C-Cube tests DVR waters
Preps single-chip codec for digital video recorders -- C-Cube tests DVR waters
Margaret Quan
01/10/2000
Electronic Engineering Times
Page 30
Copyright 2000 CMP Publications Inc.
MILPITAS, CALIF. - C - Cube Microsystems Inc. will sample a single-chip codec this month for use in consumer digital video applications, such as digital video recorders (DVRs). C - Cube expects to have the DVxcel MPEG-2 device in volume production in the second quarter.
Priced at $29 in large quantities, the codec is expected to enable $299 DVR devices, including standalone DVD/optical disk and digital VHS recorders, as well as digital set-top boxes with built-in DVR functionality.
Based on C - Cube 's DVX codec architecture, the DVxcel is built in 0.22-micron process technology and simultaneously encodes/decodes broadcast-quality video. Unlike the company's previous-generation DVxplore MPEG-2 codec, which featured a PCI bus interface, the DVxcel is designed for embedded applications and has a conventional host interface for 16- and 32-bit microcontrollers.
The device integrates separate bit-stream I/O ports for direct connection to peripherals. C - Cube said the codec can eliminate extra logic between chips, thus saving system cost. It also reduces the computational load on a system processor, freeing it for other applications.
Patrick Henry, vice president of marketing and systems solutions for the Home Media Division of C - Cube , said the company expects to work with consumerelectronics manufacturers on standalone DVR/DVD and VHS boxes, and with service providers and set-top box manufacturers that plan to offer recording and time-shifting as enhanced set-top features.
C - Cube expects DVxcel to benefit from several trends, such as set-tops' entry into the retail market, and the bundling of services by providers such as TiVo Inc., which offers time-shifting of television programs. C - Cube sees its relationships with service providers becoming more important in the next two to three years as DVR becomes a standard feature of set-top boxes, Henry said.
Though considered a pioneer in the MPEG-1 decoder market, C - Cube hasn't experienced top-line revenue growth from that market due to quickly falling prices in the limited market for MPEG-1 decoders, Henry said.
But C - Cube expects growth in DVR, DVD and set-top box markets to increase its top-line revenue by 40 percent in 2000 and projects further growth in 2001, Henry said.
January 10, 2000
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