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(BSNS WIRE) Oak Technology Targets Inkjet MFP Market
Oak Technology Targets Inkjet MFP Market
Business Editors/High-Tech Writers
ANDOVER, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 13, 1999--
Oak's Imaging Group Introduces the PM-44i iDSP Designed to Give
Inkjet Manufacturers an Integrated Solution Rivaling
Performance of Expensive Color Laser MFPs
Oak Technology (Nasdaq:OAKT), today announced the availability of
its latest iDSP offering, the PM-44i.
The solution comes complete with a new series of iDSP image
pipeline software: CopyFusion, ScanFusion, and FaxFusion. The product
provides inkjet multifunction peripheral (MFP) manufacturers with an
integrated low-cost solution that features high-performance image
processing and dramatic improvements in copying, scanning, and faxing
quality and speed.
"By providing fast, high-quality, stand-alone color copying that
rivals much more expensive color laser MFPs, we expect that the PM-44i
will help usher in a new generation of inkjet MFPs," said Peter Besen,
general manager of Oak's Imaging Group (formerly Pixel Magic). "This
is our first entry into the low end of the MFP market, yet the PM-44i
uses the same stable, proven iDSP architecture currently used in
higher-end MFP applications."
Declining MFP system prices continue to fuel an already rapidly
expanding inkjet MFP market. With upwards of 45 percent of the
American work force expected to work from home at least part time by
2003, the SOHO market is experiencing substantial growth.
"The inkjet MFP market is exploding," said Keith Kmetz, senior
MFP analyst Information Data Corporation (IDC). "IDC expects the
market to grow 76 percent from 1999-2002 and Oak's Imaging Group is
strategically positioned to capitalize on that incredible growth."
To meet aggressive cost points, inkjet MFPs utilize low-cost
scanner and printer components. In the past this trade-off has
typically resulted in poor image quality. The CopyFusion, ScanFusion,
and FaxFusion packages provide OEMs with complete, customizable
software pipelines that perform the complex image processing required
for much higher quality copying, scanning, and faxing.
PM-44i
The PM-44i and the Fusion-series pipelines offer a complete,
high-performance color inkjet MFP solution. A third-generation iDSP,
the PM-44i integrates the stable, proven iDSP architecture into a
low-cost solution for inkjet MFPs. The PM-44i's programmable DSP
architecture provides OEMs with greater flexibility and shorter
time-to-market than traditional ASIC solutions by reducing development
time, enabling product upgrades, and allowing reuse across entire
product families.
The iDSP architecture is a single instruction, multiple data-path
(SIMD) architecture designed specifically for high-throughput image
processing operations such as scanner correction, color conversion,
filtering, scaling, block rotation, and halftoning. The PM-44i
features a 133-MHz processor for image-processing intensive operations
and is the first iDSP that integrates a large, high-speed SRAM to
reduce system costs.
CopyFusion
CopyFusion is a customizable image pipeline that performs
high-throughput image processing required to achieve fast,
high-quality digital color copying in inkjet MFPs. CopyFusion
transforms scanned contone RGB images into halftoned CMYK images that
produce fast, high-quality output on inkjet printers. It automatically
identifies text and photo regions and applies separate processing to
aggressively sharpen text while producing smooth, detailed photos.
To improve printing speed, CopyFusion automatically detects black
text thereby taking advantage of an inkjet engine's ability to print
black up to 12 times faster than color. Running the PM-44i, CopyFusion
delivers up to 10 color copies per minute.
ScanFusion
The ScanFusion image pipeline performs the high-throughput image
processing for an inkjet MFP's scan function. ScanFusion accepts data
directly from an A/D converter, eliminating the need for the dedicated
image-processing logic typically associated with scanning. ScanFusion
automatically identifies text and photo regions and applies separate
processing to deliver superior scan quality.
FaxFusion
FaxFusion provides a complete solution for fax image processing,
including ITU T.4 (Group 3), T.6 (Group 4), and JPEG compression and
decompression. By providing compression as software functions on the
PM-44i, FaxFusion eliminates the need for dedicated compression
hardware.
FaxFusion features pipelines for both monochrome and color
faxing, which is emerging as a standard feature in inkjet MFPs.
FaxFusion improves the quality of transmitted faxes by applying
separate processing to text and photo regions, resulting in sharper
text and more detailed photos.
iDSP Products
The Oak Technology iDSP family is the only line of DSPs
specifically designed for imaging applications in digital office
equipment. Based on a SIMD architecture, they offer exceptional image
processing throughput rates, with the flexibility of a programmable
DSP architecture. Typical color and monochrome applications include:
high-speed copiers, fax machines, scanners, printers, multifunction
peripherals, digital cameras, and raster image processors (RIPs).
Pricing and Availability
The PM-44i is sampling now. Pricing for the PM-44i is under $10
for large volumes.
About Oak Technology
Founded in 1987, Oak Technology, Inc. designs, develops and
markets high-performance semiconductors and related software to
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) worldwide who serve the
optical storage, consumer electronics and digital office equipment
markets. Oak has subsidiaries in Japan (Oak Technology K.K.); Taiwan
(Oak Technology, Taiwan); Andover, Mass. (Oak's Imaging Group);
Bristol, U.K. (Oak Technology Ltd.); and Munich, Germany (Oak
Technology GmbH). Additional information about Oak Technology and its
products can be found on the World Wide Web at www.oaktech.com.
The foregoing statements may consist of forward-looking
statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may
differ materially from actual future events or results. Factors that
could cause actual outcome to differ materially from those set forth
include, without limitation, the rate of adoption of new technology,
the rate of growth of the inkjet MFP market, market acceptance of the
product, competitive pricing actions and marketing programs, among
others. For a discussion of such risks, see the company's most recent
SEC Forms 10-K and 10-Q.
Note to Editors: Oak Technology and the Oak logo are registered
trademarks of Oak Technology, Inc., Pixel Magic, Oak Imaging Group,
PM-44i and iDSP are trademarks of Oak Technology, Inc. All other
product names or company names are mentioned for identification
purposes only, and may be trademarks of their respective owners.
--30--mr/sf*
CONTACT: Oak Technology, Inc.
Kyre Cluett, 978/470-8830 (Imaging Group)
cluett@pixelmagic.com
oaktech.com
KEYWORD: afxap MASSACHUSETTS INTERNATIONAL ASIA PACIFIC TRACK
INDUSTRY KEYWORD: COMPUTERS/ELECTRONICS COMED PRODUCT
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