6 Running the Demo

The demo showcases the reception of MIPI Rx data from two cameras, each supporting Full HD (FHD) resolution (1920 × 1080). The captured frames from the cameras are stored in DDR4 memory and subsequently transferred to the display in accordance with the display controller’s timing parameters. On the display side, the image processing pipeline applies a series of enhancements to the raw image, including:
  • Bayer Interpolation
  • Gamma Correction
  • Histogram Processing
  • Edge Detection
  • Image Enhancement
Additionally, the demo features automatic camera exposure control, which dynamically adjusts based on the surrounding lighting conditions. The display controller is responsible for generating FHD video synchronization signals, ensuring smooth and accurate video output.
The Full HD (FHD) output in the demo design supports the following advanced features:
  • Picture-in-Picture (PIP)
  • Edge Detection
  • Image Enhancements including:
    • Contrast Adjustment
    • Brightness Control
    • Color Balance
    • Alpha Blending
A Video Control GUI is provided for image enhancements, offering a unified interface for both video outputs. This GUI enables real-time adjustments and ensures seamless control over video processing parameters.
To run the demo, perform the following steps:
  1. Verify Imaging and Video Settings – To configure and adjust imaging parameters such as brightness, contrast, color balance, and other enhancements, use the Video Control GUI.
  2. Observe the Output – To confirm the applied settings and real-time adjustments, view the processed video output on an HDMI monitor.
This process ensures that the video pipeline functions correctly and the desired enhancements are applied effectively.

To use the demo GUI, perform the following steps:

  1. Launch the Video Control GUI from the installation directory. The GUI is displayed, as shown in the following figure.
    Figure 6-1. Video Control GUI
  2. Select the Interface 0 (COM23) port, as described in Setting Up the Serial Terminal, and then click the Connect button.
    Figure 6-2. Connecting the GUI and Video Kit
    The Connect button turns green indicating a successful connection, as shown in the following figure.
    Figure 6-3. Connection Successful
  3. To adjust the contrast and brightness, and observe the change on the HDMI monitor, move the Contrast and Brightness sliders appropriately. The sliders are highlighted in the following figure.
    Figure 6-4. Adjusting Contrast and Brightness
  4. To adjust the color balance of the image, move the sliders using the color balance sliders.
  5. To change the PIP settings, select the PIP Menu.
  6. Select the source of the PIP window between Camera 1 and Camera 2 using PIP: Source Select. The position of the PIP window can be moved anywhere within the screen by dragging the pink Picture In Picture box. The Auto Mode Start option moves the PIP window automatically. The speed of this movement is controlled using the Auto Mode Step slider.
    Figure 6-5. PIP Menu
  7. Close the PIP Menu window.
  8. To enable or disable the defective pixel functionality, navigate to the Defective Pixel Menu, as shown in the following figure, and select the threshold values as listed:
    • Threshold 1: The first detection threshold establishes the minimum absolute difference between pixels and their adjacent pixels of the same color.
    • Threshold 2: The second detection threshold determines how the difference in pixels compares to the differences in pixels of other colors.
    Important: The defective pixel correction feature, when enabled and configured with specified thresholds, adjusts the output video to reduce the impact of dead or stuck pixels on the screen. Each pixel is compared to established threshold values. If the pixel's value falls below the threshold, it is identified as a dead pixel and eliminated.
    Figure 6-6. Defective Pixel Menu
    Figure 6-7. Defective Pixel Correction
  9. To view the histogram plot of the live video, navigate to the main video control GUI window and select Histogram option.

    The following histogram bar graph shows the number of pixels with a particular intensity level. For example, a y-axis value of 500000 at x-axis 100 indicates that there are 500000 pixels with an intensity of 100 (range is 0–255). The Intensity curve on the right side can be used to remap the intensity levels to a new value. The advantage of using intensity curve is that the pixel intensities can be remapped, independently. For example, the pixels below an intensity range of 50 can be modified, independently. The curve can also be used to adjust the black levels of the video frames.

    Figure 6-8. Histogram
  10. To return to the main GUI, close the Histogram window.
  11. To exit from the demo, close the GUI.

This concludes the demo.