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NEC Electronics Delivers New System LSI for BS/CS/Terrestrial Digital Hi-Vision Broadcasting Systems
Industry's One of the Fastest CPU Cores with 533 MIPS Enables Simultaneous Processing of Dual Hi-Vision Videos and Multimedia Data
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| "µPD61160" |
"Photo of µPD61160-mounted board" |
KAWASAKI, Japan, SANTA CLARA, Calif. and DUESSELDORF, Germany, September 25, 2003 -
NEC Electronics Corporation and its subsidiaries in the United States and Europe, NEC Electronics America, Inc. and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH, today announced they have started taking orders for the µPD61160, a system LSI enabling versatility in user applications through its ability to simultaneously display two different digital Hi-Vision Videos and multimedia data such as MPEG-4 on one screen.
This LSI for digital Hi-Vision (high-definition) integrates all the major functions required for back-end audio and video processing of digital broadcast signals, such as extraction of content from the broadcast signal, MPEG decoding of digital video/audio signals, control and display of still pictures and video, applications and graphics support by integrated CPUs, as well as peripheral components, all on a single system LSI. Critically too, the device supports Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) standard-compliant BS digital broadcast, 110°CS broadcast, and terrestrial digital broadcast in Japan.
This LSI is capable of simultaneously decoding multiple standard definition video signals (hereafter called MPEG-2 MP@ML) to support legacy TV standards but more importantly, it can decode the High Definition standard (hereafter called MPEG-2 MP@HL), which is required for Hi-Vision picture quality. This flexible decoding allows a variety of combinations, such as simultaneous decoding of Dual MPEG-2 MP@HL Videos, 1 MPEG-2 MP@HL Video and 3 MP@ML Videos, or 4 MPEG-2 MP@ML Videos. These capabilities enable complete flexibility in the display of Hi-Vision Video, which can be dictated by user applications e.g. displaying screens side by side, or displaying several cascaded screens of different sizes.
The on-chip VR5500TM high-performance processor, one of the industry's fastest CPU for digital TVs provides 533 MIPS at 266MHz. The CPU is used for handling standard middleware, but it can also be linked to the display system. In this case, the powerful CPU provides increased flexibility by offering support for various types of multimedia broadcasts expected in the near future such as MPEG-4, which has been mentioned for digital terrestrial broadcasting or video streaming over IP/DSL applications. As there is already a second high-performance MIPS32TM architecture CPU for the control of the system LSI, the VR5500 can be dedicated entirely to user applications.
"With the fall of High Definition digital TV prices looming, as such TVs start being widely used, lowering cost while achieving differentiation in terms of higher performance and more sophisticated functions through LSI integration is imperative for final product manufacturers," said Shigeo Niitsu, 2nd System LSI Division, NEC Electronics Corporation. "The addition of multimedia broadcast functions to support the start of digital terrestrial broadcasts is also required for the back-end processing of next-generation digital TVs. Furthermore, a growing number of end users are demanding systems that simplify the use of the increasingly wide array of digital broadcasts and digital contents. We believe the µPD61160 is the perfect solution for all those demands, in respect of the price/performance benefits."
The device also supports the ATSC format, a North American digital broadcast signal transmission standard. Its highly configurable video output allows the optimum formats selection in line with the pixel configuration of the display unit, for example Progressive or Interlaced. As a result, the video, still pictures, and on screen display (OSD) plane data are easily adapted to the correct settings.
Additionally, independent down-conversion output for analog video is provided by the device. A National Television System Committee (NTSC) compliant video output copy-protection is provided independent from the main video output, enabling digital Hi-Vision signals to be recorded by today's analog VCRs, for which the pixel configuration need to be reduced (down-conversion). Moreover, thanks to the multi-decode support, it is possible to record a broadcast program whilst viewing another program and simultaneously display the program being recorded alongside the main TV picture (Picture-out-of-Picture) or in a smaller size over the main picture (Picture-in-Picture). A second video output independent from the main video output allows a stable second NTSC video output independent from the main video display method.
NEC Electronics released their first video decoder LSI in March 1998, and the µPD61130 family of decoder LSIs for set-top boxes (STB) in March 2001, and these products have been adopted by the major broadcasters around the world for standard decoders and PVRs.
NEC Electronics also announced the µPD61110 family of MP@ML decoder LSIs for low-cost STB on September 8 this year and launched the µPD61170 family of MPEG-2 MP@ML codec LSI's for DVD recorders in July this year.
With the release of the µPD61160, NEC Electronics will be one of the first in the industry to realize a full lineup of MPEG-2 decoder and encoder products for equipment ranging from low-cost to high-image-quality decoders, as well as recording-media-compatible products.
NEC Electronics will exhibit and demonstrate its latest products at CEATEC JAPAN 2003, a major show covering communications, information and video, that will be held at Makuhari Messe, Tokyo, Japan, starting October 7.
Pricing and Availability
Engineering samples of µPD61160 will be available at U.S. $70 per unit from December 2003. Mass production is slated to begin in the second quarter of 2004. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
For main features of µPD61160, please see the attached sheet.
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About NEC Electronics
NEC Electronics Corporation (TSE: 6723) specializes in semiconductor products encompassing advanced technology solutions for the high-end computing and broadband networking markets, system solutions for the mobile handsets, PC peripherals, automotive and digital consumer markets,
and platform solutions for a wide range of customer applications. NEC Electronics Corporation has 24 subsidiaries worldwide including NEC Electronics America, Inc. (www.am.necel.com) and NEC Electronics (Europe) GmbH (www.ee.nec.de). In addition to marketing, selling and supporting NEC Electronics products to customers in their respective regions, NEC Electronics America and NEC Electronics Europe also operate local manufacturing facilities in Roseville, California, and Ballivor, Ireland, respectively. Additionally, NEC Electronics America for North America
and NEC Electronics Europe for Europe are the sales and marketing channels of NEC AM-LCD and PDP modules. For additional information about NEC Electronics worldwide, visit www.necel.com.
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MIPS32 is a trademark of MIPS Technologies, Inc.
NEC Electronics either a registered trademark or trademark of NEC Electronics Corporation in Japan and/or other countries.
VR5500 is a trademark of NEC Electronics and/or NEC Electronics Corporation in Japan and other countries.
Information in the press releases, including product prices and
specifications is current on the date of the press announcement,
but is subject to change without prior notice.
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