Philips Enables HD Video with Media Processor
March 11, 2005
Hannover, Germany - Philips Semiconductors is shipping a multistandard, high-definition (HD)-video codec to the mass market.
Targeting computer applications, the new SAA7108A/09A HD-CODEC is the first video codec to incorporate HD and standard-definition output capability on the same chip. It offers both standard and HD-ready TVs a rich variety of low-cost, PC-generated content such as movies, 3D games, decoded TV broadcasts and high-resolution graphics. The chip also supports the widest range of video graphics array (VGA) resolutions, from 320x200 to 1280x1024, allowing instant TV-out viewing without the annoyance of having to change graphics modes.
“Digital technologies, like this new high-definition-video codec, are quickly becoming an integral part of our homes and workplaces,” said Dan Vivoli, vice president of marketing at NVIDIA. “By combining Philips' new SAA7108A/09A HD-CODEC with any of NVIDIA's products, consumers instantly have access to a full range of multimedia and video functions as well as HD quality never before seen on a desktop PC.”
“This advanced HD video codec further reinforces Philips Semiconductors' commitment to the PC industry by extending consumer technology into the high-volume PC space,” said Jerome Morris, marketing manager for Philips Semiconductors. “The SAA7108A/09A provides designers with a one-chip solution for implementing outstanding video capture and output functionality. While targeted primarily for use in PC applications, the chip's small size and attractive price also make it versatile for a variety of consumer electronic applications.”
As well, Philips introduced the PNX1700, the newest member of the company’s Nexperia family of media processors with high-definition (HD) capabilities. Combining media processing, network connectivity and display enhancement on a single chip, the PNX1700 is designed to deliver unprecedented picture quality of streaming movies, news, digital photos and TV programs. It doubles the performance of previous generations while maintaining both hardware and software compatibility. Digital Connected Consumer devices enabled by the PNX1700 include IP set-top boxes, digital media adapters, personal video recorders, videophones and TVs.
Philips Semiconductors' SAA7108A/09A HD-CODEC offers VGA card and computer motherboard manufacturers advanced features such as end-to-end Macrovision copy protection support and high-quality PC 2001-compliant video-in, TV-out processing. Other advanced features of the HD codec include a best-in-class PAL/NTSC/SECAM video digitizer, a 9-bit analog front end, 4-line adaptive multistandard luma/chroma comb filter, VBI data processing and filtered H and V scaling capabilities. The SAA7108A/09A outputs ATSC-compliant video including 720p and 1080 resolution, allowing the sharpest possible image.
The 156-pin SAA7108A/09A is pin-to-pin compatible with the increasingly popular SAA7108/09 PC-CODEC, allowing multimedia-card designers an easy upgrade to HD-capability. Furthermore, the SAA7108/09 and SAA7108A/09A reduce board space by 75% compared with older-generation chips that require separate footprints for video encoders and decoders.
The SAA7108A/09A HD-CODEC supports all Macrovision copy protection standards including revision 7.01, and it is the first HD video codec to support the new DVD 1.03 Macrovision copy protection scheme (applicable to the SAA7108A only). Targeted primarily at PC and notebook applications, the SAA7108A/09A can also be used in a variety of consumer electronic devices such as set-top boxes, PVRs, DVDs, DVCRs, web boxes and videoconferencing applications.
The SAA7108A/09A incorporates 9-bit ADCs and 10-bit DACs, compared with competitors' 8-bit ADCs and 9-bit DACs. The video decoder combines a 2-channel analog preprocessing circuit, automatic clamp and gain control, a clock-generation circuit, and a digital multistandard decoder supporting PAL BGHI, PAL M, PAL N, combination PAL N, NTSC M, NTSC-Japan, NTSC N and SECAM. The decoder block also includes a brightness-, contrast- and saturation-control circuit, a multistandard VBI data slicer and a 27 MHz, VBI-data bypass.
The video encoder operates fully independently using its own variable pixel clock to transport graphics input data or using the line-locked, single crystal-stable video encoding clock. It encodes PC graphics data at maximum 1280x1024 resolution for display on any TV. It incorporates a sync/clock generator and on-chip 10-bit DAC, high-quality scaling, on-chip hot-plug detection, programmable 5-line anti-flicker filtering, and an interlacer to ensure properly sized and flicker-free images on TV displays.
For more information, visit
www.philips.com
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