April 16, 2012 -- Xilinx, Inc. today announced at the National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB), that its Real-Time Video Engine (RTVE) reference design now allows equipment makers to leverage Xilinx video processing LogiCORE IP cores for quick implementation of video processing-intensive designs.

The RTVE enables AMBA AXI-4 interconnects and directly supports Kintex-7 FPGA devices to power the next generation of multiviewers while accelerating the path to production for OEMs and broadcast equipment designers. Kintex-7 FPGAs are 28-nm devices which deliver more than twice the computational power at half the power consumption as compared with previous generations of FPGAs.

The RTVE free source code reference design, built with industry expert and Certified Xilinx Alliance Program Member OmniTek initially for Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGAs, is a critical tool for broadcast equipment engineers developing products used in the acquisition, contribution, and distribution broadcast networks (ACDC) as well as in consumption applications like consumer digital televisions.

"Xilinx is the leader in programmable logic devices and we are the leader in productizing electronic designs for the broadcast and post production industries," said Roger Fawcett, Managing Director of OmniTek. "We're working together on these reference designs to provide broadcast engineers with distinct platforms that accelerate design production, reduce overall bill-of-material (BoM) costs through system integration into fewer devices which lowers power consumption."

The RTVE is best suited for broadcast switchers, broadcast routers, multi-viewers and display systems, all of which are undergoing intense development with industry and consumer demands for ever higher definition video and the resulting bandwidth and processing implications.

The improved RTVE reference design adds the ability to now process two video pipelines, features a web-based GUI, and improves video quality with the following enhancements:

Availability and Pricing

The Broadcast Real-Time Video Engine (RTVE) reference design is available under a no fee license from Xilinx. The RTVE for Virtex-6 and Spartan-6 FPGA implementations are currently available. The Kintex-7 FPGA RTVE will be available for download in May 2012.