A novel 2D filter design methodology

In many image processing applications, fast convolution of an image with a large 2D filter is required. Field programable gate arrays (FPGAs) are often used to achieve this goal due to their fine grain parallelism and reconfigurability. However, the heterogeneous nature of modern reconfigurable devices is not usually considered during design optimization. This paper proposes an algorithm that explores the implementation architecture of 2D filters, targeting the minimization of the required area, by optimizing the usage of the different components in the heterogenous device. Experiments show that the proposed algorithm can achieve on average 55% reduction in the required area when compared to current techniques.