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Rastergraf
ArgusPMC
Dual Channel High Resolution
Graphics Controllers with
Video Digitizers, USB 2.0, and Audio
for PMC
Solaris
Windows
Real-Time Operating Systems Linux
Features
• Functions as a dual-channel multi-media controller
• Dual independent 128-bit graphics controllers provide
no-compromise drawing engine performance at up to
1920 x 1200 (VGA) or 1600 x 1200 (DVI)
• 16 MB display memory per channel
• Dual video digitizers
• USB-2.0 Host controller
• Stereo Audio controller (CODEC)
• VxWorks, Linux, LynxOS, Solaris and Windows 2K/XP
Rastergraf - graphics and PMC carriers for embedded systems
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ArgusPMC
Rastergraf’s ArgusPMC fulfills high performance requirements for
a complete, dual channel graphics and audio/video acquisition
solution for embedded computing processing environments.
Software support is available for Solaris, Linux, Windows, and
real-time operating systems such as VxWorks and LynxOS.
Using two 128-bit Borealis graphics accelerators, the Argus supports independent 2D/3D/OpenGL/DirectX compatible displays
with screen resolutions up to 1920 x 1200 with up to 16.7 million
colors (32 bpp). Monitor support includes analog VGA and Sync
On Green (SOG) plus digital (DVI).
A quad-image VGA/FCode BIOS enables the Argus to operate in
virtually any x86 or SPARC system using VGA, Sync-On-Green,
or DVI displays.
Other features of the Argus include dual Conexant Fusion 878A
video digitizers, an NEC uPD720101 USB 2.0 host controller, and
Micronas UAC3556B Stereo Audio Controller (CODEC).
An asynchronous PCI bridge supports all PMC interfaces from
32-bit, 33 MHz to 64-bit, 66 MHz, while enabling the Borealis
graphics accelerators to always operate at 32-bit, 66 MHz. The
33 MHz PCI digitizers and USB 2.0 are decoupled from the
graphics PCI bus by a secondary bridge.
Embedded Life-Cycle Support
Rastergraf’s comprehensive selection of PMC, CompactPCI, PCI,
and VME display and carrier solutions are designed to satisfy the
product life-cycle requirements demanded by the embedded
computing market.
The Embedded Graphics Source.
Rastergraf products include:
• Single, dual, and quad display-only PMC.
• Single and dual display/capture with audio I/O PMC
• Single display-only CPCI and PCI
• 3U and 6U VME graphics boards.
• CompactPCI and PCI carriers for one or two PMCs.
Please contact Rastergraf for more information or consult our
web page at www.rastergraf.com..
Dual Borealis 128-bit 2D/3D graphics controllers
33/66 MHz, 32/64-bit PCI interface
Each display programmable for 8, 16, or 32 bits/pixel
Each controller has 16 MB SGRAM
Analog (RGB) resolution up to 1920 x 1200
Optional DVI up to 1600 x 1200
OpenGL 1.1 in Hardware
Hardware scroll, pan, and cursor
VGA and FCode BIOS support on Channel A
USB 2.0 host controller
Dual Multi-input Video Digitizers
Thermal sensor allows monitoring of board temperature
USB, Digitizers, & Bridges have Vital Product Data EEPROMs
Single channel version (Sirena)
Single (Eclipse3) and dual (Gemini) display-only versions
Can be used with Rastergraf PCI and CompactPCI carriers
Features
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NEC uPD720101
USB 2.0 Hub Controller
Ch 2 Conexant Fusion
878A Video Digitizer
Micronas UAC3556B
Stereo Audio CODEC
Ch 1 16 MB
Graphics RAM
Ch 2 16 MB
Graphics RAM
Ch 2 128-bit Borealis
Graphics Accelerator
Quad-image EEPROM
contains VGA BIOS
and SPARC FCode
PLX 6154 Asynchronous
32/64-bit, 33/66MHz
Primary PMC Bridge
68-Pin HD
Multi-purpose
I/O Connector
IEEE 1386-2001
32/64 Bit, 33/66 MHz
PMC Bus with Universal
Signaling (3.3V or 5V)
Ch 2 DVI
Transmitter
Top View
Bottom View
PLX PCI6150 32-bit, 33/66
MHz PCI Bridge for Digitizers
and USB 2.0
Ch 1 128-bit Borealis
Graphics Accelerator
Ch 1 Conexant Fusion
878A Video Digitizer
Ch 1 DVI
Transmitter
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ArgusPMC Technical Overview
PMC (PCI) Bus
16 MB
Display
Memory
PLX
PCI6154
32/64 bit
33/66 MHz
PCI Bridge
Borealis
Graphics
Accelerator
Channel A
128
Quad
Image
BIOS
Control/Address
68-Pin Connector
Memory Data
16 MB
Display
Memory
Borealis
Graphics
Accelerator
Channel B
NEC
uPD720101
USB 2.0
Host
Controller
Conexant
Fusion 878A
Video Input
Processor
Channel A
Conexant
Fusion 878A
Video Input
Processor
Channel B
128
Control/Address
Memory Data
32 bit
66 MHz
32 bit
66 MHz
32 bit,
33 MHz
32 bit,
33 MHz
32/64 bit
PLX
PCI6150
32 bit
66/33 MHz
PCI Bridge
Graphics
Channel
A
VGA/DVI
Graphics
Channel
B
VGA/DVI
USB
Channels
1 & 2
Video
Input
Channel
A
Video
Input
Channel
B
Micronas
UAC3556B
USB Audio
CODEC
USB
Ch 4
Stereo Line I/O or Mono MIC
Audio
I/O
ArgusPMC Functional Diagram
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Introduction
The Rastergraf ArgusPMC is a PMC (PCI Mezzanine Card) multifunction display controller. Referring to the block diagram, the Argus is
composed of six functional blocks: PMC interface bridge, secondary
PCI bridge, dual Borealis graphics controllers, USB 2.0 controller,
Stereo Audio Controller, and dual Fusion878Avideo digitizers.
Dual PCI Bridge Architecture
The PLX PCI6154 Asynchronous PCI Bridge supports all PMC interfaces, from 32-bit, 33 MHz to 64-bit, 66 MHz, while enabling the local
side to always operate at 32 bit, 66 MHz, which is the native interface
for the graphics controllers and secondary bridge. This capability is
due to the 6154’s use of large internal FIFOs to decouple the primary
and secondary PCI buses from each other.
A second bridge, a PLX PCI6150, is used to minimize the impact of
the slower (33 MHz PCI) digitizer and USB devices by decoupling
them from the primary 66 MHz local bus
Video Inputs
The Argus provides two Conexant Fusion 878AVideo Digitizers, which
are single-chip solutions for NTSC and PALcomposite video or SVideo capture on the PCI bus. The 878A performs on-the-fly image
scaling and clipping. Its RISC-based high throughput DMA engine
transfers or CPU memory via the PCI bus.
128-Bit Graphics Accelerator
Each display channel is powered by a Borealis graphics accelerator.
With its 128-bit wide memory bus, the Borealis can draw up to sixteen
256-color pixels each memory cycle for a raw drawing speed of 2
GB/s. The drawing engine’s performance is further enhanced by its
display list capabililty, which enables it to execute lists of instructions
from the CPU, rather than just one at a time. The Borealis and the
host CPU can process data independently, thus breaking the lockstep
which often reduces system throughput.
The display memory has 16 MB of high speed SGRAM, which provides ample local storage for the graphics image and off-screen data
such as texture maps, Z-buffer, and backing store.
The Borealis uses a programmable Drawing Engine-based Look Up
Table (LUT) to provide YUV to RGB color space conversion. When
video data is copied from off-screen memory as part of the video
image double-buffering operation, pixels can be converted on the fly to
the current display pixel format. This allows for efficient use of offscreen memory and the ability to dynamically accommodate a variety
of image formats.
The Borealis can smoothly X/Y scale small RGB or YUV video clips up
to full screen at any resolution and any color depth, and maintain a
rate greater than 30 frames per second.
For startup support on any system expecting a VGA device on power
up, the Argus graphics Channel A includes a quad image BIOS that
supports VGA and FCode, with or without Sync-On-Green (SOG).
Once the operating system is running, full function drivers can be
loaded, allowing the Borealis’s extended instruction set to be utilized.
The Borealis programmable video timing ranges from 30 to 150 Hz
vertical and 15.7 to 100 kHz horizontal refresh rates, with a pixel clock
up to 250 MHz, giving display formats up to 1920 x 1280 x 32 bpp.
The display output is directed through an internal RAMDAC which
includes a graphics cursor with a 64 x 64 x 2 bit map. It integrates the
graphics and cursor pixels into 24-bit color values (8 bits each of
RGB). The analog signals from the RAMDAC are connected to a standard RGBHV (VGA) or SOG monitor. Display Data Channel lines
enable the host computer to control the monitor. A separate 24-bit parallel port from the Borealis supports DVI output via a DVI encoder.
USB 2.0 and Stereo Audio Controllers
USB 2.0 supports data rates in excess of 400 Mbit/s, making it viable
for video input, external disk drives, and many other applications. USB
is also useful for mouse, trackball, keyboard, and scanner. The
ArgusPMC uses the NEC uPD720101 USB 2.0 host controller. As
used on the Argus, two channels are available for user connections
and one channel is connected to the Micronas UAC 3555B USB
Stereo controller (CODEC). Controlled by the CPU via a USB port, the
UAC3556B is intelligent subsystem supplies a low overhead, software
compatible, full function solution. It includes Mono MIC or Stereo LineIn/Out, programmable 5-band equalizer, volume, balance, tone controls, and dynamic range.
I/O Connections
All connections are made through the Argus front panel 68-pin high
density (HD) ribbon connector and available breakout cable. The standard breakout cable splits the functions into dual VGA, dual DVI, dual
USB 2.0, 3.5 mm Stereo In and Out/Mono MIN jacks, and dual SVideo/2xVin Mini-DIN connectors.
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Graphics Output Flexibility
Because there are two separate graphics controllers, each
output channel is completely independent of the other. Both
channels can support either VGA or DVI outputs, and in fact,
one could provide VGA while the other supplies DVI.
Please contact the factory if you have a special configuration
requirement. Also, refer to the User’s Manual, which provides
comprehensive information about connectors and cabling.
The Argus supports dual VGA(analog) outputs up to
1920x1200x32 bpp with a programmable composite sync on
green.(SOG) mode. DVI capability includes resolution up to
1600x1200 and operates in single-link mode only.
The display outputs are supplied on the 68-pin front-panel
connector, which requires a breakout cable that splits out into
two standard DVI and two standard VGA connectors. Note
that the same data is supplied on both the VGA and the DVI
ports for a given display channel.
Display Formats and Output Usage
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Video Mode Resolution
Pixel Size
(bits)
Windows
Format
Refresh Freq.
(Hz)
Output
Channels
Notes
Analog Non-Interlaced up to 1920x1200 8,16,32 WUXGA max
150 Hz at VGA,
77 Hz at WUXGA
Ch1, Ch 2
Also supports
Sync On Green
Digital DVI up to 1600x1200 8,16,32 UXGA max 60 Hz Ch1, Ch 2 single link only
Standard Argus VGA Display Resolutions
Resolution
Vertical Scan Rate
Windows and RTOS Solaris
Format Maximum Index Frequency
640 x 480 VGA 150+ Hz
8
9
60 Hz
75 Hz
800 x 600 SVGA 150+ Hz
6
7
60 Hz
75 Hz
1024 x 768 UVGA 142 Hz
0
1
60 Hz
75 Hz
1152 x 864 Sun 126 Hz
2 [default]360 Hz
75 Hz
1280 x 1024 SXGA 107 Hz
4
5
60 Hz
75 Hz
1600 x 1200 UXGA 91 Hz C 60 Hz
1920 x 1080 HDTV 83 Hz n/a n/a
1920 x 1200 WUXGA 77 Hz D 60 Hz
Video Mode Resolution
Refresh
Freq. (Hz)
Scan Lines
Input
Multiplexer
Effective Rate
MPixels/Sec
Input
Channels
Clip and
Scale?
Capture to
Frame Buffer
NTSC SQ Pixel 640x480 30 525 1 of 3 12.27 Ch A, Ch B yes YUV or RGB
NTSC CCIR601 720x480 30 525 1 of 3 13.50 Ch A, Ch B yes YUV or RGB
PALCCIR 601 720x576 25 625 1 of 3 14.20 Ch A, Ch B yes YUV or RGB
PALSQ Pixel 768x576 25 625 1 of 3 14.75 Ch A, Ch B yes YUV or RGB
SECAM SQ Pixel 768x576 25 625 1 of 3 14.75 Ch A, Ch B yes YUV or RGB
S-Video SQ Pixel 640x480 30 525 no 12.27 Ch A, Ch B yes YUV or RGB
S-Video CCIR601 720x480 30 525 no 13.50 Ch A, Ch B yes YUV or RGB
Video Input Capabilities
The ArgusPMC has two NTSC/PAL Conexant Fusion 878A
video digitizers which operated independently of each other.
Using the built-in DMA engine, it is even possible to transfer
the video data from both digitizers into one of the on-board
display channels, thus providing two independent live-video
windows.
The front panel connector provides access to the S-Video
input for each digitizer. With pin sharing, it can instead support
up to three composite video inputs per digitizer: two inputs use
the S-Video pins (but not in S-Video mode) and the third input
uses the Audio Input pin. The standard breakout cable could
be used for this but connector adaptation would be needed.
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