A new software tool is available from Firstsight Vision, which will greatly simplify the programming of field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) for image processing applications. VisualApplets from Silicon Software uses graphic data flow models generated from a combination of operators and filter modules from imaging processing libraries which are compiled into a loadable hardware applet.
VisualApplets is designed primarily for use by software programmers in industrial image processing, although a working knowledge of hardware programming can be beneficial. VisualApplets is hardware-independent, allowing the user to readily reuse and port code from one hardware platform to another.
Applets created in this way can include arithmetic and morphological manipulation of pixels, logic for classification work and complex colour processing and compression. This powerful tool includes both synthesis and high-level simulation giving full control of the ultimate visual output from the application at all times. Hardware applets can be displayed on microDisplay configuration software or integrated into applications via an SDK.
VisualApplets currently supports the microEnable III/-XXL hardware platform and runs under Windows 2000 and Windows XP.
Media Partners