Video processors claim best low-light performance

Texas Instruments Inc. announces the DaVinci DM385 and DM8107 video processors that are said to offer exceptional low-light technology and high-efficiency compression. The chips are targeted at poorly lit environments, such as a parking garages or shadowy building doorways.

The DM385 video processor can compress a 4Mpixel video stream with either the H.264 or the SVC-T high-profile codecs. It also features integrated 3D noise filtering and wide dynamic range (WDR) processing.

Other features include 4K x 2K or higher resolution video; simultaneous multi-profile (base/main/high) compression; and image signal processing technology such as face detection, video stabilisation and lens distortion correction.

Also unveiled at CPSE is the new DaVinci DM385 IP-based camera reference design, which empowers customers to quickly deliver new cameras to the marketplace while taking advantage of TI's sensor module library. The sensor module library enables turnkey solutions with more than eight of the most popular sensors.

The DM8107 video processor, on the other hand, is said to deliver the highest efficiency video compression for cost-efficient multi-channel (DVR/NVR) designs. The processor's compression engine claims to achieve more than 200 per cent better compression efficiency compared to market standard. With this compression efficiency, half the storage is required to save data and half the bandwidth is needed to transfer the data without spoiling the quality of the image, which is essential when putting a video security system in place.

Other features of the chip include 1,000fps CIF H.264/SVCT encode/decode; HDMI/VGA/CVBS outputs; Gigabit EMAC; and dual SATA and PCIe. The video processor also gives customers the option of low-cost, low-power turnkey CIF/D1/960H DVR or a multi-channel 1,080P NVR reference design with Open Network Video Interface Forum (ONVIF) and ready-to-use advanced video analytics, allowing quicker time to market.

Samples of TI's DaVinci DM385 and DM8107 are available now.