Scalable high performance loop filter architecture for video codecs
There is continuous thrust on improved and innovative video solution to facilitate video conferencing, video surveillance, transcoding, streaming video and many more customer centric new solutions. Increasing frame rate and frame size demands high performance hardware accelerators (HWA) to enable efficient 16×16 pixels macroblock level (MB) pipelining inside video processing engine (IVAHD). Inloop de-blocking filter of H.264 codec reduces blocking artifacts in MB and it is very demanding in terms of cycles and resources (memory access and memory storage). Removal of blocking artifacts due to block-based video codecs takes around 20-25% of overall decoder complexity in current generation of standards (H.264) and trend will continue going forward in H.265. Higher adaptability of filter process, smaller block sizes (4×4), motion vector (MV) dependent boundary strength (BS) computation for each edge of 4×4 block, predefined order for doing filtering (vertical edge followed by horizontal edge) and data pixel loading of current and neighbor MB requires large number of accesses to shared memory of IVAHD (SL2), higher processing cycles and larger internal pixel buffer (IPB). This paper discusses novel approach of loop filter (LPF) operation to overcome above barriers and facilitate IVAHD to go up to 240fps frame rate in full HD processing of H.264 codec with leadership area and power. The final design in 28nm CMOS process is expected to take around 0.10 mm2 after actual place and route (consisting of 220 KGate with 5 KB of internal memory). Proposed design is capable of handling 4K@60fps and scalable to support H.265 inloop de-blocking filter.
A monolithic programmable Ultra-HD video codec engine
With advances in video coding standards like H.264 and HEVC coupled with those in the display technology, Ultra HD contents have started taking the mainstream. This is driving the need for high computation and memory bandwidth in current multi-media SOCs. In this paper, we present a monolithic multi-format video codec engine which achieves Ultra HD performance for H.264 High Profile, reduces the external memory bandwidth requirement by 2X as compared to its predecessor and takes only 5.9 mm2 of silicon area in a low power 28nm process.
Mechanical behaviour and durability of high volume fly ash cementitious composites
The purpose of this research is to separate different morphological particles of ASTM class F fly ash, and study their effect on mechanical behaviour and durability of high volume cementitious mixtures. In this research wet separation of raw fly ash is carried out, which resulted in three layers of different morphological particles. The first layer of particles float, comprise of about 1-5% of fly ash, is identified as cenospheres or hollow spheres. The second layer of particles is measured to be 55-60% of raw fly ash and consisting of porous spherical and rounded particles rich in Si and Al. The third layer particles is measured to be about 35-40% of raw fly ash. High volume fly ash cementitious composites containing second or third layer particles are tested under compression and bending, highlighting a higher strength and ductility in comparison to cementitious ones containing raw fly ash particles. KEYWORDS. Cementitious matrix; Raw fly ash; Second layer particles; Third layer particles.