Rapid Implementation and Optimisation of DSP Systems on SoPC Heterogeneous Platforms

The emergence of programmable logic devices as processing platforms for digital signal processing applications poses challenges concerning rapid implementation and high level optimization of algorithms on these platforms. This paper describes Abhainn, a rapid implementation methodology and toolsuite for translating an algorithmic expression of the system to a working implementation on a heterogeneous multiprocessor/field programmable gate array platform, or a standalone system on programmable chip solution. Two particular focuses for Abhainn are the automated but configurable realisation of inter-processor communuication fabrics, and the establishment of novel dedicated hardware component design methodologies allowing algorithm level transformation for system optimization. This paper outlines the approaches employed in both these particular instances.

可用于核物理监控系统的microC/OS-Ⅱ片上系统的研究

论述了一种基于FPGA和实时操作系统microC/OS-Ⅱ、适用于核物理数据检测和实验控制的片上可编程系统SOPC(System On a Programmable Chip)的设计,并在altera-stratix-Ⅱ2S60f1020c3芯片内获得实现。该片上可编程系统的硬件处理器和实时操作系统都可根据需求裁剪、重配置。

应用于同步加速器时序控制的片上可编程系统的设计

同步加速器对控制信号的时间约束要求非常严格,时序控制是加速器控制系统中十分重要的环节。在兰州重离子加速器冷却储存环(HIRFL-CSR)控制系统中,时序控制主要采用FPGA+ARM+linux+DSP的体系结构。本文介绍基于FPGA和uClinux操作系统的片上可编程系统(SOPC)的设计,可将目前ARM+LINUX的工作完全集成在FPGA内实现,省去专用ARM芯片。其最高工作频率可达185 MHz,硬件资源消耗不到4%。片上可编程系统的硬件处理器系统和操作系统都可根据具体需求重新裁剪和配置。SOPC技术在加速器物理以及其他领域有着非常广泛的应用前景。

智能相机在激光焊缝跟踪检测系统中的应用研究

本文以中国科学院知识创新工程重要方向项目“全自动激光拼焊成套装备关键技术研究与示范应用”及沈阳市科技攻关项目“激光视觉焊缝自动跟踪与质量检测系统”为依托，针对激光焊接这个难点问题，在广泛调研国内外研究现状的基础上，研究开发了一套激光视觉焊缝跟踪检测原理样机。本文主要包括以下四方面的工作：1焊缝跟踪系统的系统结构搭建；2图像处理方法研究；3图像处理方法在FPGA中的实现；4基于工业机器人的激光焊接实验 及结果分析。具体工作如下： 本文首先论述了应用于焊缝跟踪的线结构光视觉传感器检测原理，建立了激光焊缝跟踪检测系统实验平台。该平台由图像采集与处理模块、上位机系统、DSP控制器、伺服电机驱动器、伺服电机等五部分组成。 激光拼焊焊缝跟踪图像的处理方法是关键技术之一，直接影响系统的实时性，根据激光拼焊焊缝跟踪图像的特点设计了相应的图像处理算法，分析研究了基于数学形态学的焊缝跟踪结构光条纹图像增强算法，并根据本课题的特点提出了一种基于模板的边缘提取方法，能简洁快速地提取出单像素边缘，然后研究了结构光中心线提取算法以及焊缝特征点识别算法，最后通过仿真实验验证了该图像处理流程的有效性。 论文的重点在于图像处理方法在智能相机中的实时实现。跟踪系统对图像处理的实时性要求很高，传统的处理方法主要是在DSP中以软件编程的方式实现，速度难以进一步提高，本课题中通过在智能相机中的FPGA中构建一个SOPC系统，将基于硬件描述语言VHDL完成的图像预处理模块和基于Xilinx公司的microblaze软核的特征点提取模块集成在单片芯片上，实现了激光条纹特征点的实时提取，系统具有高度的灵活性与出色的功能。 最后对搭建的跟踪系统平台进行了实验研究，用实验验证了焊缝跟踪系统的性能，保证了该套系统能够满足实时跟踪的要求，可以达到预期的设计目标。

Implementação Hardware/Software da estimação de movimento segundo o padrão H.264

Motion estimation is the main responsible for data reduction in digital video encoding. It is also the most computational damanding step. H.264 is the newest standard for video compression and was planned to double the compression ratio achievied by previous standards. It was developed by the ITU-T Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) together with the ISO/IEC Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) as the product of a partnership effort known as the Joint Video Team (JVT). H.264 presents novelties that improve the motion estimation efficiency, such as the adoption of variable block-size, quarter pixel precision and multiple reference frames. This work defines an architecture for motion estimation in hardware/software, using a full search algorithm, variable block-size and mode decision. This work consider the use of reconfigurable devices, soft-processors and development tools for embedded systems such as Quartus II, SOPC Builder, Nios II and ModelSim

Arquitetura hardware/software de um núcleo NCAP segundo o padrão IEEE 1451.1: uma prova de conceito

Os sensores inteligentes são dispositivos que se diferenciam dos sensores comuns por apresentar capacidade de processamento sobre os dados monitorados. Eles tipicamente são compostos por uma fonte de alimentação, transdutores (sensores e atuadores), memória, processador e transceptor. De acordo com o padrão IEEE 1451 um sensor inteligente pode ser dividido em módulos TIM e NCAP que devem se comunicar através de uma interface padronizada chamada TII. O módulo NCAP é a parte do sensor inteligente que comporta o processador. Portanto, ele é o responsável por atribuir a característica de inteligência ao sensor. Existem várias abordagens que podem ser utilizadas para o desenvolvimento desse módulo, dentre elas se destacam aquelas que utilizam microcontroladores de baixo custo e/ou FPGA. Este trabalho aborda o desenvolvimento de uma arquitetura hardware/software para um módulo NCAP segundo o padrão IEEE 1451.1. A infra-estrutura de hardware é composta por um driver de interface RS-232, uma memória RAM de 512kB, uma interface TII, o processador embarcado NIOS II e um simulador do módulo TIM. Para integração dos componentes de hardware é utilizada ferramenta de integração automática SOPC Builder. A infra-estrutura de software é composta pelo padrão IEEE 1451.1 e pela aplicação especí ca do NCAP que simula o monitoramento de pressão e temperatura em poços de petróleo com o objetivo de detectar vazamento. O módulo proposto é embarcado em uma FPGA e para a sua prototipação é usada a placa DE2 da Altera que contém a FPGA Cyclone II EP2C35F672C6. O processador embarcado NIOS II é utilizado para dar suporte à infra-estrutura de software do NCAP que é desenvolvido na linguagem C e se baseia no padrão IEEE 1451.1. A descrição do comportamento da infra-estrutura de hardware é feita utilizando a linguagem VHDL

IEEE 1451-based multi-interface module (I2M) for industrial processes automation

This paper describes the implementation of a multi-interface module (I2M) for automation of industrial processes, based on the IEEE1451 standard. Process automation with I2M can communicate through either wires or using wireless communication, without any hardware or software changes. We used FPGA resources to implement the I2M functions FPGA, with a NIOS II processor and ZigBee communication system (IEEE802.15), as well as RS232 serial standard. Part of the project was done in the SOPC Builder environment, which gave the designer flexibility and speed to implement the NIOS II-based microprocessor system. To test the I2M implementation, a didactic Industrial Hydraulic Module (MHI-01) was used to simulate two industrial processes to be controlled by the system proposed.

A self-adaptive image processing application based on evolvable and scalable hardware

Evolvable Hardware (EH) is a technique that consists of using reconfigurable hardware devices whose configuration is controlled by an Evolutionary Algorithm (EA). Our system consists of a fully-FPGA implemented scalable EH platform, where the Reconfigurable processing Core (RC) can adaptively increase or decrease in size. Figure 1 shows the architecture of the proposed System-on-Programmable-Chip (SoPC), consisting of a MicroBlaze processor responsible of controlling the whole system operation, a Reconfiguration Engine (RE), and a Reconfigurable processing Core which is able to change its size in both height and width. This system is used to implement image filters, which are generated autonomously thanks to the evolutionary process. The system is complemented with a camera that enables the usage of the platform for real time applications.

Phospholipid chlorohydrin induces leukocyte adhesion to Apoe(-/-) mouse arteries via upregulation of P-selectin

HOCl-modified low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has proinflammatory effects, including induction of inflammatory cytokine production, leukocyte adhesion, and ROS generation, but the components responsible for these effects are not completely understood. HOCl and the myeloperoxidase-H2O2-halide system can modify both protein and lipid moieties of LDL and react with unsaturated phospholipids to form chlorohydrins. We investigated the proinflammatory effects of 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-3-glycerophosphocholine (SOPC) chlorohydrin on artery segments and spleen-derived leukocytes from ApoE-/- and C57 Bl/6 mice. Treatment of ApoE-/- artery segments with SOPC chlorohydrin, but not unmodified SOPC, caused increased leukocyte-arterial adhesion in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. This could be prevented by pretreatment of the artery with P-selectin or ICAM-1-blocking antibodies, but not anti-VCAM-1 antibody, and immunohistochemistry showed that P-selectin expression was upregulated. However, chlorohydrin treatment of leukocytes did not increase expression of adhesion molecules LFA-1 or PSGL-1, but caused increased release of ROS from PMA-stimulated leukocytes by a CD36-dependent mechanism. The SOPC chlorohydrin-induced adhesion and ROS generation could be abrogated by pretreatment of the ApoE-/- mice with pravastatin or a nitrated derivative, NCX 6550. These findings suggest that phospholipid chlorohydrins formed in HOCl-treated LDL could contribute to the proinflammatory effects observed for this modified lipoprotein in vitro.

Phospholipid chlorohydrins cause ATP depletion and toxicity in human myeloid cells

Chlorohydrins of stearoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (SOPC), stearoyl-linoleoyl phosphatidylcholine, and stearoyl-arachidonyl phosphatidylcholine were incubated with cultured myeloid cells (111,60) for 24 h, and the cellular ATP level was measured using a bioluminescent assay. The chlorohydrins caused significant depletion of cellular ATP in the range 10100 muM. The ATP depletion by the phospholipid chlorohydrins was slightly less than that of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, but greater than that of hexanal, trans-2-nonenal, and autoxidised palmitoyl-arachidonoyl phosphatidylcholine. SOPC chlorohydrin was also found to cause loss of viability in U937 cells, and thus phospholipid chlorohydrins could contribute to the formation of a necrotic core in advanced atherosclerotic lesions.

Phagocyte oxidation of phospholipids: comparison of hydroperoxide, chlorohydrin and epoxyisoprostane formation by LC-MS

Phagocytic cells produce a variety of oxidants as part of the immune defence, which react readily both with proteins and lipids, and could contribute to the oxidation of low density lipoprotein in atherosclerosis. We have investigated the oxidation of phospholipid vesicles by isolated human polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes, to provide a model of lipid oxidation in the absence of competing protein. PMA-stimulated cells were incubated with phospholipid vesicles contammg dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC), palmitoyl-arachidonoyl phosphatidylcholine (PAPC), and stearoyl-oleoyl phosphatidylcholine (SOPC), before extraction of the lipids for analysis by HPLC coupled to electrospray mass spectrometry. In this system, oxidized phosphatidylcholines elute earlier than the native lipids owing to their decreased hydrophobicity, and can be identified according to their molecular mass. The formation of monohydroperoxides of P APC was observed routinely, together with low levels of hydroxides, but no chlorohydrin derivatives of P APC or SOPC were detected. However, the major oxidized product occurred at 828 m/z, and was identified as I-palmitoyl-2-(5,6-epoxyisoprostane E2)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. These results show that phagocytes triggered by PMA cause oxidative damage to lipids predominantly by free radical mechanisms, and that electrophilic addition involving HOCl is not a major mechanism of attack. The contribution of myeloperoxidase and metal ions to the oxidation process is currently being investigated, and preliminary data suggest that myeloperoxidase-derived oxidants are responsible for the epoxyisoprostane phospholipid formation. The identification of an epoxyisoprostane phospholipid as the major product following phagocyte-induced phospholipid oxidation is novel and has implications for phagocyte involvement in atherogenesis.