Hardware Implementation of Image Processing Algorithms

Digital image processing is done to improve the quality of images. The images are processed and enhanced in order to obtain the required information from it. It is an ever expanding field with a number of applications in medicine, space, art, meteorology, etc. Hardware implementation of digital image processing techniques is very commonly done using Verilog-HDL or VHDL gives a logical explanation of any circuit which can be further developed and tested. The main advantage of using HDLs is that any logical input can be simulated on FPGA (Hardware implementation).Application specific hardware implementation offers much greater speed than a software implementation.

Advancements in VLSI technology have made this hardware implementation an attractive, feasible and less time consuming task to undergo.  FPGA is one of the best technologies available for hardware design  because their structure is able to exploit spatial and temporal parallelism .FPGAs are ideal in many embedded systems applications because of their small size, low power consumption ,a number of input-output  ports and logic blocks. Also FPGAs are reprogrammable chips, hence are very versatile to be used.

Algorithms can be implemented in Verilog HDL using Xilinx ISE, MATLAB and MODEL SIM. Hardware implementation of Verilog codes provides us with the ability to verify the logical codes simulated using software. Hardware implementation helps in the co-simulation of the already simulated logic. It helps the designer to reformulate the algorithm.

It provides us an overlook of the way the respective logical circuit will work when brought to real life applications. Also, an idea of the market need of the circuit and how it will actually work, is provided by hardware implementation. The use of reconfigurable hardware to implement algorithms for image processing minimizes the time-to-market cost, provides prototyping and debugging.

Therefore, the reconfigurable devices like FPGA seem to be the ideal choice for implementation of image processing algorithms. SiliconMentor is a team with expertise in the fields both software implementation and hardware prototyping. The team focuses to provide a shared platform for the researchers and innovators by providing guidance in the specified areas.

What is VLSI & Why we Need VLSI ?

As we all know VLSI stands for Very large scale integration. Very large scale integration  is the process of creating an integrated circuit by combining thousands of transistors into a single chip. Now the question comes why we need VLSI???? So the answer is that one of the most characteristics of information service is there increasing need for very high processing and band width. The other important characteristics is that the information service  tend  to become more personalized, which means that the information processing device must be more intelligent and also be portable to allow more mobility.

VLSI is mainly classified in two classes.

 VLSI back end – VLSI back-end includes Route, place and floor planning. Back end includes development and fabrication part. It is  too costly and time consuming process.Physical designing and layout refers to back end.

 VLSI front end – VLSI Frontend includes designing and testing part.  It uses Verilog and HDL, VHDL .RTL designing , minimizing delay and simulation refers to Front end.

VLSI

There are two important   steps . VLSI design and  designverification. VLSI design refers to  the  designing of  VLSI circuits and its implementation . Design verification is use to test the design  and verify us that the given designing is working properly or not.
 

Now, we should move towards physical and digital design of VLSI. Both are very important part of VLSI.

Digital design is divided in three steps. First is BEHAVIORAL, second is STRUCTURAL and third one is PHYSICAL design. BEHAVIORAL describes the algorithm, STRUCTURAL describes component and their connections,  PHYSICAL describes how circuit built.

In standard design cycle physical design  comes after  the circuit design. Physical design includes both design and verification and validation of layout.  At this step circuit representation is converted into geometric representation. 

                                                                                                                 

                                                                                                       Author - Trisha Jain
                                                                                                  (Intern at Silicon Mentor) 

What is HDL ?

Hardware description language (HDL) plays a vital role in very large scale integration (VLSI). HDLs looks much like a programming language C.  HDL   is textual description of an electronic circuit or  electronic chip.  In other words HDL is used  to describe hardware in terms of expressions and statements, control structures.  HDL is concurrent (all parts work at the same time)whereas traditional software is sequential. HDL is real time sensitive unlike software.  HDL  also allows for the compilation of an HDL program into a lower level specification of physical electronic components, such as the set of masks used to create an integrated circuit.

 HDL has ability to describe and simulate at behavioural, structural and mixed level. From above description we can say that HDL form an integral part of electronic design automation system,  specially for complex circuits such as microprocessor. Now we will know  more about HDLs. There are two types of HDL which is supported by IEEE. They are VHDL  ( Very high speed integrated circuit HDL) and Verilog HDL. These language are used in electronic devices that do not share computer’s basic architecture.

For high level modeling VHDL is  better while Verilog is better  for gate level modeling and switch level modeling. VHDL is not case sensitive while Verilog is case sensitive. Verilog is similar to C or PASCAL  language while VHDL is similar to ADA programming language in syntax. VHDL is more complex then  verilog. VHDL has the advantage of having a lot of constructs that aid in high level modeling. Verilog is easy to understand and easy  to  design. VHDL is different from Verilog in terms of signal assignment, interface declaration, in RTL assignment.  Verilog is much better then VHDL below the RTL level.  VHDL and Verilog is equivalent for RTL modeling. But the bottom line is that we should know both.

Verilog-HDL

Tags : HDL,  Verilog ,     VHDL ,     RTL ,     FPGA Vs ASIC ,  Verilog Training 

Author - Trisha Jain

(Intern at Silicon Mentor)