Nethra Imaging intros ultra-low-power HD 1080p60 visual and computing platform SoC

SANTA CLARA, USA: Nethra Imaging Inc., a pioneer in low-power, high-definition, cinematic-quality video and imaging semiconductors since 2003, has announced availability of the first member of its NI-5 family of visual platform System-on-Chip (SoC), the NI-5035.

Targeting high growth and demanding applications such as action/sports/activity camcorders, network IP security and surveillance cameras and IP encoders, the NI-5035 delivers a new level of low power, high quality imaging and video compression with a bill of materials (BOM) flexibility previously unavailable to system designers.

Featuring full hardware acceleration, the NI-5035 features an advanced Image Signal Processor, a High Definition H.264 Codec and Video Processor capable of supporting multiple encoding streams up to 1080p60, rich peripherals support and extensive connectivity features.

“Unlike DSP based solutions available today, the NI-5035’s unique true hardware-accelerated architecture enables a much lower power profile and far greater control over the visual pipeline with the lowest-possible latency possible,” said Ramesh Singh, Nethra Imaging’s CEO.

“Nethra’s approach contrasts with other SoCs that utilize more power-hungry embedded DSP cores for the imaging and video ‘heavy-lifting’, thereby limiting user control and application power optimization. Nethra’s new SoC delivers outstanding image quality along with fast, smooth High Definition 1080p60 resolution and ultra-low-power consumption. We will see this chip enable innovative, new form factor, super compact HD video cameras with long battery life, video electronic image stabilization and excellent image and video quality.”

Sporting multi-Mega-Pixel still image and High Definition 1080p60 video and capture, the NI-5035’s wide dynamic range pipeline delivers excellent low-light to bright-light image and video quality. Implementing advanced noise reduction including 3D temporal de-noise, video electronic image stabilization and Motion Compensated Temporal Filtering (MCTF), the NI-5035 produces cinematic video quality and provides system designers with greater choice in image sensor selection. Video and image electronic image stabilization enables gyro-less designs while advanced lens and image sensor defect detection and correction results in the optimization of applications and a more flexible BOM.

Featuring a fully compliant H.264 Codec supporting High Definition video up to 1920x1080 at 60fps, the NI-5035 also supports multiple HD H.264 encoding streams that provide users with versatile capture and distribution scenarios. Direct connection to wireless radios enables Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G/4G streaming. Additionally, rich peripherals support such as built-in Ethernet and USB 2.0 connectivity enables device and BOM flexibility.

Since the NI-5035 is fully hardware accelerated, the on-chip applications processor is fully available to the system software designer for performing analytics, full OS implementation and a host of image and video compute applications.