Mars Science Laboratory MMM Digital Electronics Assembly (DEA)

The MMM Digital Electronics Assembly (DEA) interfaces the Mast Camera (Mastcam), the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), and the Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) science instruments to the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover. The DEA provides real-time image processing and JPEG compression and includes a large non-volatile image buffer.

Features:

• Constructed of four identical "slices", one per camera head.

• 8 Gigabyte NAND Flash (non-volatile) memory buffer (per slice)

• 128 Megabyte SDRAM (volatile) buffer (per slice)

• 10 Megapixel/s maximum input pixel rate (720p @ 10fps)

• Bayer pattern interpolation using 5 x 5 filter kernel

• Color space conversion and macroblock conversion for JPEG compression

• Real-Time JPEG compression

• Lossless first-difference predictive compression

• Z-stacking post-process performed in software

• Controls auto-focus and auto-exposure

• Controls camera mechanisms

Supported Science Instruments:
 

• Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)

• Mast Camera (Mastcam)

• Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI)