls include output enable and I²C address offset.NOTE of VP7615: iCamTM, CamPort™ and iCamHost™ are trademarks of Silicon Vision, Inc., Fremont, CA