Plextek's image processing enhancements help medical applications exploit HD

Plextek is now offering image processing capabilities designed to help medical device manufacturers overcome the technical challenges involved in developing mega-pixel video solutions for medical applications.

These enhancements allow medical device manufacturers to create more affordable, efficient and intelligent High Definition (HD) video imaging solutions that are better tailored to individual medical use cases.

Image compression is required for HD video but standard techniques fail to address the special needs of medical applications. Plextek has developed adaptive processing techniques that apply different levels of compression to different parts of an image based on specific parameters. Key information can be retained in high definition within an area of importance; a heart valve for example or specific parts of the image showing certain texture statistics such as those associated with tumours. Other image areas are then compressed to a lower definition. This retains the inherent benefits image processing brings by reducing the overall amount of data being handled whilst still retaining the key advantages of HD.

For real-time video interaction, system latency can also be a problem. Standard video compression algorithms typically achieve high data compression but at the expense of processing delay. Making use of HD in medical applications requires real time evaluation and makes control more difficult. Plextek’s low latency image compression techniques mitigate latency issues and provide enhanced system performance.

The massive increase in storage requirements required by HD can also be an expensive problem. This can be addressed by automated, context-sensitive storage schemes that rely on event detection to determine whether a particular sequence of images is useful to store, and can lead to significant savings.

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Plextek agrees technology alliance with REDTAIL Telematics®

Plextek has agreed an exclusive technology alliance with REDTAIL Telematics for vehicle and asset tracking technology. Under the agreement, REDTAIL Telematics will use Plextek’s VAM (Vehicle Asset Management) products in its fleet management service and will also become the exclusive worldwide distributor of this technology to other operators.

VAM technology enables companies that operate vehicle fleets to make significant cost savings, and provides a data channel to provide a wide range of value added services. REDTAIL Telematics uses VAM to report vehicle locations in real time, allowing logistics operations to be optimised and efficiency of staff to be monitored. Other innovative companies will use VAM’s data channel as the backbone of new telemetry businesses.

Plextek’s VAM product results from two decades of experience designing and supplying high volume automotive devices. The product is a highly versatile device that gathers data about the vehicle and communicates this information to a central server over a GSM link. Typically this includes location and motion data, along with status information from external devices such as the OBD-II bus.

The device supports 12V and 24V supplies making it suitable for small vehicles, trucks and trailers. It has been certified for use in most geographical regions including the US and Europe. Future variants are envisaged that allow operation in specialised applications, for example in locations when cellular coverage cannot be guaranteed.

REDTAIL Telematics is a new business headquartered in the UK. Based upon low cost manufacturing, world class product design and global airtime /network contracts the company has launched its first operation in the US, based in San Diego, as part of its global roll-out.

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Release of LTE and WCDMA protocol development tools

In order to help companies develop 3G and 4G systems, Plextek has released an internal development tool that will help software engineers analyse the contents of protocol messages.

3GPP, the body who define the W-CDMA and LTE standards use a complex notation known as ASN.1 to define protocol message types and content. This helps to avoid ambiguity in setting standards but requires careful translation into software code.

In order to assist this translation process, Plextek has developed a customisable ASN.1 viewer and compiler. This is now available in a trial form with limited functionality and can be downloaded from the Plextek website.

Plextek uses a number of dedicated tools such as this to help clients develop technology for handsets, femto cells and network infrastructure. The availability of these tools and in-house expertise helps to significantly speed up the process of getting new products to market.

To download the trial tool please click here

Supporting MoD with NIGHT OWL Exercise

Plextek supported the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Intermediate Command & Staff Course (Land) (ICSC(L)) on its annual NIGHT OWL exercise at the Joint Services Command & Staff College (JSCSC).

The event, which featured Plextek’s Blighter radar technology, took place over two nights on 9-10 November and guided students through hands on experience of the latest in surveillance and security technology.

Plextek has supported the event for three years now and has worked closely with ICSC(L) and Defence Academy staff to ensure students experience the latest in battlefield surveillance technology.

Plextek’s Blighter radar systems continue to prove themselves a valuable asset within defence, force protection and homeland security environments. Blighter is now used in the UK, France, Poland and the Czech Republic in Europe; the Middle East including Saudi Arabia; Asia Pacific including South Korea and Australia, as well as North America.

“We are very grateful for Plextek’s continued support on this exercise,” said Major Gareth Davies, the ICSC(L) Directing Staff responsible for Exercise NIGHT OWL. “It’s essential for students to see the very best in equipment capability and develop a good understanding of its capabilities and potential – working with Plextek makes this possible.”

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Plextek redesigns obsolete ICs for leading US company

Plextek has redesigned two GaAs ICs for a major US-based high technology company after the original devices, which are used in a large number of different boards and products, became obsolete and could no longer be sourced.

In turning to Plextek, the company was able to avoid the expensive process of completely redesigning its various boards and products to accommodate a replacement IC and could instead cost effectively source direct pin-compatible replacements with no change to the performance specifications.

Plextek had previously provided GaAs IC design services to the company and was approached again when this new requirement emerged. As a result of its detailed knowledge of the commercial GaAs industry Plextek ensured that the replacement ICs would be available within the required timescales. This involved the selection of a suitable commercially available process, IC design and layout as well as arranging packaging and test. In creating the redesigned devices, Plextek identified and worked closely with US foundry GCS and Cirtek, a packaging company based in the Philippines.

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