Toshiba Announces Industry's First DVD Reference Design Featuring
Native Support In Windows(R) '98
NOTE: Toshiba's Timpani I MPEG2 decoder does not include audio decode, and it costs more than CUBE's ZiVA, which does incorporate Dolby AC-3 audio decoding.
Toshiba and Microsoft(R) Collaborate to Offer Seamless
DVD Hardware Integration
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba America Electronic
Components, Inc. (TAEC) today announced the industry's first DVD reference
design to feature native support in the Beta 3.0 release of Microsoft(R)
Windows(R) '98. Toshiba's reference design is based on its highly-integrated
Timpani(TM) I single-chip DVD system processor for DVD playback on the PC.
Timpani I integrates all of the critical functionality required for high-
quality, 30 frame-per-second DVD playback in a single-chip. These functions
include MPEG2 video decoding and video mixing, hardware-based copy protection
processing, DVD program stream parsing, sub-picture decoding, and a digital
video port (ZV, LBP, AMC and VMI) as well as audio/video interfaces and a PCI
interface.
"Toshiba offers OEMs the most comprehensive reference design tools for DVD
PC applications," said Prabir Mohanty, senior marketing manager for multimedia
at Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. "In collaborating with
Microsoft, we are now able to guarantee seamless integration of our reference
boards with the Windows '98 architecture with minimal effort on the part of
the PC OEMs or board manufacturers." Mohanty continued, "In other words,
Toshiba's Timpani I-based DVD boards are now plug-and-play ready for Windows
'98 PC platforms. This partnership between Microsoft and Toshiba promises to
further fuel the DVD market."
"Toshiba's Timpani I single-chip processor represents one of the best DVD
solutions available today, in terms of both performance and software support,"
said Michael Bernstein, senior analyst at Semico Research (Phoenix, AZ).
"With Microsoft and Toshiba working together to provide 'plug-and-play'
support for DVD and Timpani I in Windows '98, OEMs and board manufacturers can
realize the potential of putting DVD capability on every desktop. Semico
forecasts the desktop and laptop market for DVD units will grow from 9 million
units in 1998 to 150 million units in 2002."
Windows '98 Support:
Toshiba's Timpani I is supported through Microsoft's Windows '98 WDM
streaming class driver. VPE support, a software interface for video ports, is
integrated to enable decoded DVD video streams to run directly to the video
card to eliminate the need to go through the PCI bus.
Toshiba has jointly developed minidrivers for Timpani I with Microsoft.
Toshiba has also supplied the copy protection driver and application software
which have been prequalified and are bundled in Microsoft's Beta 3.0 version
of Windows '98. The complete software stack for the Timpani I chip is
embedded within the Windows '98 Beta 3.0 infrastructure. This enables
Toshiba's PC OEM customers to plug the Timpani I-based boards onto a Windows
'98 PC platform and expect it to work immediately.
Highly Integrated DVD System Processor:
Designated the TC81203TB, Timpani I is Toshiba's second generation DVD
system processor for DVD PC add-in boards and DVD players. It is fully
compliant with the standard DVD format and provides PC OEMs with a highly-
integrated, high-performance solution for PC DVD system design (see Attachment
A for a diagram of functional blocks).
Timpani I features a hardware-based digital copy protection part (CPP)
which conforms to the latest copy protection requirements. The CPP will
perform device authentication and descramble encrypted data streams from copy-
protected materials. It also offers a pass-through mode for non-copy
protected materials.
Timpani I can accept DVD program stream that includes MPEG1 and MPEG2
video stream, MPEG1 audio stream, private Dolby(R) Digital(TM) AC-3(TM) audio
stream and sub-picture stream. The video stream will be decoded by the MPEG2
video decoding unit, while the sub-picture stream will be sent to the stream
output port. The device is NTSC and PAL compatible and performs logical
decoding functions for complete DVD feature support. This device can also
handle video-CD bitstream.
Timpani I is fully compliant with the MPEG2 standard and supports
dedicated features for DVD applications. MPEG2 video decoding can be
performed at MP@ML, SP@ML and MP@LL levels. The device supports program
stream at a maximum of 40 megabits per second. The MPEG2 decoder also
supports pan and scan and letterbox video filters for 16x9 ratio content,
enabling display on a 4x3 screen without degradation in data.
The sub-picture processor performs DVD sub-picture stream decoding and
video mixing with the MPEG2 decoded video. The sub-picture stream is decoded
according to the run-length algorithm with 16-color palette and 16 levels of
transparency support. It also provides interfaces from an external on-screen
display (OSD) device and to an external video device in R656 digital video
format.
The PCI-bus interface can handle PCI-bus transfer in bus master DMA mode
conforming to the PCI 2.1 specification for decompressed digital video
transfer to various graphics controllers with VIP, VMI, AMC, LPB or ZV video
port support.
The audio interface provides audio packet stream buffering and converts
the parallel data stream to serial data output for a third party AC-3 decoder.
Timpani I supports various third party audio decoders. [NOTE: NO INTEGRATED AUDIO DECODE]
Complete Reference Design Solutions:
In addition to its Timpani DVD system processor, TAEC also offers a
complete design solution including a reference design board based on the
Timpani I device, application software, drivers and a DVD drive along with
consulting support, enabling OEMs to speed their design cycle for quick time
to market.
The full-featured DVD decoder board (see Attachment B) is a PCI half size
card (4" x 6.9"). It offers S-Video and Composite outputs, compliant with
Macrovision(R) level 7.0 and 6.1. A Feature Bus connector for graphics cards
supports both 8- and 16-bit formats and offers optional analog audio and video
output rerouting. Dolby stereo and AC-3/PDIF outputs are included on-board.
An audio multiplexer enables switching between CD audio and DVD audio when
connecting to a sound card. Reference test points and connectors are included
for evaluation and future expansion.
Pricing and Availability:
Toshiba's Timpani I is currently in full production. Sample pricing is
less than $40 in lots of 1K units. [NOTE: COSTS MORE THAN ZIVA] The reference board is available now and
is priced at $250.
Technical Specifications:
Part Number TC81203TB (Timpani I)
System Clock Performance for DVD
Processing 27MHz
PCI-Bus Main Clock Performance 33MHz
Package 352-pin TBGA
Power Supply 3.3V, 5V I/O tolerant
Power Dissipation 1.4W
Broad Range of DVD Playback Solutions:
Toshiba offers an innovative line-up of multimedia products that enable
advanced applications incorporating sophisticated audio, video and graphics.
In addition to its Timpani DVD system processor, Toshiba also offers the
Mpact(TM) media processor. Developed jointly with Chromatic Research, Mpact
is a combination of hardware and firmware that provides a scaleable and
upgradeable multimedia solution for PC motherboards and add-in cards. The
Mpact media processor, combined with Mediaware software modules, provides
support for video, 2D graphics acceleration, 3D graphics acceleration, audio,
fax/modem, telephony and videophone. Toshiba's newest generation, the
Mpact2/6000, offers superior 2D and 3D graphics capabilities and can also
handle advanced functions such as full-featured DVD playback and high-end
audio.
TAEC is the North American manufacturing, sales and marketing arm of one
of the world's largest suppliers of semiconductors, integrated circuits and
electronic components for industrial and consumer applications. The company
is the recognized leader in CMOS technology and has one of the broadest IC
product lines in the industry. In addition, Toshiba is a leading manufacturer
of technologically advanced electron tubes and solid state devices, including
color picture tubes, display monitor tubes, liquid crystal displays, medical
tubes, rechargeable batteries, microwave components, laser diodes and optical
transmission devices.
The Systems IC Division is located at 1060 Rincon Circle, San Jose, CA
95131. For more company information, please visit TAEC's Internet home page
at: toshiba.com.
Microsoft and Windows are registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Timpani is a trademark of Toshiba Corporation.
Dolby, Digital and AC-3 are trademarks or registered trademarks of Dolby
Labs.
MacroVision is a registered trademark of Creative Software, Inc.
Mpact is a trademark of Chromatic Research, Inc.
SOURCE Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.
/NOTE TO EDITOR: For reader inquiries publish (800) 879-4963; attachments
available upon request; photo or color slide of the Timpani I chip is
available upon request, please call Ryan Kinkaid at 714-863-3276/
/CONTACT: Janet Schwegler of Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc.,
408-526-2535; or Lisa Nemec or Michelle MacLean of Shafer Public Relations for
Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc., 800-503-1177 or 714-553-1177/ |
