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Volume 4 (Aug 01, 2003)
DVD Recorders and NEC Electronics (2/2)
When it comes to the heart of DVD recorders, look to NEC Electronics.
MPEG compression is conducted by removing and recording only the parts that move within the screen, namely the parts of the picture that have shifted slightly between the previous screen and the current one. To be able to do this, it is necessary to have the ability to predict movement. And to improve the accuracy of such predictions, a high-performance system capable of carrying out extensive operations within a short period of time is indispensable.
For DVD recorders, which receive TV broadcast signals and then record the images and sound in real time, it is essential that compression into MPEG format be conducted in real time as well. And that's where NEC Electronics' technology comes in.
NEC Electronics has developed an LSI capable of conducting real time compression into MPEG data and holds the top share in the world for this sector. Our most recent accomplishment is the development of the µPD61171 (Photo 1)-the world's first system LSI to integrate digital broadcasting reception and DVD recording capabilities.
The µPD61171 was created by bringing the key functions of a DVD recorder-moving image and sound data compression/expansion, graphics/moving image output, a high-performance CPU, etc.-together in one single chip. We also offer the µPD61171 Solution Kit for software development support (Photo 2). The µPD61171 Solution Kit consists of all the hardware necessary for users to develop programs for the µPD61171 and driver software capable of controlling that hardware.
As we approach the launch of terrestrial digital broadcasting, and as the demand for home-use recording devices with high-quality images and sound increases, we will continue to make the utmost effort to reduce both the cost of and space required for DVD recorders with built-in HDDs (hard disk drives).
COLUMN: Key features of the µPD61171
• Compatible with DVD and various digital broadcasting standards, as well as nearly all major world standard specifications. Able to simultaneously process up to three pieces of data, thereby enabling users to take advantage of a myriad of functions such as time shift playback, which allows users to watch recorded dynamic images whenever they want, and counterprogram recording.
• Equipped with two high-performance core CPUs for DVD recorder use. One of the CPUs is assigned for sound data playback, while the other makes it possible to activate Internet and advanced graphics applications, among others.
• Comes with two ATA ports compliant with standard specifications. Enables digital CS broadcast time shift play back through the use of an HDD and makes it possible to write to the DVD drive.
