A data-flow functional computer for real-time image processing

The authors present a dataflow computer, consisting of an array of dataflow processors, dedicated to real-time image processing. A custom processor, able to perform up to 50 million operations/s on 25 Mbyte/s dataflows, has been developed for low-level computations and T800 transputers are used for high-level ones. The dataflow computer is programmed in a pure functional style (Backus) programming language with a single formalism for both types of processors. An experimental system including 256 low-level dataflow processors and one transputer has been built, and several image processing algorithms have run on it in real time at digital video speed. This system will be extended very soon to 1024 low-level processors and 32 high-level processors