Fujitsu Microelectronics Asia Pte Ltd (FMAL) today introduced a new full high-definition (HD) multi-standard video decoder LSI for Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) (*1) HD broadcasts, that decodes both MPEG-2 (*2) and H.264 (*3) compression formats in full HD resolution (1920 dots x 1080 lines).

This LSI is a highly integrated System-on-Chip (SoC) for televisions, set-top-boxes (STBs), and portable receivers and complies with the DVB standard currently used in various regions, mainly Europe. The LSI decodes full HD video compressed in either MPEG-2 or H.264 and integrates on a single chip the necessary processing functions for a HD broadcast receiver, including processing of digital video, audio, and graphics. This makes the multi-decoder suitable for TVs, set-top boxes, and portable TV receivers. Also, as the LSI’s functions can be employed with the addition of only two 16-bit wide external memory chips, it allows set vendors to reduce their overall costs when designing their TVs and STBs.

The DVB digital broadcasting standard is used in Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and by some broadcast systems in China, which are currently broadcasting in standard definition(SD) using the MPEG-2 video compression format. Next-generation broadcasts will be in HD, and in Europe it has been decided that H.264 will be the main format to be used. Since the shift to next-generation HD broadcasts in Europe and elsewhere will occur gradually over time, decoder LSIs used in TVs and set-top boxes for these regions need to be able to handle decoding of both MPEG-2 and H.264 formats.

Following HD broadcasting in Japan and the US, for the ramp up of HD broadcasting in Europe, Fujitsu built on its expertise and experience of the previously released SmartMPEG series along with H.264 decoder technology co-developed with Fujitsu Laboratories Limited, to offer this multi-decoder, MB86H60, capable of supporting both MPEG-2 and H.264 video compression formats on a single chip.

Samples of the new LSI, the MB86H60, will be available from end of May 2008.

Product Features

1. Decodes both full HD MPEG-2 and H.264, supporting current and next-generation European broadcasting standards.

This multi-decoder LSI can be used for current standard-definition MPEG-2 broadcasts used widely in Europe and other regions, and for next-generation HD broadcasts using H.264.

2. Integrates on a single chip functions necessary for HD TV processing

The CPU core in the LSI is the high-performance ARM1176JZF-S™, which supports a wide range of functions including system control for TVs and set-top boxes, teletext (*4), subtitles, and JPEG decoding (*5). In addition, by integrating audio, graphic video processing, and functions required for processing HD broadcasts on one chip, Fujitsu’s full HD multi-decoder LSI enables set vendors to more easily construct their systems.

3. Complete Functionality by Adding Two 16-bit wide DDR2-SDRAMs

By simply connecting two 16-bit wide DDR2 SDRAM667 external memory chips as working memory to the multi-decoder chip, the chip becomes fully functional, including CPU-based system control and digital-video decoding. This allows set vendors to reduce the overall cost of their systems.

4. Four video-transfer ports for connectivity to various devices

With four video-transfer ports, this multi-decoder LSI can be connected to a wide variety of external devices. For example, the LSI makes it possible to connect to digital video recorders (DVRs) which record TV broadcasts to a hard disk drive, or to connect to a conditional access card to view restricted digital broadcasts.

Glossary and Notes

*1 DVB:

Digital Video Broadcasting. A set of internationally approved open standards for digital television broadcasts. DVB is used in many countries, especially in Europe.

*2.MPEG-2:

A video compression format (codec) that is part of the MPEG standard for video compression. MPEG-2 is widely used in DVDs and other video products.

*3. H.264:

Refers to MPEG4 AVC/H.264, a video-encoding format (codec) noted for offering more compression than MPEG-2 and other earlier formats. Jointly defined by the International Telecommunication Union, Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) and International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC), it is the most recent international standard for video compression.

*4. Teletext:

A TV broadcasting standard in which data such as text (e.g. subtitles, closed caption) or diagrams are transmitted within the TV broadcast signal.

*5. JPEG decoding:

Refers to decoding that enables JPEG photographic data to be viewed on devices such as TVs.

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Fujitsu Microelectronics Asia Pte Ltd was established as the Asia Pacific Headquarters of Fujitsu Limited Electronic Devices Group in 1986. It provides support, sales and marketing of semiconductors and electronic devices to the Asia Pacific region, including India and Oceania. Fujitsu Microelectronics Asia offers a wide and varied product range like ASIC, ASSPs, Microcontrollers / Microprocessors (FR-V), System Memory (Flash Memory / FRAM / FCRAM) and System LSIs (DVD MPEG Source Decoders / MPEG –2 Encoders).