NEC Electronics Introduces Single-Chip LSI for Set Top Boxes that Enables Simultaneous Reception of Two Digital Video Broadcasts

NEC Electronics today introduced a single chip LSI for set top boxes (STBs) which enables simultaneous reception of two channels of digital video broadcasts (DVB), a global digital broadcasting standard used primarily in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The μPD61125 integrates all of the functions such as image decoding necessary for reception of DVB broadcasts on a single chip, and can simultaneously process data for two different digital broadcasts. Incorporating this LSI allows creative viewing, such as output of different digital broadcasts to two television screens, or one broadcast to TV while recording another two VCR or DVD, or simultaneous viewing of two different digital channels on one television.

Nick Russell, Manager of Digital AV Marketing in Europe said at today’s IBC exhibition (Amsterdam): “As the world moves toward the switch-off of analog broadcasts our new LSI allows consumers to record digital channels on the millions of legacy analog recording devices without need for yet another set-top box.”

The μPD61125 promotes lower total system development costs and smaller footprint compared to previous LSIs, by enabling these functions on a single chip and with approximately half the memory, reducing overall cost by approximately 15 percent and promoting the rapid development of low cost STBs.

The µPD61126 decoder integrates two MIPS32® 4KEcTM microprocessor cores capable of delivering speeds of up to 286 million instructions per second (MIPS) each. The decoder also offers an improved DDR-SDRAM interface, with speeds up to 333 megahertz (MHz). An enhanced graphics engine provides designers with more flexibility to manipulate advanced graphics and data, enabling smooth operation of MHP (Multimedia Home Platform), outstanding speed in interactive MHEG applications (Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group), and integration of standard on-screen display functions. An embedded USB 1.1 host interface permits connection to external devices such as digital cameras, enabling photos taken with the digital camera to easily be displayed on the screen.

Since introducing the world’s first system LSI for STBs that could handle digital broadcast reception in 1998, NEC Electronics has launched numerous devices based on the company’s own EMMArchitecture™ for digital consumer applications, a key area of focus for NEC Electronics. With the μPD61125, NEC Electronics continues to proactively respond to the needs of this market with a low cost solution optimized for DVB broadcast standards.

NEC Electronics will exhibit the μPD61125 and other products at the International Broadcasting Convention, held September 9-13, 2005 at the RAI Exhibition & Congress Center in Amsterdam.

Availability
Samples of the μPD61125 will be available in October 2005 followed shortly by complete turnkey hardware and software reference designs. Volume production will start in early 2006, and production is expected to reach 100,000 units per month. Availability are subject to change. Reference design will be available by November.

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