Fujitsu launches digital HDTV SoC for superior picture quality

Video processing engine integrated with multi-decoder reduces total cost

LANGEN, Germany — Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe (FME) today announces the MB86H70, a digital HDTV system-on-chip (SoC) that integrates a video processing engine for superior picture quality, and a full high-definition (1920 dots x 1080 lines) multi-decoder that decodes both MPEG-2 and H.264 video compression formats.

The new chip is designed for use in digital HDTVs, demand for which continues to increase as high-definition broadcasts ramp-up across Europe. The chip is an application specific standard product (ASSP) that features a video processing engine. A proprietary picture quality adjustment tool allows the picture parameters to be optimised easily via a graphical user interface (GUI). This enables TV manufacturers to dramatically improve their design efficiencies. Furthermore, the integration of the video processing engine together with the multi-decoder allows the use of common memory consisting of two 16-bit external memories. This reduces TV manufacturers’ costs and development time for both design and manufacturing.

The MB86H70 incorporates the high-performance ARM processor, 1176JZF-STM featuring an integrated memory management unit (MMU), a floating point co-processor, ARM’s Jazelle® technology and Thumb® instruction set extensions for compact code. The ARM11 provides all the processing power needed to enable a whole host of middleware software.

Fujitsu will exhibit the MB86H70 from September 12 to 16 on Stand 4.B75 at IBC 2008 in Amsterdam, the largest European broadcasting and media trade exhibition.

Background

Earlier this year, Fujitsu introduced the MB86H60, a HD multi-decoder chip supporting MPEG-2 and H.264. To meet the growing demand for digital HDTVs in Europe, Fujitsu will now also offer the MB86H70 with integrated HD multi-decoder and Fujitsu’s proprietary superior picture quality video processing engine.

Unlike analogue TVs, the picture quality of digital TVs can be improved depending on the video processing engine that is used. Until now, Fujitsu has provided TV manufacturers with its expertise through custom ASIC products. With this new digital HDTV SoC, Fujitsu’s offerings for TV set manufacturers extend to ASSPs, to improve the cost-competitiveness of its customers.

Leveraging its highly regarded expertise in image processing-related technologies and products, Fujitsu has positioned its image processing ASSPs as a pillar for strategic growth in its ASSP business, providing world-class ASSPs for imaging. These include the HD H.264 encoder, MB86H51, as well as MB86H52 transcoder devices, which convert MPEG-2 to H.264. Along with expanding its line-up of ASSPs for imaging through the new MB86H70, building on its video processing engine business, Fujitsu will continue to strengthen its product offerings for the TV market.

Key Features

1. Video processing engine for digital TV that realises vivid colours and sharpness – essential for HD broadcasts

A hybrid filter automatically adjusts filter strength by separate areas on the screen. It distinguishes between the contours of each object and other areas on the picture and distinctly accentuates the contour to produce greater sharpness, while removing any noticeable noise from other areas. Such optimised filtering by area on the screen realises a much smoother rendering of the picture.

The active grey-scale control automatically adjusts grey-scale (degree of brightness) in each scene. This automatically selects optimised grey-scale for various video scenes, for example where fine differences in brightness are required, or when there are large differences in brightness within a scene, thereby enabling a wide variety of images to be optimally displayed.

Proprietary ‘real 3-D colour control’ enables free control of the colour range and desired level of colour correction. With standard colour control methods, if the colour in a particular area of the picture is adjusted, it can change the colour of the entire picture. However, with Fujitsu’s proprietary method that utilises a 3-D colour space, very precise colour adjustment of a particular area is possible without influencing colours in other areas.

Each TV set manufacturer has different picture quality requirements. These can be fulfilled simply and flexibly with Fujitsu’s proprietary picture quality adjustment tool that is provided together with the new device. Using a GUI, picture quality adjustment parameters can be set easily, while viewing the actual changes in picture quality. This allows TV set manufacturers to dramatically improve their design efficiencies for picture quality settings.

In addition, other functions that are necessary to display HD video on a TV screen are included, such as motion adaptive de-interlacing, which reduces jagged edges that can be caused by diagonal lines, as well as a scalar that enlarges and reduces HD images.

2. Includes full HD MPEG-2 and H.264 decoders, supporting current and next-generation European broadcasting standards

The MB86H70 includes full HD MPEG-2 and H.264 decoders and thus can be used for current SD MPEG-2 broadcasts used widely in Europe and other regions, and for next-generation HD broadcasts using H.264. Audio decoders, necessary for HD broadcasts in Europe such as Dolby® Digital, Dolby® Digital Plus* and HE-AAC, are also included.

3. Integrates as a system-on-chip (SoC) key functions necessary for a TV

The CPU core in the MB86H70 is the ARM1176JZF-S™, which is supported by widely and easily available software. Fujitsu also provides various software stacks for DVB, such as for teletext, subtitles, and JPEG decoding, which make it possible for TV set manufacturers to more easily design and construct their systems with the necessary functions to view HD broadcasts.

4. Complete functionality by adding two 16-bit wide DDR2-SDRAMs

By simply connecting two 16-bit wide DDR2 SDRAM667 external memory chips as working memory to this digital HDTV SoC, the chip becomes fully functional, including CPU-based system control and digital-video decoding. This allows TV set manufacturers to reduce the overall cost of their systems.

Key Specifications of the MB86H70

Availability

Shipment of samples of this new SoC starts mid-October 2008.