This paper presents a dataflow computer developed at the ETCA and dedicated
to real-time image processing. Two types of data-driven processing elements,
dedicated respectively to low and mid-level processings are integrated in a
regular 3D array. Its design relies on a close integration of the data-flow
architecture principles and the functional programming concept.
An image processing algorithm, first expressed using an FP-like functional
syntax is converted into a Data-flow Graph in which the nodes are real time
operators implementable on the physical processors of the data-flow machine.
This data-flow graph is then directly mapped onto the processor array.
The programming environment includes a complete FP-specification to network
configuration compilation stream along with a global operator database.
An experimental system, including 1024 low-level custom data-flow processors
6 x 25 MBytes/s, 50 million operations per second) and 3 T800 transputers,
was built and several image processing algorithms were run in real-time at
digital video speed.