NEC Electronics Launches EMMA3SL/P SoC For Set-Top Boxes

NEC Electronics has launched the EMMA3SL/P system-on-chip (SoC), a new image-processing solution based on NEC (News - Alert) Electronics’ enhanced multimedia architecture (EMMA) platform.

 

The EMMA3SL/P SoC is a set-top box device compliant with H.264 high definition, as well as the multi-format video support used for internet-protocol television, or IP TV, STBs. The new SoC is the first EMMA product to support China’s audio/video standard AVS (News - Alert).

 

The EMMA3SL/P device is an image-processing SoC that integrates functions needed to receive and decode digital broadcasts. These functions include MPEG-2 HD audio/video decoders, transport-stream demultiplexers and display controllers for enhanced display and graphics features. The new SoC includes multi-format video support for IP TV STBs, in addition to support for the H.264 HD standard and China’s AVS. It also contains integrated enhanced security features.

 

The new EMMA3SL/P device supports the reception of H.264 HD broadcasts adopted in Asia, Europe and Latin America. It also specializes in multi-format video support for IP TV and pay TV which enables users to play back video formats from DivX and WMV, to VC-1. In addition, the EMMA3SL/P SoC provides advanced security features to meet current security anti-piracy standards and also to address the Conditional Access Companies’ demand for protection against signal piracy.

 

The EMMA3SL/P device integrates Ethernet MAC, audio DAC and all other essential features on a single chip. The SoC ball layout has approximately 20 percent fewer number of pins when compared to NEC Electronic’s existing products. This results in reduced bill-of-materials (BoM) costs for STB manufacturers.

 

When compared to NEC Electronic’s previous EMMA3SL/HD device, the performance of the new EMMA3SL/P SoC has doubled to 990 MIPS. The EMMA3SL/P SoC also supports hybrid IP TV STB functionality that features simultaneous IP TV and broadcast TV. The built-in de-interlacer of the new SoC converts interlaced signals into progressive signals for enhanced display features. In addition, the EMMA3SL/P SoC supports the Linux operating system along with a real-time OS providing flexibility and easing development of software applications.

 

The new device is expected to serve as a perfect platform to support the technical and pricing requirements of STB manufacturers and enable them to produce state-of-the-art STBs at a low cost. The samples of the new EMMA3SL/P SoC are available with pricing starting at USD30 per unit.

 

NEC Electronics is actively promoting chips for digital audio/visual (AV) applications. The digital AV SoC devices from NEC Electronics cover three main areas, namely STBs, digital TVs and DVD recorders. NEC Electronics reached a total shipment of 100 million with these devices as of April 2009. NEC Electronics Corporation provides semiconductors for a range of sectors like automotive, industrial and consumer electronics.