*****For immediate use February 27th, 2001
NEC's powerful new generation of integrated set top box chips enable Personal Digital Recorders and multiple TV outputs.
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| " µPD61130" |
Milton Keynes, 27 February 2001 - NEC Corporation (NEC) unveiled its highly integrated second generation set top box and digital TV single chip solutions. The µPD61130 family is targeting the new generations of set top boxes (STB) with advanced features including Personal Digital Recorders (PDR). It also represents a real step up in the support for the standard digital television market, including DVB-MHP platforms.
NEC's µPD61130, the new family of Enhanced Multi-Media Architecture devices, can process multiple transport streams and features an integrated IDE interface. The µPD61130 is capable of simultaneously decoding two MP@ ML transport streams and of supporting enhanced graphics. A PCI interface allows for extensibility through external device connections. A high performance MIPSTM processor, based on NEC's VR series, caters for the progressively more processing hungry applications envisaged to be within advanced Set Top Boxes.
Simultaneous dual recording, whilst watching playback or live TV, picture in picture, or support for one TV and one VCR or even two TV sets in the home are possible with the µPD61130. This is done by flexible routing of transport streams coupled with the standard ATA interface for low cost hard disk drives and the dual MPEG decode functionality. Versatility of the µPD61130 is further enhanced by inclusion of PCI support. This enables connection of networking or processing devices making the µPD61130 family ideal for STB design concepts that use a modular approach, like DVB-MHP. For example, one may wish to add a cable modem, or interface to a second processor giving full scaleability to cover most set top box implementations.
An advanced graphics support engine is available to support repetitive, time consuming and computationally intensive operations needed in the generation of complex OSD and video functions. This significantly reduces the load on the CPU ensuring more processing power is available to the broadcast applications. Optional support for Dolby Digital enhances the all round audio-visual effect that a STB manufacturer would want to create.
"The digital TV market is evolving very rapidly," said Toshio Nakajima, General Manager of NEC's 1st System LSI Division. "Consumers expect more in terms of interactivity and performance. With the increasing amount of available program material, local storage represents a huge step forward in usability. It also creates a whole range of new business opportunities to broadcasters, who can now further pursue the targeting and retention of their audience. Recognising the importance of this field, NEC took an early pro-active approach and is already supporting PDR developments using our current volume production chip-sets. µPD61130 family is the next logical step."
Sampling now, the µPD61130 is fabricated on an advanced 0.13um process technology and is packaged as a Plastic Ball Grid Array (PBGA) device. NEC's Multi-Media Applications Centre (MMAC) in Milton Keynes is responsible for the specification of µPD61130 and also provides full design-in support with a comprehensive development environment. A software driver suite complements the hardware platforms to assist in development. Backwards compatibility with µPD61030 family ensures easy migration for users of the first generation chip.
Trade marks MIPS, VR Series, Dolby Laboratories or Dolby Digital
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Media Contact:
Daniel Mathieson
NEC Corporation
Tel: +81-3-3798-6511
Fax: +81-3-3457-7249
E-mail: *@p10-22150.star.nec.co.jp
