Multi-Function VPX COTS Boards

Transcription

1 Multi-Function VPX COTS Boards Video input, Graphics, Multi-Display, Parallel GPGPU Processing, Frame- Grabbing, Compression, Encryption, FPGA Programmable Logic 2 Campbell Drive, Suite 100 Uxbridge, Ontario Canada L9P 1H Fax: Toll Free North America: sales@wolf.ca tech@wolf.ca engineering@wolf.ca

2 Introduction Until now, VPX architecture has been designed based on historical processor card system-on-a-chassis topology. It was a modular approach in that each card could perform a given function and then added to an overall system that was connected through a backplane. Recent advancements in interconnect connectors; speed and bandwidth have greatly increased the data transfer rates between discrete cards. A 16-lane PCIe link, using the PCIe serial fabric v3.0, is capable of transmitting 16 Gigabytes per second of data. The more ubiquitous version 2.x can attain transfer rates of 8 Gigabytes per second. The current model of a singular dedicated function on a single card is unable to effectively utilize the full data bandwidth available. Historically, the data bandwidth was a limiting factor in system architectures, now the limiting factor is the functionality available on a single card. WOLF has developed a more compact, flexible, efficient and effective approach to assembling 3U and 6U VPX cards. By moving the functional unit down to a subcard form-factor, features can be selected and combined within a 3U or 6U card while still providing standard COTS VPX connectivity and interaction with a host processor card. Historically to achieve this degree of custom featuresets, a complete new custom board design with a new schematic and layout would be required. The WOLF modular approach removes that cost and schedule delay and can provide customized features in a true COTS model. This approach has the added benefit of more efficiently utilizing the available bandwidth in PCI- Express environments. The WOLF modular approach moves the traditional system-in-a-chassis topology toward a bona fide system-on-a-board topology. A system-on-a-board where the features and functionality can be selected by the system integrator and targeted at a specified enduser application, without compromising the VPX COTS standardization of the system. Until now, most systemon-a-board designs were custom layouts with a predetermined set of features. Video graphics processing, GPGPU parallel processing, FPGA and high-speed I/O are ideal candidates to benefit from new modular architectures due to the broad range of applications and varying I/O requirements. Modular VPX COTS Architecture The WOLF modular VPX COTS architecture brings a breakthrough level of flexibility and configurability to the COTS market. By leveraging a variety of standard MXC processing modules with innovative 3U and 6U carrier card designs: Video Graphics, parallel processing, FPGA, various video graphic inputs and output combinations, data compression and encryption functionality is now possible on a single COTS VPX card. WOLF s COTS VPX modules use an MXC form factor, which leverages a 500-pin connector to a carrier card. The MXC form-factor is small enough and powerful enough to supply state-of-the-art video and graphics processing in a size that is less than half of a 3U VPX card size (70mm x 85mm). Using a combination of available MXC processing modules, any system integrator can choose the features that are required in a given application. Interconnectivity to standard SBCs and other processing modules is quick and easy through the industry standard PCI Express serial fabric over the VPX backplane. Video and Graphics Solutions for Every Need WOLF has a record of accomplishment of breakthrough video and graphics processing products for military, industrial, medical and aerospace applications. From their own standard products to custom product developments for their customers, WOLF has designed cutting edge products and succeeded in some of the most challenging video and graphics applications. WOLF s current offering of video and graphics processing products continue to push the envelope with regard to features, ease-of-use, and cost. The modular VPX COTS architecture takes the WOLF advantage to another level. The range of applications for video and graphics processing in the military, industrial, medical and aerospace arena are broad and deep. Broad because there are so many different ways that video and graphics technology can be employed, and deep 2

3 because the requirements of the various applications can be very complex. As a result of the breadth and depth of video and graphics applications, a plethora of video and graphics products have appeared on the COTS market. WOLF has contributed several innovative and cost-effective solutions to this panorama, including the H.264 video compression solution that supports 3G-SDI at 1080p60 video with very-low latency and AES encryption in a low-cost VPX solution. Until now, system integrators had to scour available video and graphics solutions to find the best fit for their specific application. This was frequently very time consuming and often the exact requirements could not be met in a single product and compromises were needed in order to fit a COTS product into the system solution. In other cases, multiple COTS cards may have been required simply because of the variety of features demanded in an application. WOLF has pioneered a breakthrough approach to video and graphics processing by designing modules that can be combined into standard Eurocard form-factors like VPX, VME and CompactPCI to provide the precise set of features and functionality required. Using the MXC architecture, WOLF has designed a range of modules that can be combined to make the ideal feature combination for a given solution while still functioning as a standard COTS VPX product. Figure 1 shows a current MXC module manufactured by WOLF. VPX Carrier Cards The WOLF advantage makes available a broad range of processing modules, which can be combined on 3U or 6U VPX carrier cards or new generation VME or CompactPCI-S.0. The 3U form factor can support up to two processing modules, while the 6U form factor can support up to four processing modules for an exponential increase in feature/functionality sets. Figure 2 on the following page shows an illustration of the 6U and 3U module carrier cards and some of the available modules that can be hosted on the carrier cards: 1. MXC-H.264 Video Compression and AES Encryption 2. MXC-E6760-VO with up to six video outputs 3. MXC-GPGPU (E6760 with OpenCL GFLOPS) 4. MXC-FG (5 video inputs: 4 NTSC and 1 XGA) 5. MXC-E6760-MV (Video outputs with 4 NTSC inputs) MXC-H.264 WOLF s MXC-H.264 provides video input support for video up to SMPTE 424M / 3G-SDI (1080p60) or dual streams of SMPTE 292M / HD-SDI (1080p30) with real time video compression and streaming using MPEG2- TS over Gigabit Ethernet. Video capture and compression are integrated in a single product with direct Ethernet output from the card. AES encryption for data security is available bundled with the H.264 module. 3

4 Figure 1. Graphics Processing MXC Module with and without Heatplate MXC-E6760-VO WOLF s MXC-E6760-VO leverages the AMD E6760 GPU and provides a large number of video outputs that can be used to drive multiple displays such as those needed in a cockpit scenario or command/control center. Six independent video outputs are supported with resolutions up to (4096 x 2304). Output formats include DisplayPort, DVI, LVDS, Analog RGBHV (VGAtype), and others. Flexible video output, 16-lane PCI Express connectivity to a host processor, and powerful OpenGL with programmable shader processors provide(s) all the graphics display capability needed in even the most demanding applications. MXC-E6760-MV The WOLF MXC-E6760-MV provides state-of-the-art graphics processing combined with video input (up to four RS170: NTSC, PAL or SECAM inputs) and video outputs (four independent or combined display channels) for a fully featured video capture, processing and overlay solution. It is also ideal for moving map applications and combining multiple video streams into a single display. The MXC-E6760-MV contains the same GPU as above, with 16-lane PCIe connectivity for fast data transfer to and from a host processor. MXC-E6760-FG WOLF has extended the video capture capability of the MXC-E6760-MV with an XGA video capture port in addition to the four composite video capture ports available in the MV version. The MXC-E6760-FG provides video frame grabbing features to extend the overlay and graphics processing features of the stateof-the-art E6760 GPU to include input from highresolution sources. For applications, which demand additional video input options, the E6760 FG is the product of choice. 4

5 Figure 2. Modular VPX COTS Architecture MXC-E6760-GPGPU The E6760-GPGPU offering from WOLF supplies the E6760 processor in a form factor to be used as a system co-processor a GPGPU General Purpose GPU. The industry standard Open CL 1.2 parallel processor API can leverage the incredible computing power of the GPU multi-processor architecture (560GFLOPS) to offload the primarily serial-processing CPU when needed. Open CL provides a standard programming interface to port start C-Language code into a parallel-processing GPU environment. The MXC- E6760-GPGPU is ideal for enhancing the throughput and functionality of video, radar and other I/O and sensor processing applications. Virtually any type of data processing with compute-intensive, highly repetitive, calculations on arrays of data can benefit from GPGPU technology. 5 Putting it all Together The following are examples of standard VPX COTS solutions that can be realized using the available video and graphics processing modules. 3U VPX: - Dual H.264 processing modules providing two parallel streams of frames/second video to dual Gigabit Ethernet ports. - H.264 processing with E6760-VO for video compression and streaming as well as GPU processing and six video outputs on a single card - Five video inputs (four NTSC + one XGA) with GPU processing and six independent DP video outputs - Dual E6760 GPGPU modules with one Teraflop of parallel processing A 3U carrier card with two processor modules installed is shown in Figure-3 below. In a 6U VPX form factor,

6 even more options can be supplied. A few possibilities are listed below (see Figure-4 showing a.6u rugged VPX carrier). - Dual H.264 video capture, compression and streaming, plus dual GPGPU modules and one Teraflop of parallel processing - H.264 video capture, compression and streaming, PLUS a GPU module with 5 video inputs and 6 independent DP video outputs and a free slot for future expansion - GPGPU with 560 GigaFLOPS of processing, plus graphics module with four video inputs and six video outputs including video capture, overlay and GPU parallel processing, PLUS H.264 video capture, compression and streaming: all on a single 6U VPX COTS card. Many other combinations are also possible, and as more modules are developed, the available features will continue to expand. Functionality is not lost when new modules are added, but rather can be retained and enhanced by new module development that is The WOLF Advantage. Figure 3. 3U VPX with 2 MXC Modules, covered by heatplate and uncovered 6

7 Figure 4. Rugged 6U VPX with MXC Modules Conclusion : The WOLF Advantage The WOLF Advantage means: leveraging the power of modular processing to assemble off-the-shelf standard VPX COTS products ideally suited to the specific need; or the developing of a custom MXC module that OEM customers can leverage to their advantage. Gone are the days of needing to compromise because the feature set is not quite right, or needing multiple board solutions, increasing weight, power, MTBF, MTTR and cost unnecessarily. The true benefit and power of the VPX architecture is unlocked by the modular approach and standards-based architecture employed by WOLF. Contact Information: WOLF Industrial Systems Inc. 2 Campbell Drive, Suite 100 Uxbridge, Ontario Canada, L9P 1H6 Local: Toll Free North America: Fax: sales@wolf.ca Wolf Industrial Systems Ltd. Reproduction or other use of this document without the express written consent of Wolf is prohibited. 7