Cypress and THine introduce a new USB 3.0 camera reference design kit

     Cypress Semiconductor and THine Electronics have announced the industry's fastest USB 3.0 camera reference design kit with a 13-megapixel resolution at 21 frames per second. The new Ascella design kit is based on Cypress's EZ-USB CX3 USB 3.0 camera controller and THine's THP7312 image signal processor (ISP).

     With optimized firmware, software development kits, reference circuit diagrams, and related materials, the kit accelerates customer product time-to-market without the high initial cost of developing camera firmware. With high resolution and advanced features such as autofocus and real-time video streaming, the suite is suitable for many applications such as industrial, medical, education and automotive. The Ascella USB 3.0 Camera Reference Design Kit is available through e-con Systems, a company specializing in design service solutions for advanced camera products.

     The CX3 controller adds SuperSpeed, USB connectivity to any image sensor that complies with the MIPI Camera Class 2 Serial Interface (CSI2) standard, and THine's THP7312 ISP supports high resolution up to 16 megapixels with industry-leading data throughput and low-power performance. The Cypress and THine design reference Kit supports hot-swappable operation and includes firmware optimised for all USB camera functions, significantly reducing development cycles and engineering costs. Developers can use this smart Reference design kit as a production-ready final product or as a development tool for high-resolution camera systems.

     Mark Fu, Senior Marketing Director for Cypress's USB 3.0 product line, said: "The Ascella Reference Design Kit features Cypress's programmable USB 3.0 controller, leveraging our experience in USB system design and THine's advanced image signal processing technology. It is an excellent demonstration of 5-Gbps SuperSpeed USB technology and imaging application capabilities in the camera."

     Kazutaka Nogami, president and CEO of THine, said: "The kit undoubtedly provides an effective solution for high resolution application designers, and its optimized firmware and widely available USB interface technology will significantly reduce the development cycle. Our customers around the world will be delighted with its exceptional image quality and performance."

     Ashok Babu, president of e-con Systems, said: "We are witnessing a growing demand for high-resolution, high frame rate cameras with USB 3.0 interfaces in multiple application areas. "This new Ascella reference design kit is a powerful combination of THine's precision ISP and Cypress's CX3 USB 3.0 camera controller, providing the ideal platform to meet market demands."