- Embedded Linux and traditional real-time operating system configurations
- Leverages IPS’s concurrent rendering architecture
- Extended networking
- Rich user interface
- Comprehensive development tools chain
Modular firmware platform for developing printers, multifunction printers (MFPs) and scanners based on CSR’s Quatro® SOCs.
Inferno is CSR’s firmware and tools platform for developing printers, multifunction printers (MFPs) and scanners with CSR’s Quatro® system-on-chips (SoCs). Quatro is a family of highly integrated SOCs that features a powerful ARM CPU core and a highly programmable DSP for high-performance, next-generation hardcopy imaging products.
Inferno runs on Quatro development boards and implements functions such as printing, scanning, copying, connectivity, networking and user interface.
Inferno can be configured to use Embedded Linux or a more traditional real-time operating system. Inferno also features an API for easily integrating CSR’s industry-leading IPS print language interpreters, which have been optimized to take advantage of Quatro’s dual-core CPU and DSP. Inferno is also integrated with a CSR Wi-Fi solution.
Inferno is targeted for a wide range of hardcopy imaging products:
- Low-end to high-performance
- Monochrome and color
- A3/Tabloid and A4/Letter paper size
- PDL and raster printing
- Optional graphical display
- Optional fax
- Optional Ethernet and Wi-Fi
- Single modular firmware platform for a family of SOCs that cover broad product range
- Programmable architecture for implementing unique features and algorithms
- Industry’s only controller solution with optimized PDL interpreters
Inferno Architecture
Inferno can be configured to use embedded Linux or a more traditional real-time operating system for Quatro’s ARM processor. The inferno-Linux configuration allows the customers to leverage Linux’s vast open source ecosystem, including open source libraries, device drivers and development tools. Alternatively, customers can choose the Inferno-NL configuration and work with a traditional real-time operating system such as ThreadX. Customers can also develop certain products on one OS and other products on another since the two configurations share the common architecture and much of the firmware code.
Inferno in either configuration is designed to provide the real-time processing capability required by high-performance printers, MFPs and scanners. FlexRISC microcontroller cores are used to offload the most time critical tasks in printer and scanner engine control. The powerful Quatro DSP cores maintain high-throughput image processing.
Inferno and IPS Print Language Interpreters
Inferno and CSR’s IPS PDL interpreters take full advantage of each other. For example, IPS’s concurrent rendering architecture leverages the SMP capability of Linux when running on Quatro’s dual-core version. The full IPS suite has been ported to Inferno/Quatro and tuned to maximize PDL printing performance.
Product Development
Inferno’s standard firmware and development tools are provided to Quatro customers free of charge. Inferno is designed to meet the varying needs of customers who want different degrees of customization. Inferno comes with a complete basic feature set for fast time-to-market. Customers who want extensive customizations can modify the supplied firmware components and/or add new firmware components. Inferno’s modular architecture simplifies any level of customization. Most of the code is provided in source form.
Quatro SoC
- Quatro® 5300
- Quatro® 4500
- Quatro® 4300
Operating System
- Embedded Linux
- ThreadX
- OS abstraction layer
Print Features
- Color and mono
- IPS PDLs
- JBIG raster
- Sample print driver (created with IPS DDK)
Copy Features
- Color and mono
- Various resolutions and screening methods
Scan Features
- Scan to PC, USB flash drive, network drive
- Uncompressed and JPEG compressed data
Fax Features
- G3 with ECM
- Up to V.34
- Color and mono
- JBIG fax
Development Tools
- Open source tools (gcc, gdb, etc.)
- CSR-developed DSP and flexRISC tools
- Optional third-party commercial tools
Others
- Low-power sleep mode
- USB, Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity
