Update on the Fujitsu news. This says chips shipping in March 1998 for $63, priced much higher than CUBE's ZiVA at $20. Also, it looks like Fujitsu is prepared to offer either foundry services or sale of the design so it can be integrated into ASIC chips.
The release says audio decoding, but it doesn't say Dolby AC-3. The video D/A is integrated on-chip. Apparently, the audio D/A is not included.
FUJITSU: Fujitsu develops single chip MPEG2 decoder LSI for DVDs
M2 PRESSWIRE-26 February 1998-FUJITSU: Fujitsu develops single chip MPEG2 decoder LSI for DVDs (C)1994-98
M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD
-- System/video/audio decoding and more on a single chip
Fujitsu Limited and Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. today announced that they have jointly developed and today begun marketing a
single chip MPEG2 decoder LSI for DVDs. Design specifications and evaluation of the device, called the MB86371, were
developed together with Pioneer Corporation.
While demand for DVD devices for digital audio-visual applications has risen in recent years, costs have remained high due to
the need for multiple LSIs to handle required signal processing tasks. Now, Fujitsu engineers have overcome that issue by
developing macros of each LSIs and successfully integrating several key functions onto a single chip. The new chip,
MB86371, includes not only MPEG2 system/video/audio decoding but also sub-picture decoding for DVD regeneration,
On-Screen Display (OSD), NTSC/PAL video encoding and an 3-channel, 10-bit D/A converter for video use.
In terms of memory, the new MB86371 requires only one 16Mbit SDRAM where conventional multi-LSI MPEG2 decoder
would require 20Mbit (16Mbit + 4Mbit) of SDRAMs. This reduction in memory requirement is due to Fujitsu's newly
developed video architecture which enables new decoding method and memory management.
In addition, synchronization for video, audio and system data previously processed by a host CPU have now been integrated
onto the LSI device itself. These advances will help contribute to lowering the cost of DVD players.
Since the developed macros can be reused in various ways, customers will be able to easily custom design their own devices.
Fujitsu plans to effectively leverage these macros to jointly develop system ASICs with its customers.
Sample Price 8,000 yen Shipping Date March 1998 Market Target 100,000 units/month
Fujitsu Laboratories Limited
Founded in 1968 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories Limited is one of the premier research
centers in the world. Fujitsu Labs has five laboratories in Japan and one in the United States conducting a wide range of basic
and applied research in the areas of Multimedia, Personal Systems, Networks, Peripherals, Advanced Materials and
Electronic Devices. As the base of the technological strength of the Fujitsu Group, Fujitsu Labs is the main center for Fujitsu's
nearly $3 billion annual commitment to research and development.
Fujitsu Limited
Founded in 1935, Fujitsu Limited is an international leader in information technology, telecommunications, semiconductors and
other electronics devices. The Fujitsu Group of over 400 technology, software and service companies posted global revenues
of more than $36 billion in the fiscal year ended March 31, 1997.
CONTACT: Asako Umano/Scott Ikeda, Fujitsu Limited, Public Relations Tel: +81 3 3215 5236 Fax: +81 3 3216 9365
e-mail: pr_mailbox@hq.fujitsu.co.jp WWW: fujitsu.co.jp Fujitsu Limited,, Logic LSI Group Tel: +81
44 754 3381 Fax: +81 44 754 3659 e-mail: query@sales.ed.fujitsu.co.jp
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