The Industry's First Video Encoder IC with Built-in Fog Reduction
Function for Vehicle and Outdoor Security Cameras

ROHM Co., Ltd. has recently announced the development of the BU6521KV, the industry's first video encoder IC equipped with fog-reduction function designed for use in devices equipped with camera modules, such as security cameras, home security equipment, and automotive drive recorders.

As the need for security increases comes a growing demand for vehicle and surveillance cameras that offer increased visibility in outdoor settings and environments with rapidly changing conditions. In response to this ROHM has developed the BU6521KV, integrating the industry's first fog reduction function along with a unique, hardware-based Adaptive Image Enhancer (AIE) that provides real-time image correction for significantly improved visibility in dark, harshly backlit, or unclear/foggy environments.

ROHM's unique fog-reduction technology creates a histogram of the brightness distribution of the input image. Based on this information, contrast correction and color correction are performed, after which the optimized image is output. This technology adjusts the contrast ratio of images that have become pale due to fog and restores fading colors for dramatically improved visibility. The IC is also equipped with an automatic correction function that determines whether any fogginess is present and performs correction based on the level of ‘whiteness'. This eliminates the need for an external CPU to detect changes in the environment and ensures that images will always remain free of fogginess, even in constantly changing conditions.

Another advantage is the BU6521KV's use of optimized computational algorithms embedded in the hardware, enabling frame rates up to 30fps – much more than the few fps possible with conventional software-based image correction systems.

Pricing :	1,200yen/unit
Availability :	September 2009 (Samples), December 2009 (OEM Quantities)

Video Encoder IC with Fog Correction Function   「BU6521KV」(PDF：119KB)

■Fog Reduction Correction Example

■Main features of the BU6521KV video encoder IC with fog-reduction function

1. Multiple image correction circuits built in
     ・Industry's first fog-reduction function
     ・AIE (Adaptive Image Enhancer) – a real-time hardware-based image correction functio
   　 for backlit/dark environments
     ・Edge enhancement and γ (gamma) correction functions
2. Supports a wide range of digital and analog input/output formats
     ・ITU-R BT.656 or YCbCr with synchronization signals
     ・8bit data bus (Full range or ITU-R BT.601)
     ・NTSC (27MHz, 28.63636MHz or 19.06993MHz)
       PAL (27MHz, 28.375MHz, 35.46895MHz or 18.9375MHz)
3. Analog CVBS output
     ・Built-in 10bit video DAC, 75Ω drive possible
4. I²C Bus interface
     ・I²C Bus Slave; Register can be configured via I²C BUS
5. SPI Bus interface
     ・SPI Master; Data Read from external EEPROM, Automatic register setting
6. Operating conditions
     ・Analog supply voltage: 2.7 to 3.6V
     ・Digital core supply voltage: 1.4 to 1.6V
     ・Operating temperature range: −40 to 85ºC
7. Package
     ・VQFP48C package: 9.0mm × 9.0mm × 1.625mm   0.5mm pin pitch
   

	AIE Adaptive Image Enhancer Series
	Fog Image Correction IC