Integrated memory array processor: A prototype VLSI and a real-time vision system

The authors describe the architecture and performance of a real-time vision system (RVS) and its use of an integrated memory array processor (IMAP) prototype LSI. This LSI integrates eight 8 bit processors and a 144 Kbit SRAM on a single chip. The RVS was developed using 64 IMAP prototype LSIs connected in series in a 512 processor system configuration. A host workstation can access memory on the IMAP prototype LSIs directly through a random access port. RVS peformance is shown in real-time road image processing and in real-time face detection as well as in low level image processing algorithms, such as filtering, histograms, discrete cosine transform (DCT), and rotation. The RVS image processing is shown to be much faster than the video rate.