LSI to Supply Chip for Sony's New PlayStation Game Console
Milpitas, California, March 2 (Bloomberg) -- LSI Logic Corp., a maker of specialty semiconductors, said Sony Corp.'s new PlayStation video game console will include one of its chips for uses such as playing over the Internet.
Sony, the No. 2 consumer-electronics company, is expected to announce today details of the new PlayStation, which is to hit store shelves next year. The company needs to trump the performance of newer game systems by rivals Nintendo Co. and Sega Enterprises Inc. to expand and defend it 60 percent share of a global market worth $15 billion.
Milpitas, California-based LSI is counting on Sony's popularity to continue to boost its profits. LSI and Sony first began working on a special chip for the first PlayStation in 1993, which became the best-selling home video game since its release in 1994, selling more than 50 million units.
''People were suggesting that we weren't involved in the next Sony machine, and this gets rid of the uncertainty which has been floating around,'' Wilfred Corrigan, founder, chairman and chief executive, said in an interview.
Sony is LSI's largest customer and accounted for about $178 million, or 12 percent, of its $1.49 billion in 1998 revenue.
LSI makes so-called system-on-a-chip devices that place many functions on a single semiconductor. That lowers the manufacturing cost and space needed, while offering faster data transfer.
LSI's new chip for the next Sony PlayStation allows the gaming console to exchange data with so-called Internet appliances such as TV set-top boxes, VCRs, digital cameras, printers, joysticks, keyboards and mice. The chip has about 1.5 million transistors.
The new PlayStation will support Digital Video Disk technology for high-resolution graphics, movies and music. LSI also provides the key chip in Sony's DVD players.
The new PlayStation will sport three chips: LSI's, one made by Toshiba Corp. and one made by Tokyo-based Sony, Corrigan said.
Corrigan said LSI will continue to make chips for the older PlayStation. ''We really think both machines will run in parallel, with each aimed at two different markets and age groups,'' he said.
LSI fell 5/8 to 25 1/4 yesterday.
00:16:26 03/02/1999
Sony Selects LSI Logic to Supply Key I/O Processor for Next Generation
Enhanced MIPS Based Processor Provides Advanced I/O Capability and 100 Percent
Backward Compatibility to 1st PlayStation
TOKYO, March 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) today announced that LSI Logic Corporation (NYSE: LSI) has been selected as the system-on-a-chip supplier of the key I/O Processor for its second-generation Sony PlayStation video game console.
The collaboration between SCEI and LSI Logic extends a partnership that started with LSI Logic's selection to develop a single-chip CPU for the original PlayStation, which has generated cumulative worldwide sales in excess of 50 million units. As a result of the ongoing partnership, LSI will supply a single-chip I/O processor for the next generation system, while continuing to supply the original PlayStation CPU. The MIPS-based I/O processor contains a dedicated CPU for managing complex input-output data transfers to and from a wide variety of external devices, while providing for 100 percent backward compatibility.
"SCEI views LSI Logic as the system-on-a-chip supplier of choice," said Ken Kutaragi, SCEI corporate executive vice president and chief architect of both PlayStation consoles. "The I/O Processor ensures 100 percent backwards compatibility for all PlayStation software products for the first time in the game console marketplace."
In commenting on the announcement, LSI Logic's chairman and chief executive officer Wilfred J. Corrigan, said, "We are gratified that Sony has reinforced their total confidence in LSI Logic, and we are proud to be a key supplier of essential system-on-a-chip technology to the world's most successful consumer electronics company."
"LSI Logic's I/O processor is a vivid example of our system-on-a-chip capability," said Elie Antoun, LSI Logic executive vice president for Consumer Products. "The design challenge was to move forward in technology with added functionality, while at the same time respect the strict constraints of backward compatibility -- all in a single chip that is three times as complex as our original CPU for the first-generation Sony PlayStation."
The LSI Logic single-chip I/O processor for the next generation PlayStation includes: a 32-bit LSI Logic designed MIPS microprocessor core; a USB (Universal Serial Bus) host controller core; IEEE 1394 Link core and PHY (physical layer) core; and multiple enhancements of first generation Sony PlayStation CPU functionality.
By incorporating a dedicated I/O processor into their new console, SCEI introduces into a high-volume consumer product an architecture previously only seen in high-performance workstations. The G11(TM)-designed I/O processor (.25-micron, .18-micron effective) is based on the present PlayStation CPU. Additionally, the overall architecture was enhanced with more high-performance DMA channels, a four-times increase in device bus data rates, a greater than 20 times higher performance serial controller and improved cache-memory architecture.
Both USB and IEEE 1394 are easy to use technologies that represent high-speed connectivity that handle multimedia requirements and provide an interface to support a variety of consumer and computer devices. These technologies allow a system to exchange data between devices, such as Internet appliances, VCRs, set-top boxes, digital cameras, printers, joy-sticks, keyboards and mice.
The USB core is compatible with the industry standard OHCI (Open Host Controller Interface) specification and supports lower speed peripheral devices from 1.5 to 12 Mbps (Mega bits per second). The adoption of the USB/OHCI controller marks the first time this host protocol has been utilized in a major consumer platform.
The IEEE 1394 Link Controller core seamlessly connects to LSI Logic's 1394 PHY, a mixed-signal core that converts digital logic to electrical signals transmitted across the external cable. This technology can transfer data at rates from 100 Mbps to 400 Mbps.
About LSI Logic
LSI Logic Corporation, The System on a Chip Company(R), 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 CoreWare(R) design 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.
SOURCE LSI Logic Corporation
CO: LSI Logic Corporation; Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.
ST: California, Japan
IN: CPR ENT MLM
SU: PDT
03/02/99 03:20 EST prnewswire.com |
