Date:19th Sep 2011

SIGMA's SD1 high-performance digital cameras designed using Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGAs

Xilinx, Inc. has announced that SIGMA Corp. has used Spartan-6 FPGAs in its 46-megapixel-flagship digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera, the SIGMA SD1.

The SIGMA SD1 design team credits the performance, low power and flexibility of Xilinx's Spartan-6 FPGA with enabling high-quality, reliable image capture, while minimizing power consumption to reduce standby power in suspend mode and extend battery life, according to Xilinx. Spartan-6 FPGAs interface to the 23.5x15.7mm APS-C full-color X3 direct image sensor, serving as a fundamental component for capturing all primary RGB (red green blue) colors at each and every pixel location for a full and complete image, with a 3-dimensional, film-like quality.

As per Xilinx its Spartan-6 FPGAs handle large volumes of data at high speed, supporting double data rate 3 (DDR3) buffer memory technology for shooting capability of 5 frames per second and capture of up to seven RAW images (the output from each of the original red, green and blue sensitive pixels of the image sensor) per sequence.

"We're carving out a new category in the market place with SIGMA SD1 by providing high-end photographers with an alternative to expensive medium-format cameras, while offering unrivaled image quality," said Tatsuya Inui, Doctor of Science and Hirouki Toyama, Section Manager of Electronic Engineering Div. at SIGMA Corp. "Market response has been phenomenal. Our engineering team has relied on Xilinx FPGAs for many years to design high performance cameras that stand apart from the competition - this is one more stellar example of that. We're delighted with the support we've received and results achieved with Xilinx and Avnet EM Japan to date, and look forward to the company's new 7 series FPGAs and other new products."