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CAST Launches Multimedia Line with IP Cores for Image or Video Compression
HSINCHU, Taiwan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 3, 2001--Electronic Design
Automation and Test Expo--
Flexible Discrete Wavelet and Cosine Transform cores from multimedia
experts Alma Technologies ready for JPEG or MPEG applications
Semiconductor intellectual property (IP) provider CAST, Inc. today
announced its expansion into multimedia applications with the
introduction of cores for image/video compression from new development
partner Alma Technologies.
The new cores implement the popular discrete cosine transform
(DCT) and emerging discrete wavelet transform (DWT) algorithms.
Available now, they mark the beginning of a series of
multimedia-related cores CAST expects to release over the next several
months, culminating with a complete JPEG2000 core in mid-2002.
Multimedia Goes Mainstream
For years CAST has focused on building a broad line of
general-purpose IP cores, featuring 8- and 16-bit processors, related
peripherals and functions, and standard communications buses, all
designed to meet the needs of mainstream electronics designers.
With the spread of Internet-based communication and wireless
telephony, even mainstream designers need to employ compression
algorithms and other functions previously used by multimedia
specialists. The new cores make this expertise available in
affordable, well-supported, reusable modules. With rigorously-defined
interfaces and proven code, designers can integrate CAST multimedia
cores with considerably less time and effort and greater reliability
than they are likely to achieve implementing these functions
themselves.
New Image/Video Compression Cores
The new cores implement standard algorithms for image and video
compression. The Discrete Cosine Transform algorithm has been popular
for some time, while the more sophisticated Discrete Wavelet Transform
is a newer approach that produces superior compression results. Each
core is especially flexible -- processing data in both directions with
a choice of filter sizes -- making them more general purpose than
those typically offered by other IP vendors.
The RC_2DDWT Discrete Wavelet Transform core implements the 2D
Forward and Inverse Discrete Wavelet Transform (2D-DWT) using the
lifting-based 5/3 and 9/7 filters. Hence, it is appropriate for
wavelet-based image or video CODECS, and can be used as an IP core for
products incorporating the JPEG2000 or MPEG4 standards. It is based on
the row-column computational architecture. The company believes that
is the only commercially-available core that implements both Forward
and Inverse 2D-DWT.
Not an IP core itself, the 97FG is a VHDL code generator that
produces optimized and synthesizable descriptions -- cores --
implementing the 9/7 Discrete Wavelet Transform's filter banks. The
binary executable receives as inputs: i) the type of filter (forward
or inverse), ii) the input bit-width, iii) a set of filter
coefficients, and iv) the number of pipeline stages. It then generates
the corresponding VHDL code for the specified 9/7 filtering unit,
which can serve as an IP core for implementing DWT-based image and
coding systems.
The DCT_FI core performs both the inverse and forward Discrete
Cosine Transform (DCT) using either 8x8 or 16x16 pixel block samples.
It is carefully designed to offer high performance while maintaining a
low gate count -- running, for example, at 70MHz on a Xilinx Virtex-6
FPGA -- and it is ready for use in many multimedia, digital video and
digital printing applications. Based on the row-column computational
architecture, the DCT_FI core enables products performing
compression/decompression with the JPEG, MPEG1, MPEG2, MPEG4, H.261,
H.263 industry standards.
The new CAST multimedia cores are available today in VHDL for
synthesis to ASICS or optimized for implementation with programmable
devices from Altera and Xilinx. Custom core modifications, Verilog
versions, or other options are also available.
About Alma Technologies
Based in Athens, Greece, Alma Technologies is a new, privately
owned electronic design firm focused on multimedia, cryptography, and
telecommunication digital signal processing. Rich in technological
expertise -- the six founding engineers include 3 PhD and 3 MSc
holders --the company develops IP cores for resale through CAST and
provides VLSI design services to a variety of companies.
Alma Technologies
Nikos D. Zervas, zervas@alma-tech.com
Marathonos Av.2, Pikermi, Attika, GR 19005 Greece
Tel: +30 1 6039850 info@alma-tech.com
Fax: +30 1 6039850 www.alma-tech.com
About CAST, Inc.
CAST provides a broad line of practical, affordable,
general-purpose IP cores that features 8- and 16-bit processors,
peripherals, buses, communications devices, and special functions like
encryption. Operating since 1993 with a focus on making IP practical
and affordable for mainstream designers, the company has established a
reputation for high-quality products, flexible licensing, and
responsive technical support. The company is located near New York
City, and works with an international network of IP developers and
distributors.
CAST is a trademark of CAST, Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
CAST, Inc.
11 Stonewall Court, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07677 USA
Tel: 201/391-8300
info@cast-inc.com
Fax: 201/391-8694
www.cast-inc.com
Contact:
CAST, Inc. PDL Communications
Hal Barbour Paul Lindemann
201/391-8300 603/434-3534
hal@cast-inc.com paul@pdlcomm.com
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