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Technology Stocks : WDC/Sandisk Corporation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: scott who wrote (1461)	11/11/1997 6:11:00 PM
From: JJB	Respond to of 60323

Loooks like Intel is not going to be the only company in the OEM digital camera chipset business. Doesn't say which flash memory standard but can't see why they would promote Intel's SCOTTS VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) Offers Higher Integration of Desired Features, Greater Processing Speed, Image Quality, Lower Power at 35 Percent Lower Cost Sierra Imaging Inc., the only company offering OEMs all the necessary components for digital still camera product success, today announced the first in a product line of multi-functional imaging chipsets, firmware and support tools offering an array of industry firsts. Named Raptor(TM) it is the first chipset including all the major functions needed to preview, capture, compress, store, transfer and display digital images. The three-chip set includes Sierra Imaging's DSP ASIC, a SPARC LITE(TM) RISC processor (MB86831) and an 8-bit microcontroller (MB89165) from Fujitsu Microelectronics. It is being designed into camera systems that will be in production in Q4 '97. The new chipset's high integration and performance allow its use in a wide range of cost-effective digital cameras and other consumer digital imaging products including printer/scanner/ copier/fax combinations and PDAs. The chipset offers versatility and programmability. It interfaces and controls a wide variety of image sensors up to 16 million pixels. It integrates video playback and processes imaging information faster than other products (240 million MACs/sec) resulting in more comprehensive execution of imaging processing algorithms. Raptor is also the first product in its class providing extensive power management capabilities. By licensing its ASIC-driven Adaptive Algorithm Technology, Sierra offers OEMs more design flexibility by optimally performing a wide variety of image processing and compression algorithms with Raptor. This allows fine-tuning of picture quality using a range of electronic sensors and optical components while achieving short photo cycle time. "Based on the needs of the camera, we've defined a best-of-breed solution, " said Barbara Matthews, Sierra's vice president of marketing. " This is the first in a family of Sierra products serving high-growth markets. " Important Features -- Image Transform Processor provides operations such as color interpolation (de-mosaicizing), edge enhancement, color space conversion, image scaling and other pre- and user-defined image enhancements -- Double-buffered smart DMA allowing pixel operations ranging from 40 to 58 million pixels per second -- Automatic interleaving/de-interleaving of color channels during processing saving processor time and bandwidth -- Low power composite video and native LCD mode display support -- Microcoded compression with hardware support providing sequential and progressive JPEG and other DCT-based algorithms -- JPEG 2000-ready -- Glueless 8-,16- or 32-bit interface to standard memory types -- Optimized 32-bit data path to standard EDO DRAM providing a peak data rate of 120Mbytes/sec -- Firmware development tools available directly from Sierra Imaging Price & Availability Raptor is priced at $30 in volume. Evaluation samples are available Q4 '97. About Sierra Imaging Founded in 1994, Sierra's products and system design expertise in partnership with world-class digital camera OEMs provide cost-effective, best-of-breed technology and obviously superior imaging quality. Sierra's camera technology is being used in several leading digital cameras today. Reach Sierra Imaging at www.sierraimaging.com . Note to Editors: All trademarks and names are the property of their respective companies. CONTACT: Sierra Imaging Inc. \| Barbara Matthews, 408/461-2070 ext. 220 \| barbaram@sierraimaging.com \| or \| Marketing/PR Savvy \| Ford Kanzler, 650/726-1055 \| ford@prsavvy.com