Conexant, Stretch join forces for video surveillance apps

NEWPORT BEACH, USA: Conexant Systems Inc., a leading supplier of innovative semiconductor solutions for imaging, audio, embedded modem, and video surveillance applications, has partnered with Stretch Inc., a leader in software configurable processors, to develop video surveillance applications. The two companies have combined for a complete hardware and software reference design for a new eight-channel video surveillance DVR.

Using Conexant’s CX25828, an eight-channel audio/video decoder chip with integrated audio DAC, the design platform demonstrates the power and flexibility of Stretch’s S7000 software configurable processors and the superior video quality provided by the CX25828.

The design features a Linux operating system running on the S7000's embedded ARM processor which, along with high levels of integration, offers the lowest cost per channel and best video quality in the surveillance industry. The software-defined architecture of Stretch’s VRM7008 delivers the ultimate in flexibility and allows users to mix and match encode, decode, intelligent analytics, and display functionality.

“The recently announced CX25828 from Conexant makes the perfect complement to our VRM7008 series, as it was specifically designed for advanced, high-capacity DVR video surveillance products,” noted Bob Beachler, Stretch VP of marketing, operations, and system design. “Our jointly developed reference design delivers true hybrid capability, allowing manufacturers to customize video surveillance and security products to their specific requirements.”

Conexant’s CX25828 is a high quality video and audio decoder specifically designed for surveillance applications. The CX25828 contains eight high-quality NTSC/PAL video decoders, nine audio ADCs, and one audio DAC. The video decoders are designed with 10-bit ADCs and five-line comb filtering for optimal luma-chroma separation to generate the highest-quality digital video output with the lowest possible noise and cross-luma/cross-chroma artifacts.

The CX25828 supports the standard ITU-R BT.656 digital video format and byte- multiplexed output at 27 MHz, 54 MHz, and 108 MHz. In addition, each video decoder includes a motion detection and image analytical engine. The audio processor with nine ADCs and one DAC provides user-friendly audio playback or two-way communications applications.

The CX25828 achieves the industry’s best interface flexibility with various multi-channel H.264 CODECs. The system-on-chip provides bi-directional bridging of video data, through flexible digital video output formats, GPIO and I2C interfaces, as well as audio data, through I2S and DSP style outputs at multiple sample rates with flexible multiplexing configurability.

“Businesses continue to raise security levels throughout their organizations, which increases the demand for high-density video surveillance and security products,” said Sailesh Chittipeddi, president and CEO for Conexant. “With this in mind, Conexant developed the CX25828, the latest in a line of advanced, high-capacity DVR video surveillance products that capture and record multiple video streams simultaneously.”

Conexant's video product portfolio includes decoders and media bridges for surveillance and security products with digital video recording capabilities. The company also offers low-power video encoder solutions that enable visual verification with passive infrared technology sensors used in residential "smart home" and commercial security applications.