Digital broadcasting will start soon, providing multi-channel, high-quality image/voice and new interactive services such as shopping, all of which are unavailable with conventional analog broadcasting. In Japan, in addition to digital broadcasting through satellite broadcasting such as BS and CS, terrestrial digital broadcasting has already started in some areas.
After digital broadcasting starts, a new style of TV will become available based on digital TV (DTV) rather than traditional analog TV. A Set-Top Box (STB) will be used to de-scramble the digital broadcast and provide interactive services. DTV and STB will be necessary in order for users to enjoy the benefits of the digital broadcasting era.
DTV and STB markets offer significant future potential throughout the world. In the US and Europe, digital broadcasting was originally delivered via satellite broadcasting, and since 1998 terrestrial digital broadcasting deployments have also been launched. Due to high-priced products and the large number of CATV users, popularization of digital broadcasting in the US has been somewhat delayed, while in Europe the service is steadily gaining subscribers and is centered on satellite broadcasting services. In Japan, such services have just started to become popular.
A key technology of DTV is MPEG2 decoding (playback). MPEG2 is the dominant worldwide digital video standard and NEC Electronics has significant expertise in this area. Digital broadcasting is based on this technology and our products will play a major role in the industry.
Plans are also underway to allow terrestrial digital broadcasts to be able to be played on mobile phones. Here, the STB playback technology is utilized. In the area of high resolution, we will also focus on H.264, the next generation MPEG technology, thus maintaining a constant lead in the most advanced image technologies.
During the transition period from analog to digital broadcasting, DTV also needs to be able to receive analog broadcasts. NEC Electronics has expertise in these analog technologies. Among them is the highly acclaimed ghosting reducer used to eliminate ghosting that may appear in residential areas, as well as the color signal separation circuits that are required to produce clear images.
Furthermore, STB technology focuses on a simplified single function STB in order to minimize the initial investment required by broadcasters. We will supply the low-end STB devices that will be required in future, and these will conform to open technical standards.
Figure 1:Functional block diagram of a digital high quality TV
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