Texas Instruments Unveils Industry's First All-Format Video Decoder For Display Devices, Improving Ease of Use for Consumers

Demo at DisplaySearch Conference, San Diego, Calif., March 20-22, 2002

DALLAS, March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Revolutionizing the design of display devices, Texas Instruments Incorporated (NYSE: TXN - news; TI) introduces the industry's first all-format digital video decoder that enables PC graphics formats and standard and high-definition video formats in display applications. The video decoder, which is a single-chip analog front end (AFE), provides end users with flexible viewing of multiple video formats and dramatically lowers board-level chip count and improves time-to-market for OEMs. Applications include flat panel display equipment, rear-projection TVs, PC desktop monitors and DLP(TM) and LCD projectors. www.ti.com/sc/tvp5200

Farewell to multiple decoder ICs

The TVP5200 includes three 9-bit 165 megahertz (MHz) analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), a single 10-bit 80 MHz ADC and a programmable RISC CPU. It is the first true all-format video decoder that digitizes baseband analog component video and PC graphics into digital component video and integrates a decoder for composite and S-Video input. Previously, separate ICs were required for video decoding standard-definition TV (SDTV) component video and for the high-speed digitization of high-definition TV (HDTV) and PC graphics formats. Additionally, the TVP5200 integrates several peripheral video functions (input video switching, color space conversion, composite sync processing and flexible output video timing generation), whereas today's systems require up to four discrete additional components. As a result, this all-format decoder reduces system cost up to 40 percent and lowers design time by up to 25 percent, while its integrated programmable RISC CPU architecture increases system flexibility.

"By cutting the board-level chip count, the TVP5200 allows OEMs to get their display devices to market faster at a lower price point," said Ron Danielak, Department Manager, Digital Video and Imaging, TI. "As video interface standards evolve, TI will continue to add new video- and system- level features to the upgradeable solution."

The TVP5200 offers 16 analog video inputs with integrated switches to allow multi-source connections. This generates standards-compliant digital video output formats that can interface to any DSP or ASIC for digital video processing. The device features automatic video standard detection and TI's MacroVision(TM)-certified copy protection detection technology. Optimized for display applications, the decoder contains a patented architecture for locking to weak, noisy or unstable signals from VCRs or in-house TV antennas.

The TVP5200 enables high quality digitization of all computer RGB graphics formats up to UXGA at 60 Hz. The decoder supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM CVBS standards. In addition, the chip decodes incoming composite, S-Video and component formats (including YUV, YCrCb and YPbPr) and supports all DTV formats, such as 10801, 720P and 480P.

For end users, the TVP5200 video decoder allows display devices, such as digitally processed TVs (DPTVs) and LCD TVs, to be more user-friendly. For instance, if a user would like to connect a gaming system to a television that doesn't support the graphics format utilized by the gaming system, additional cables, I/O devices and/or other components will need to be added to the television to enable connectivity. However, display devices utilizing the TVP5200 would not require the addition of these components since it supports all formats, thus improving ease of use for consumers.

"With its analog expertise and extensive knowledge of the video and imaging markets, TI has developed a revolutionary integrated video decoder/ADC IC that supports virtually all known TV formats, as well as analog computer video signals. The TVP5200 enables an efficient, high performance (up to UXGA) front-end design for LCD monitors with TV video inputs, or high end TVs that require a PC video input," said Pat Dunn, Director of Technology, DisplaySearch.

NTSC, PAL and SECAM decoder IC available

At the DisplaySearch Conference, TI will also demonstrate its single chip TVP5145 video decoder, now sampling. The TVP5145 converts NTSC, PAL and SECAM video into digital component video and is the ideal solution for applications not requiring the HDTV or PC graphics input support that comes with the TVP5200. The decoder supports analog SDTV component, composite and S-Video inputs and is comprised of two over-sampling 10-bit ADC channels and a full 10-bit digital chroma decoder for superb picture clarity.

Similar to the TVP5200, the TVP5145 includes certified MacroVision copy protection and TI's patented architecture for locking to weak, noisy or unstable signals. Another feature of the IC is the ability to automatically detect and switch between NTSC, PAL and SECAM standards. The TVP5145 supports the decoding of SECAM video along with the various NTSC and PAL regional standards and contains a configurable serial (I2C) or parallel (VMI) host port interface to allow parallel or serial configuration from a variety of host microcontrollers and DSPs. Applications for this device include set top boxes, LCD monitors, rear projection TVs, digital video recorders and video capture devices.

Pricing and Availability

Samples of the TVP5200 all-format video decoder will be available in the second quarter of 2002, with volume production expected in the third quarter of 2002. Pricing planned for the TVP5200 is less than $19 each for quantities of 1,000 units. The TVP5145 IC will be available this May for $9.48 each in quantities of 1,000 units. Evaluation modules (EVMs) for the TVP5145 will also be available.

About TI

Texas Instruments Incorporated is the world leader in digital signal processing and analog technologies, the semiconductor engines of the Internet age. In addition to Semiconductor, the company's businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries.

Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. The company's web site is www.ti.com .

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