FPGA based Hardware Co-Simulation Implementation for RealTime Image Blind Separation using ICA Algorithms

Abstract

The use of mixed image sources requires digital preprocessing to separate them, for making easier their storage and improve their quality. The ICALAB for Image Processing method is one of the solutions proposed for the blind efficient separation of signals without prior knowledge of the source images. Nevertheless, to choose the appropriate algorithm with the most efficient separation index, several tests are carried out on a certain number of algorithms, with off-line processing of image samples bases, by means of software tools which are generally installed on a computer, such as ICALAB, TIPICA, GIFT, NMFLAB, model identification UBSS, ... Thus, in order to perform the image separation processing in real time, this study aims to develop a rapid prototyping embedded system for implementing the blind source separation concept. It mainly provides a promising approach for implementing twelve efficient blind image separation algorithms on the ZYBO Z7 FPGA board, using Xilinx System Generator (XSG) for Real Time Hardware Co-simulation. As an application example, this study deals with the blind separation of two e-frames mixture, and then provides the adequate algorithm, basing on the calculation of the Performance Index (PI), and the separated images results. Keywords—Blind Image Separation; Hardware CoSimulation; Independent Component Algorithm (ICA); Xilinx System Generator (XSG); Zynq-7000; VHDL.