Time-of-Flight Decoding with Tensilica Vision DSPs

Today, let's break down time-of-flight (ToF) and how Tensilica Vision DSPs can be leveraged for depth sensing.

So, ToF? It's all about measuring depth. We've got two main types: Direct ToF (dToF) and Indirect ToF (iToF). dToF is like shouting and waiting for the echo—it measures the actual time it takes for light to bounce back.

Then there's iToF, where one figures out distance by comparing the phase of the light waves.

Now, turning all that raw data into something useful, like a 3D map, is tough. It involves steps like figuring out the phase shifts in the light (phase extraction), smoothing out the data (phase unwrapping and filtering), and finally calculating the depth. All these steps need a lot of processing power, and normal CPUs often struggle.

That's where Cadence's Tensilica Vision DSPs come in. These DSP cores are built for this kind of stuff. They can do a ton of parallel processing (thanks to SIMD and VLIW), handle data really efficiently, and even have special instructions for things like arctangent and square roots, which are common in ToF calculations. Plus, if needed, they can use floating-point math for extra precision or run AI algorithms for even better data.

What's the big deal? Well, these DSPs are way more efficient than regular CPUs or GPUs. We're talking about a larger number of cycles in a given amount of time.

In a nutshell, if you're dealing with image pre/post-processing workloads like ToF sensing, especially for devices where power matters (think cars, robots, or VR headsets), Tensilica Vision DSPs are a really smart choice. They offer speed, efficiency, and flexibility to handle all the complex calculations needed. Plus, they're not just for basic ToF processing; they can handle AI tasks too, all on the same chip.

If you're curious, there will be a live demo at CadenceLIVE Silicon Valley on May 7, 2025. Register now to see it in action!

Stay tuned to learn about how Vision DSPs can enable AI for ToF decoding.

In the meantime, there are tons of resources online if you want to dive deeper into the details of Vision DSPs.