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LSI Logic Introduces Cost-Effective, Single Chip Decoding Engine for DVD Applications
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Versatile MPEG-2 Architecture Designed for Standalone DVD Players, DVD on a PC and Set-Top Boxes
MILPITAS, CA, October 7, 1996 - LSI Logic Corporation, the world's leading developer of system-on-a-chip solutions for the consumer electronics market, today unveiled a highly integrated, cost-effective single chip decoding engine designed for all DVD applications. The complex design combines nine separate cores, with more than two million transistors and 45 memories into a single chip - entirely developed through LSI Logic's CoreWarer design program in less than ten months.
"With its high resolution, high storage capacity and affordable price, DVD will truly have a profound impact on the digital electronics industry for years to come," said Wilfred J. Corrigan, chairman and chief executive of LSI Logic. "Just as audio compact discs with their improved sound quality changed the music business, DVD will change how video is stored, ultimately replacing the VCR. By rapidly developing cost-effective, single-chip DVD solutions, LSI Logic will help play a significant role in accelerating the widespread adoption of DVD products--just as we have supplied leading-edge technology into other prominent consumer electronics categories such as digital set-top boxes, digital video cameras, and 32-bit video games."
DVD is a worldwide standard created by a consortium of major electronics and entertainment corporations including Sony, Philips, Matsushita and Toshiba. The standard allows professional, studio-quality sound and pictures, or multimedia applications to be stored on five inch optical storage disks similar to conventional compact disks. Each disk can hold up to 17 Gigabytes of information, equivalent to an entire feature length movie with superior color and clarity producing the finest picture detail. Consumers can select up to eight different language tracks, with 32 sets of sub-titles, view wide-screen or letterbox, or convert the movie between R and PG rated versions for complete family entertainment.
LSI Logic is making available a feature-rich, versatile new chip capable of being implemented in a variety of next-generation DVD applications such as:
A DVD console - to play back movies with high clarity and superior picture quality to provide the ultimate home-theater experience. A DVD on a PC - bringing true multimedia capabilities to the PC. A set-top box that integrates the DVD chip transforming it into a DVD player at the click of a button to play back movies for studio-quality, in-home entertainment. Video game players.
"Shipments of DVD players and drives are expected to reach sales of more than 33 million units by the year 2000, making it one of the most successful products of the decade," said Dale Ford, senior industry analyst at Dataquest market research. "DVD will drive the huge demand for semiconductor content, and LSI Logic, with its well-known design wins in products like the Sony PlayStation and EchoStar's satellite TV set-top boxes, is well positioned to take advantage of this fast-growing market."
"LSI Logic leveraged its leadership in consumer technology and semiconductor expertise to develop the DVD chip," said Moshe Gavrielov, executive vice president of LSI Logic's Products Group. "Our chips are designed into leading-edge, high-volume MPEG-2 set-top boxes, and are also used in first generation DVD players and multimedia add-in cards for the PC."
LSI Logic was able to cut its development time and engineering resources to create this chip through its CoreWarer design process which enables building blocks from a diverse product portfolio to be easily integrated into complex silicon systems.
"As consumer electronics products become more digital and require shorter design cycles, it is imperative to reconfigure and reuse what already exists to meet market windows for our customers," said Gavrielov. "CoreWare technology allows building blocks to be easily reconfigured. These functional blocks can then be reused in multiple consumer applications."
"The portability and flexibility of our cores has been a distinct advantage in the development of this design," he added. "There has never been a simple, stable DVD specification to follow. As the standard evolved, the specifications for the chip also evolved. Yet through our CoreWare process, we were able to architect each design iteration as the DVD spec evolved without having to start from scratch each time."
LSI Logic's one-chip DVD decoder integrates nine discrete chips into a single design. The company added Dolby Digital (AC-3) audio coding technology to provide stereo surround sound, and enhanced its MPEG-2 audio/video decoder chip to provide a feature rich product that is key to DVD applications. The chip supports major DVD features like pan and scan, and letterboxing to view wide-screen movies on a conventional screen. The integrated sub-picture unit also adds graphics, such as movie subtitles or karaoke text.
Availability
LSI Logic's proven expertise in silicon optimization and integration further reduced the size of the product ensuring a cost-effective product price to speed DVD market acceptance. The chip is available in a 160 Plastic Quad Flat Package which is compatible with all other MPEG-2 products from LSI Logic. The product will be shipping in volume to LSI Logic customers during Q2, 1997.
LSI Logic Company Background
LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE:LSI), The System on a Chip CompanyT, is a leading supplier of custom high-performance semiconductors, with operations worldwide. The company enables customers to build complete systems on a single chip with its CoreWarerdesign program, thereby increasing performance, lowering system costs and accelerating time to market. LSI Logic develops application-optimized products in partnership with trendsetting customers, and operates leading-edge, high-volume manufacturing facilities to produce submicron chips. The company maintains a high level of quality, as demonstrated by its ISO 9000 certifications. LSI Logic is headquartered at 1551 McCarthy Blvd., Milpitas, California 95035, 408-433-8000, lsilogic.com.
Editor Notes:
1.The LSI Logic logo design and CoreWare are registered trademarks, and The System on a Chip Company is a trademark of LSI Logic Corporation. 2.All other brand or product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. 3.Reader inquiries should be directed to 800-574-4286. 4.Copies of LSI Logic news releases can be obtained through FAXLOGIC at 800-457-4286. |
