NEC Electronics Introduces Next Generation of LSI Chips for HD DVD Systems
NEC has introduced its newest generation of its EMMA series of LSI chips for systems such as HD DVD players and recorders that handle the processing of next generation DVD content.
The latest EMMA series incorporates in a single chip all the functions necessary to process high definition images, sounds and graphics in HD DVD players. It can process compression formats such as MPEG2, H.264, and VC-1, and offers powerful support for high level applications by way of two built-in CPUs. EMMA3 is already used successfully in HD DVD players sold by Toshiba such as the HD-XA2 and HD-A2 in North America, the HD-XA2 and HD-XF2 in Japan, as well as other players designed for Europe and Australia.
NEC Electronics has shipped over 3 million back-end processing chips for DVD recorders in 2005 and has acquired a greater than 20 percent share of the global market. During the same period, the company also shipped over 24 million front-end processing chips for DVD recorders and held more than 30 percent of the global market.
NEC Electronics' EMMA series is the company's flagship series of digital AV devices. To date, over 20 types of EMMA products have been delivered to 50 companies in twelve different countries, with shipments totaling 30 million units. However, the increasing popularity of image and sound content based on compression formats such as H. 264 and VC-1 in HD DVD systems has generated demand for a new EMMA series to handle these evolving technologies. NEC Electronics designed its EMMA3 series with these needs in mind, and incorporated the following features:
- New high definition video formats such as H.264 and VC-1 that support high image quality, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD audio decoders, stream processing, and HD graphics processing are all included on a single chip, reducing the number of components needed to build an HD DVD player.
- Two CPUs -- a 64-bit VR5500 application processor capable of speeds up to 654 Dhrystone MIPS, and a 32-bit MIPS32TM CPU capable of up to 457 Dhrystone MIPS -- enable high performance functions such as browsers and data streaming required of next generation DVD systems.
- Optimization for stream processing used in digital broadcast recording, and multi-channel stream input and output, allow easy development of HD DVD recorders. A common platform for playback and recording make it easier to share software for these functions.
The EMMA3 series is compatible with NEC Electronics' platformOVIA framework, which enables development using Linux?and helps shorten development times through the efficient reuse of software.
Samples of the EMMA3 devices are available now, priced at US$200. Volume production is scheduled to commence in April 2007, and reach approximately 300,000 units per month. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
NEC Electronics has shipped over 3 million back-end processing chips for DVD recorders in 2005 and has acquired a greater than 20 percent share of the global market. During the same period, the company also shipped over 24 million front-end processing chips for DVD recorders and held more than 30 percent of the global market.
NEC Electronics' EMMA series is the company's flagship series of digital AV devices. To date, over 20 types of EMMA products have been delivered to 50 companies in twelve different countries, with shipments totaling 30 million units. However, the increasing popularity of image and sound content based on compression formats such as H. 264 and VC-1 in HD DVD systems has generated demand for a new EMMA series to handle these evolving technologies. NEC Electronics designed its EMMA3 series with these needs in mind, and incorporated the following features:
- New high definition video formats such as H.264 and VC-1 that support high image quality, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD audio decoders, stream processing, and HD graphics processing are all included on a single chip, reducing the number of components needed to build an HD DVD player.
- Two CPUs -- a 64-bit VR5500 application processor capable of speeds up to 654 Dhrystone MIPS, and a 32-bit MIPS32TM CPU capable of up to 457 Dhrystone MIPS -- enable high performance functions such as browsers and data streaming required of next generation DVD systems.
- Optimization for stream processing used in digital broadcast recording, and multi-channel stream input and output, allow easy development of HD DVD recorders. A common platform for playback and recording make it easier to share software for these functions.
The EMMA3 series is compatible with NEC Electronics' platformOVIA framework, which enables development using Linux?and helps shorten development times through the efficient reuse of software.
Samples of the EMMA3 devices are available now, priced at US$200. Volume production is scheduled to commence in April 2007, and reach approximately 300,000 units per month. Pricing and availability are subject to change.
