VV6444 Datasheet, PDF (1/60 Pages) STMicroelectronics – Low Cost Digital Camera (LCDC) Chipset

STV0680A + VV6444/6410/6500
®
Low Cost Digital Camera (LCDC) Chipset
DESCRIPTION
STMicroelectronics (ST), Imaging Division (formerly VLSI
VISION Ltd.), has utilised its extensive experience in design-
ing imaging sensors for the digital still camera market to
develop chipsets for modular systems which will provide the
core of a highly cost-competitive new standard in consumer
digital stills cameras (DSC).
The Low Cost Digital Camera chipsets from ST, incorporat-
ing a CMOS imaging sensor and STV0680A co-processor
(formerly DCA1 ) enable camera manufacturers to offer an
end product which is genuinely price competitive with tradi-
tional ‘point and shoot’ film-based cameras.
The chipset provides the basis of an easy-to-use, user
friendly camera, which will be equally adaptable for use by
children and adults for stills photography or dual-mode use
(i.e. Digital stills while untethered, and videoconferencing
from the same camera).
Incorporating a wide range of features, the STV0680A
chipset offers exceptional performance at a very competitive
price point. ST’s aim is to enable manufacturers to offer fully
functional DSC products to the end consumer for between
$50 and $100. An evaluation kit (EVK) and reference design
manual are available, as well as standard TWAIN and Video
for Windows drivers. Alternatively, a software development
kit (SDK) allows access to ST colour processing algorithms
under licence, to develop OEM software.
The chipset incorporates ST’s high performance VV6444/
6410 CIF (352 x 288 pixel) or VV6500 VGA (640 x 480 pixel)
resolution CMOS sensors. The complete camera will have
20 picture storage capacity for CIF resolution or 80 for QCIF
resolution, when using 16MBit memory. When using 64MBit
memory, it will have 26 picture storage capacity for VGA res-
olution or 106 for QVGA resolution. A standby mode which
allows full picture retention at extremely low system power
consumption gives a battery life of up to several months.
An example upload and colour processing time for a CIF
image to the PC is 0.3 seconds when the USB interface is
used, and the chipset also offers a high frame rate tethered
USB video mode (dependant on PC and USB loading).
The chipset supports a 2x 7-segment display showing num-
ber of pictures remaining, a low battery indicator, and opera-
tion mode, as well as a buzzer indicating picture taken,
camera full, and self-timer countdown.
A CMOS solution gives manufacturers inherent benefits, pro-
viding a highly integrated compact solution which has a low
system cost, is straightforward to implement, and has low
power consumption, giving long battery life.
PRELIMINARY
KEY FEATURES
• CIF (352 x 288) or VGA (640 x 480) resolution sensor
• Using 64MBit memory, 80 picture storage capacity in
camera (CIF), 26 (VGA), or 320 (QCIF).
• Using 16MBit memory, 20 picture storage capacity, in
camera (CIF), or 80 (QCIF)
• USB/RS232 interface options
• Evaluation kit available
• Low power consumption (typically 75mA) for complete
camera and low system cost per pixel
• High speed picture upload with USB
• USB tethered video mode gives a QCIF resolution
videoconferencing camera with VfW support
• ‘Continuous’ mode for capturing image sequences (while
untethered) and downloading to AVI file format
• Memory refresh allows picture retention when camera is
in standby mode with very low current consumption
• TWAIN/Video for Windows driver support
• Numeric LCD panel supported
• Colour processing and pixel defect detection/correction
software available under license as SDK for development
of OEM software. The license to use the colour algorithm
(embedded in the PC driver software) is included in the
price of the chipset.
PRODUCT FORMATS
Chipsets: For manufacturers wishing to design their own
cameras ST offers chipsets combining the colour CMOS
sensor with a companion processor.
An evaluation kit, including PC demo software, and a
comprehensive reference design manual are available,
including schematics and bills of materials.
Modules: For high volume OEM companies, lensed camera
modules are available to the basic specification outlined, but
geared to the customer’s individual requirements, subject to
commercial agreement with ST.
SOFTWARE
Driver software is available to support both USB and RS232
interface, included in TWAIN and Video for Windows drivers
(VfW through USB only, WIN98). An AVI creator application
allows creation of video files from untethered ‘continuous’
mode images.
ST colour processing and defect detection/correction
software is supplied under licence agreement, as part of a
Software Development Kit (SDK). This runs on the host PC
under either Windows95^TM or Windows98^TM .
CDSTV0680F-C: Rev 3.0; Mar.2000
Commercial in Confidence
1
This is preliminary information on a new product now in development or undergoing evaluation. Details are subject to change without notice.