Osmosys EGG Solution Selected By STMicroelectronics To Enable Advanced Graphics Capabilities

Innovative graphics engine to provide 3D effects on low cost display systems

IBC 2007, Amsterdam, The Netherlands — Osmosys S.A. (IBC stand IP233), a leader and innovator in the development of open standards Java-based interactive digital television solutions, today announced that its revolutionary new Enhanced Graphics enGine (EGG™) technology has been selected by STMicroelectronics. Osmosys and ST plan to finalize within this month an agreement pursuant to which ST will deploy the EGG technology to bring advanced graphics and animation capabilities to its industry-leading high-definition video decoder family. ST is one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies and plans to deploy Osmosys’ EGG on its current generation of STi71XX chipsets and on future STB, TV and high-definition DVD chipsets.

Osmosys’ EGG solution is a high performance graphics technology that delivers a truly transformational look and feel to today’s digital TV systems than is currently available through existing digital display devices. Coupled with ST’s high-definition digital video decoders, ground-breaking 3D user interfaces and large increases in performance can easily be obtained.

“Our video-decoder platforms are among the most deployed throughout the world, and we are constantly looking to strengthen our lead in a very competitive market. EGG should strengthen our platforms, ensuring that our technology is now an even more attractive proposition,” said Philippe Lambinet, Corporate Vice President and General Manager of the Home Entertainment and Displays (HED) Group, STMicroelectronics. “Osmosys’ innovative graphics engine will ensure that our customers can achieve unrivalled 3D effects on today’s STBs. We are very excited about the opportunities EGG will bring to the interactive digital TV market.”

On an STi71XX-based platform, EGG is capable of drawing hundreds of objects per frame in 3D at interactive rates. EGG fill rate is largely determined by the blitter available and the bus bandwidth in the system, but on the STi7100 platform, EGG is easily capable of drawing full screen 3D effects at 20-30fps at a resolution of 1280x720p.

“So many advances have been made in the digital TV market, yet the appearance of user interfaces has seemingly stood still. EGG changes that and we are proud that we have developed such an innovative accelerated graphics API for today’s STBs. We feel that EGG finally brings the look and feel of interactive digital TV into the 21st century,” said David McElhatten, Managing Director, Osmosys. “We are happy to have extended our relationship with STMicroelectronics and are pleased that such a global leader in the development of microprocessors has selected EGG to drive its technology forward, both now and in the future.”

Links: Osmosys; STMicroelectronics