This might not be the best place to post this, but you're insights have always been so helpfull here it is worth a try ;-)
I want to start a research project requiring a low cost CCD reading interface.
So far I don't know what control technology to choose from.
I have quite some experience with AVRS, but they seems too slow for this, regarding CCD reading speed and interface to computer...
No experience with ARMs to tell if they are fast enough for this...
FPGAs make good candidates, but require some HDL knowledge I miss... So I will probably have to find a freelance to help me.
I believe project requirements are not that huge :
-Linear RGB CCD clock generation and 3xADC reading
-Control of reading speed / exposure time.
-At least 3000x3 pixels sensor with 16 bits precision data, no processing required - only raw data.
-Position sense and recorded evey N line of data. (probably using an encoding wheel)
-Interface to PC, could be any... PCI, USB, Ethernet
(could even be direct write to external HD)
-Speed shouldn't be too slow, but it's more cost driven than speed driven.
I think the 16 bits analog interface can be challenging, but I have time to experiment on this.
So far I could make a proof of concept using an AVR, but it severly limits the speed at which I can read the sensor, not even talking about the interface.
ARMs might be a good solution, but I have never programmed one and have no clue about the differences in performance between the numerous devices available on the market.
FPGA seems the perfect choice despite the fact I must learn a HDL, but I have no clue how cost effective it can be.
If you have random thoughts on this, I would be pleased to read them ;-)
