Ambarella CV5 single chip likely to find use in next-generation GoPro cameras

Ambarella, a specialist in single-chip imaging systems, today announced the CV5 SoC. This microcircuit is designed to be produced using 5-nanometer technology. It can handle one 8K stream or four 4K streams with minimal power consumption, providing many advanced features, including those built on AI algorithms.

The centerpiece of the CV5 is the Ambarella CVflow AI block with two Arm Cortex-A76 processors clocked at 1.6GHz. It is complemented by an image signal processor capable of encoding 8K video at up to 60 fps – both in H.264 (AVC) and H.265 (HEVC). In this case, the power consumption is only 5 W, and if you reduce the frame rate to 30 fps, then it decreases to 2 W. The ability to work with four 4K streams makes the new SoC an excellent option for panoramic cameras with simultaneous shooting of multiple modules. At the same time, image processing can be performed, including face recognition using the above AI algorithms. It should also be noted support for multiple HDR modes and slow motion.

The equipment of the single-chip system includes SLVS-EC and MIPI-CSI (C / D PHY) interfaces, allowing up to 14 cameras to be connected simultaneously. RGGB, RCCB, RCCC, RGB-IR and monochrome sensors are supported without any additional conversions. The single-chip system features four PCIe lanes, CAN FD, Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.1 (host and device) interfaces, three SD card controllers, and MIPI DSI / CSI-2 and HDMI video outputs. It is possible to connect LPDDR4x, LPDDR5 and LPDDR5x memory up to 32 GB over a 64-bit bus.

The SOC is available in a 16 x 16 mm FBGA package. It works well for drone and action cameras. Although the manufacturer does not name the customers, the illustration published by him suggests that the CV5 can be found in DJI and GoPro products.