By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - Microsoft Discussion - Final chip spec for Natal

http://www.develop-online.net/news/34356/Revealed-the-final-chip-spec-for-Natal

Revealed: the final chip spec for Natal

Natal design to be based on tech by Israeli company PrimeSense

The final edition of Microsoft’s Project Natal control prototype features technology based on an all-encompassing system-on-a-chip.

And Microsoft says that the newly-revealed component will help the company “deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment”.

Natal’s tech is now thought to be a modified version of the PS1080 chip – built by Israeli company PrimeSense and featuring a “multi-sense system” offering synchronised depth image, colour image and audio stream.

PrimeSense company president Aviad Maizels says that the “Xbox 360 Hardware Engineering teams developed the Natal sensor based on the PrimeSensor reference design.”
 
The technical specifications of Natal have always been a moving target, with Microsoft making constant adjustments to the device throughout its development.

Now, with a mere six months to go before Natal’s launch, the platform holder must fully finalise its design to aid its development partners and manufacturing firms.

Advertisement

Last year Microsoft purchased a stake of camera technology group 3DV in what is thought to be a $7m deal, giving Natal advanced camera technology.

However, Natal’s dual-chip system was recently cut in half after what was said to be concerns over memory and processing usage.

PrimeSense today confirmed that its 3D-sensing technology will remain in Project Natal.

“We’ve seen tremendous excitement and anticipation for the arrival of ‘Project Natal’ this holiday,” said Ilan Spillinger, vice president of Xbox 360 hardware.

“PrimeSense has delivered an important component to the technology, helping us deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment experiences in the living room,” he added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts?  Here are the PrimeSense camera specs, these are not for Natal, but for the PrimeSense made hardware.  So they will probably be similar, but probably aren't exactly the same:

http://www.primesense.com/category/reference_design

 
Block Diagram
Specification
Property Spec
Field of View (Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal) 58° H, 45° V, 70° D
Depth image size VGA (640x480)
Spatial x/y resolution (@ 2m distance from sensor) 3mm
Depth z resolution (@ 2m distance from sensor) 1cm
Maximum image throughput (frame rate) 60fps
Operation range 0.8m - 3.5m
Color image size UXGA (1600x1200)
Audio: built-in microphones Two mics
Audio: digital inputs Four inputs
Data interface USB 2.0
Power supply USB 2.0
Power consumption 2.25W
Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth) 14cm x 3.5cm x 5cm
Operation environment (every lighting condition) Indoor
Operating temperature 0°C - 40°C


Around the Network

60fps..awesome!!



That would be a wonderful color camera, and probably overkill for the usage on a 720p-1080p console. They might have downgraded it to a VGA or wide XGA one.



"All you need in life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure." - Mark Twain

"..." - Gordon Freeman

JaggedSac said:

http://www.develop-online.net/news/34356/Revealed-the-final-chip-spec-for-Natal

Revealed: the final chip spec for Natal

 

Natal design to be based on tech by Israeli company PrimeSense

The final edition of Microsoft’s Project Natal control prototype features technology based on an all-encompassing system-on-a-chip.

And Microsoft says that the newly-revealed component will help the company “deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment”.

Natal’s tech is now thought to be a modified version of the PS1080 chip – built by Israeli company PrimeSense and featuring a “multi-sense system” offering synchronised depth image, colour image and audio stream.

PrimeSense company president Aviad Maizels says that the “Xbox 360 Hardware Engineering teams developed the Natal sensor based on the PrimeSensor reference design.”
 
The technical specifications of Natal have always been a moving target, with Microsoft making constant adjustments to the device throughout its development.

Now, with a mere six months to go before Natal’s launch, the platform holder must fully finalise its design to aid its development partners and manufacturing firms.

Advertisement

Last year Microsoft purchased a stake of camera technology group 3DV in what is thought to be a $7m deal, giving Natal advanced camera technology.

However, Natal’s dual-chip system was recently cut in half after what was said to be concerns over memory and processing usage.

PrimeSense today confirmed that its 3D-sensing technology will remain in Project Natal.

“We’ve seen tremendous excitement and anticipation for the arrival of ‘Project Natal’ this holiday,” said Ilan Spillinger, vice president of Xbox 360 hardware.

“PrimeSense has delivered an important component to the technology, helping us deliver revolutionary controller-free entertainment experiences in the living room,” he added.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thoughts?  Here are the PrimeSense camera specs, these are not for Natal, but for the PrimeSense made hardware.  So they will probably be similar, but probably aren't exactly the same:

http://www.primesense.com/category/reference_design

 
Block Diagram
Specification
Property Spec
Field of View (Horizontal, Vertical, Diagonal) 58° H, 45° V, 70° D
Depth image size VGA (640x480)
Spatial x/y resolution (@ 2m distance from sensor) 3mm
Depth z resolution (@ 2m distance from sensor) 1cm
Maximum image throughput (frame rate) 60fps
Operation range 0.8m - 3.5m
Color image size UXGA (1600x1200)
Audio: built-in microphones Two mics
Audio: digital inputs Four inputs
Data interface USB 2.0
Power supply USB 2.0
Power consumption 2.25W
Dimensions (Width x Height x Depth) 14cm x 3.5cm x 5cm
Operation environment (every lighting condition) Indoor
Operating temperature 0°C - 40°C


what does the chip mean? I'm not that tech savy.



Yeah, I definitely think they downgraded the RGB resolution. I also think that the hardware has a 60fps feed, but the 30fps mentioned in past articles and interviews was in relation to how fast the neural network software ran. Things may have changed though and they are doing 60fps.



Around the Network

Here is the Prime sense demo from CES 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH33xpAA1k8



Just want to play good games

red_dragon said:
Here is the Prime sense demo from CES 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH33xpAA1k8

Thanks for the video.  The photo application is done well.  The on screen indication of where your motions are and how they affect the application are well done.  It seems to sense the motions well as well.



wait one second, am I seeing it correctly that it only works from .8 to 3.5 meters.

3.5 meters is only like 11 1/2 feet. So multiple people are supposed to play in an area only 11 1/2 feet away from the T.V.??? what about people who have their video game area set up to be optimized for playing 15 feet away as I do...Wow, so much for great technology.



Money can't buy happiness. Just video games, which make me happy.

Baalzamon said:
wait one second, am I seeing it correctly that it only works from .8 to 3.5 meters.

3.5 meters is only like 11 1/2 feet. So multiple people are supposed to play in an area only 11 1/2 feet away from the T.V.??? what about people who have their video game area set up to be optimized for playing 15 feet away as I do...Wow, so much for great technology.

Most likely this is due to degradation of accuracy the farther back one gets from the camera.  One could calculate the dimensions of the detected image using the FOV detailed in the specs listed to see exactly how much space one would have at 3.5 meters away from the camera.

Before, people were complaining about needing too much space, now it is not enough.  I guess they cannot please everyone.



JaggedSac said:
red_dragon said:
Here is the Prime sense demo from CES 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH33xpAA1k8

Thanks for the video.  The photo application is done well.  The on screen indication of where your motions are and how they affect the application are well done.  It seems to sense the motions well as well.


that video left me wanting to see more. It felt like a teaser video.