Worlds First Single-Chip MPEG-2 HDTV Codec LSI

Maidenhead, England (PR Web) October 1, 2003 - Now launched by Hitachi High Technologies, developed by NTT Electronics, is the new VASA LSI which provides a single-chip HDTV 4:2:2 encoding and decoding solution. VASA (Versatile and Advanced Signal processing Architecture) is a single chip codec, also available as the VASA-C (encoder) and VASA-D (decoder).

In the past, due to the huge volume of calculations needed for the transmission and compression of images, several dedicated chips have been required. For the first time, NTT has achieved this using a single chip. This now brings advanced image processing capabilities to applications ranging from high-performance HDTV to low-cost interactive video communications systems.

In order to make this significant advance, NTT Electronics has developed a new encoding method (layered parallel encoding) to rapidly supply data and efficiently control the encoding process. The new VASA architecture consists of triple encoding cores, a decoding core, a multiplexer/de-multiplexer core, and several dedicated application specific hardware modules with a hierarchical flexible communication scheme for high performance data transfer. Furthermore, by adopting an advanced commercial 0.13 µm CMOS technology, the 60 million transistors required for this operation are integrated into the single chip.

Low power consumption and low latency are two of the main features on this single chip VASA architecture, along with its ability to work in full spec MP@HL and 422P@HL and MP@H-14L environments whilst demonstrating high bit rates up to 300Mbps (TS). The VASA chip processes high quality MPEG-2 video in 1080i, 1080/24P, 720P, 480i and 480P formats with a power consumption of less than 3W. Typical encoder delay (I frame) is 66ms.

The VASA LSI has also been incorporated into two modules, the SC10K-E (HD encoder module) and SC10K-D (HD decoder module). With added DDR (double datarate memory), these modules greatly reduce design time and eliminate the time consuming and intricate task of having to lay down 1008pin BGA (ball grid array) packages.

With the the era of HDTV" rapidly approaching, there is a growing need for professional quality, smaller and more economical codec devices and NTT Electronics is leading the way. These new technologies will bring the reality of high quality, high resolution digital cinema as well as enabling the production of richer and more diverse HDTV programming, particularly important in areas such as sports broadcasting and live music and news events.

For additional informaion : Lorna Garrett on +44 (0)1628 585383, e-mail: lornag@hitachi-hitec-uk.com