NEC Electronics Introduces EMMA3SV System LSI Chip

NEC Electronics today introduced the EMMA3SV system LSI solution for digital televisions and Set Top Boxes (STB), a single-chip solution embedding all of the necessary functions for reception of digital broadcasts, including audio and video digital signals decoding, and video display functions. EMMA3SV can process the leading edge H.264 video format, advanced audio standards such as Dolby® Digital Plus and HE-AAC, and includes on-chip USB and Ethernet connectivity. The solution is ideal for television and Set Top Boxes manufacturers in European countries, Russia, India, and Brazil, where the H.264 format is gaining popularity.

EMMA3SV incorporates the following features:

1. H.264 Decoding
EMMA3SV includes a video decoder compatible with the leading edge H.264 video compression standard, which enables twice the compression rate of the MPEG2 standard. This decoder enables the reception of H.264 broadcasts, which are rapidly gaining popularity in Europe, Russia, India, and Brazil.

2. Dolby Digital Plus and HE-AAC
EMMA3SV embeds a dedicated Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for processing of audio data, including the support of next generation audio standards such as Dolby Digital Plus and HE-AAC, which require robust processing capabilities. The DSP enables high quality audio playback even at low data transfer rates.

3. USB and Ethernet Interfaces
EMMA3SV incorporates USB and Ethernet interfaces on chip, which facilitates high-speed and high-volume transfer of audio or video data from external sources, and eliminates the need for external devices such as separate USB2.0 host controllers or Ethernet MAC interfaces. The reduction in external parts helps system designers to reduce overall system costs.

NEC Electronics has been a leader in digital consumer solutions for many years. Since introducing the world’s first system LSI for digital broadcast set top boxes (STBs) in 1998, the company has launched numerous market-leading devices under the EMMA brand for STBs, digital televisions, and DVD recorders. Recent highlights in the company’s offerings for digital televisions include the EMMA2SV, optimized for European broadcast standards, and EMMA2TH, designed specifically for high definition formats used in the United States and Japan. For STB NEC Electronics recently announced EMMA2SL/S tailor-made for low cost zapper boxes.

As the implementation of new compression standards such as H.264, Dolby Digital Plus, and HE-AAC increases worldwide, NEC Electronics will continue to expand its range of digital AV solutions to include these emerging technologies and markets.

Availability
Samples of the EMMA3SV are available now. Volume production is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2008 with substantial volumes already committed.

Exhibition at CSTB
EMMA3SV will be exhibited in NEC Electronics’ booth (hall 3 – 405a) at the International Exhibition & Conference of Cable and Satellite, TV and Radio Broadcasting, Broadband (CSTB) to be held in Moscow from February 4-7, 2008.

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Dolby is a trademark or registered trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. EMMA is a trademark or registered trademark of NEC Electronics Corporation in Japan, Germany, and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

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