Many Functions within a Confined Space
Blackfin DSP Board for Camera Application
For his portfolio of modular cameras, our customer needed a PCB for a special application, which combines many functions. It contains a Blackfin DSP (Digital Signal Processor), SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory), flash memory and a camera interface. In addition, the board has an EtherCAT and an Ethernet interface and various serial and proprietary connections. Three PoL (point-of-load) DC/DC converters were implemented to supply power to the module itself and to the external systems, including to the analog systems of the camera. The circuit should be available as a prototype within a few weeks.
We were able to accommodate all the required functions and the necessary connectors in the given space, so that the customer received a fully functioning computer board within a very short time. Thus his end customer could quickly start with the integration of the hardware and especially the signal processing software into his own system.
Project Scope
- Specification & Planning
- Implementation
- Hardware Development
- Production
Expertise and Technologies
The project included the creation of schematics for a fast DSP and its memory and peripherals including the EtherCAT Real-Time Ethernet. The layout considered the requirements of EMC (ElectroMagnetic Compatibility) and SI (Signal Integrity) on a multilayer HDI (High Density Interconnect) board with blind vias (microvias) and buried vias. It was automatically routed with the autorouter except for a few critical lines.
