*****For immediate use September 16th, 1999
NEC Launches Single Chip DolbyTM Digital*1 Audio Encoder LSI for Consumer Electronics
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| "µPD61003" |
NEC Corporation (NEC) (NASDAQ: NIPNY) (FTSE: 6701q.l) begins sampling from today of a single chip LSI for the DolbyTM Digital Consumer Encoder (DDCE)*2 standard widely used in a variety of digital consumer products such as DVD video recorders, Digital VHS decks and other consumer digital recording equipment.
The µPD61003*3 comprises a 26-bit digital signal processor (DSP) together with the necessary on-board memory (approx. 1Mb) to load firmware for encoder processing, thus enabling DDCE Class-A and MPEG audio*4 layer II functions on a single chip. Also, by integrating NEC's MPEG2 video encoder LSI (µPD61050) and a 32-bit RISC V853 microcontroller, the new LSI can be used to provide a simple solution for consumer-oriented audio-visual digital recording equipment. Complete with soft mute, digital attenuate and input select functions the µPD61003 provides a rich array of functions in such a compact device.
With the arrival of DVD video, digital video cameras and the implementation of digital broadcasting, demand is rapidly increasing for consumer equipment for recording, editing and storing high-quality video data.
NEC grasped this market trend early and has been developing new products for the promising consumer digital recorder market, as marked by its announcement at the 1997 ISSCC (International Solid State Circuits Conference) of the world's first single chip MPEG 2 video encoder LSI.
NEC will offer the new µPD61003 in conjunction with its MPEG-2 video encoder LSI, the µPD61050, and V853 RISC microcontroller as a chipset solution for DVD video recorders, Digital VHS decks and other consumer digital recording equipment expected to begin shipping in 2000. With the strength of this product lineup, the company aims to take a 30% share of the market for consumer-oriented digital recording equipment.
NEC also plans to begin development of the µPD61003 as a core for its System On a Chip devices. A family of single-chip encoding devices based on this core is planned from the year 2000 onwards, consisting of an AV encoder*5, AV CODEC*6 (compression/decompression) and an AV transcoder*7. Advancing these devices, NEC believes, will ensure digital consumer devices meet anticipated user needs with the emergence of multimedia networks.
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Notes:
*1: DolbyTM Digital:
Is a high-quality audio signal compression algorithm, formerly known as AC-3TM, developed by Dolby Laboratories and is used in DVD and Digital TV applications around the world.*2: DolbyTM Digital Consumer Encoder (DDCE):
An audio encoding standard for consumer devices developed by Dolby Laboratories.*3: For use of the µPD61003, a license is needed from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Further information can be obtained from: encoderlicensing@dolby.com *4: MPEG Audio:
An ISO/IEC standard for high quality, high compression-ratio stereo audio signals.
In MPEG Audio Layer-II, bit rate is reduced to between 1/12th to 1/6th for linear PCM and audio of the same quality when transmitted.*5: AV Encoder:
A means for compressing audio-visual data for transmission and use in digital recording equipment. Conversely, to playback this compressed data, an AV Decoder is used.*6: AV Codec:
Is a device containing both AV encoder and an AV decoder functions.*7: Transcoder:
Used to convert bitstreams between formats, for example between formats used by the transmitting and receiving ends of a transmission, as well as for conversion of bit rates, and TS-PS conversions etc.
- Dolby and AC-3 are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
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Media Contact:- Aston Bridgman NEC Corporation TEL: +81-3-3798-6511 FAX: +81-3-3457-7249 E-mail:Aston_Bridgman@HO-PRD.ccgw.nec.co.jp |
Customer Contact:- NEC Semiconductor Technical Hotline (Information Center) TEL: +81-(0)44-548-8899 FAX: +81-(0)44-548-7900 E-mail:s-info@saed.tmg.nec.co.jp URL: http://www.ic.nec.co.jp/index_e.html |
