February 2010

Digital Cameras Are a Snap with MachXO and ispMACH 4000ZE PLDs 

The rapid proliferation of digital cameras continues to pressure system designers to deliver new features and capabilities in a compressed time-to-market window. According to forecasts from the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA), more than 105 million digital cameras were sold in 2009, marking the third consecutive year with sales of more than 100 million units. Sales in 2010 are expected to follow this trend. In line with this expectation, new cameras models will be designed to address the needs of emerging markets.

Traditionally, logic requirements for digital cameras have been addressed by Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs) and Application-Specific Standard Products (ASSPs). The use of programmable logic devices (PLDs) has been limited, due to the need for low standby power, small board space and low cost. However, improved PLD architectures that reduce power consumption and new packages with smaller form factors and lower cost per unit, are causing designers to choose PLDs for their time-to-market and design flexibility advantages over ASICs and ASSPs.

Common applications for PLDs in digital cameras include:

• Voltage-level translation
• General purpose I/O expansion
• Image rotation
• Timing control
• Interface bridging
• Discrete logic functions

PLD functions in a typical digital camera.

The Lattice MachXO and ispMACH 4000ZE PLDs are ideal for digital camera applications. Offering low power options, ultra-small space saving packages and system integration capabilities, these PLDs provide designers a low-cost system solution.

Reference Designs and Easy-to-Use Development Kits

In order to accelerate development time, a comprehensive suite of popular reference designs and development kits are available for prototyping digital camera applications. Using the preloaded demos, designers can test common interfaces such as SRAM and LCD controllers, within minutes and then build their own designs using the free downloadable reference design source codes, implementing these features in less than an hour.

To Learn More

For more information about the MachXO and ispMACH 4000ZE families, visit the Lattice website or contact your local Lattice sales representative.