EMMA3SL/HD and EMMA3SL/SD Image Processing SoCs with Integrated H.264 Video Compression - NEC

NEC has introduced EMMA3SL/HD and EMMA3SL/SD, company’s new image processing SoCs (system-on-chip), featuring on-chip H.264 video compression. EMMA3SL/HD SoC supports high-definition video broadcasts, while the EMMA3SL/SD SoC supports standard-definition video broadcasts. The new SoCs enable designers to build digital TVs (DTVs) and build set-top boxes (STBs) with H.264 video compression standard, offering 2x compression ratio compared to current MPEG2 standard.

NEC’s EMMA3SL/HD and EMMA3SL/SD Image Processing SoCs

EMMA3SL/HD and EMMA3SL/SD image processing SoCs combine all of the key functions needed to receive and decode digital broadcasts, including built-in DSPs (digital signal processors) that enable systems using Dolby Digital Plus or HE-AAC (high-efficiency advanced audio coding) to play back high-quality audio streams even at low transfer rates.

A built-in EHCI-compliant USB 2.0 host controller (EHCI=Enhanced Host Controller Interface) and IEEE 802.3/802.3u/802.3x-compliant Ethernet MAC replace the external components traditionally required. This integration enables low-cost connection to external devices and networks and makes it easy for systems to import and process video and audio streams.

The EMMA3SL/HD SoC includes a built-in HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface)-compliant interface for digital transmission of uncompressed video and audio streams, a built-in de-interlacer to convert interlaced signals into progressive signals and a built-in fast digital-to-analog (D/A) converter to produce high-definition signal output.

Key Specs of EMMA3SL/HD (High Definition) and EMMA3SL/SD (Standard Definition) Image Processing SoCs:

• Onboard CPU specifications
  • Built-in MIPS32 24KEcTM core
  • 470 MIPS at 327 MHz
  • 16 KB instruction cache and 16 KB data cache
• Memory interface
  • Flash ROM interface
    • Up to 64 MB capacity
    • 8-/16-bit bus widths
  • DDR2 memory interface
    • 16-/32-bit bus widths
    • 32 to 256 MB capacities
    • 2.6 GB/s bandwidth
• MPEG transport stream processing engine
  • MPEG-compliant transport streams
  • Selectable two-system parallel/serial interface stream
  • 36 PID filter
  • 32-section filter
• MPEG video decoder (formats supported)
  • EMMA3SL/SD standard-definition SoC
    • MPEG2 MP@ML
    • H.264/AVC HP and MP@L3.2
    • VC-1 AP@L1
  • EMMA3SL/HD high-definition SoC
    • MPEG2 MP@ML/MP@HL
    • H.264/AVC HP@L4.0/MP@L4.0/3.2
    • VC-1 AP@L3/L2
• Audio controller
  • MPEG-1 L1/2, MPEG-2 L1/2, MPEG-4 AAC, MPEG-4 HE-AAC, DD, DD+, MP3, WMA
  • SPDIF output
  • 5.1-ch output
• Graphics and display engine
  • 2D BitBlt
  • Five main planes and one subplane
  • 256-gradation alpha blending
  • 1/4–8 real-time scalar × 2
  • Deinterlacer (EMMA3SL/HD only)
• Video encoder
  • NTSC, PAL and SECAM support
  • Built-in 6-ch video D/A converter: CVBS, YC, YPbPr, and RGB
• USB 2.0 interface
  • EHCI-compliant host controller
  • High-speed (480 Mbps), full-speed (12 Mbps), and low-speed (1.5 Mbps) data transfers
• Ethernet interface
  • 10 Mbps/100 Mbps Ethernet connection via Reduced Media Independent Interface (RMII)
  • Built-in IEEE 802.3/802.3u/802.3x-compliant Ethernet
• HDMI interface (EMMA3SL/HD only)
  • Built-in HDMI transmitter
  • High-Definition Copy Protection (HDCP) via built-in EEPROM
• Peripherals
  • Fast UART × 2 (FUART × 2)
  • UART × 1
  • I2C × 2
  • Clocked serial interface
  • Two IR receivers/blasters
  • Two system timers plus watchdog timer and real-time counter
  • Two SmartCard interfaces
• Packaging: 596-pin plastic BGA

EMMA3SL/HD and EMMA3SL/SD image processing SoCs are based on NEC’s EMMA (Enhanced Multi-Media Architecture) platform. The new SoCs are the latest additions to company’s family of H.264-compliant EMMA3 SoCs, which have deployed to market since 2006 inhigh-definition TV (HDTV) and blue laser DVD players. Since launching its first EMMA chip for Set Top Boxes with digital broadcast receivers-in 1998, NEC has been actively developing a wider selection of EMMA products with greater functionality for Set Top Boxes, DTVs, and DVD recorders.

EMMA3SL/HD and EMMA3SL/SD image processing SoCs are available now in sample quantities. Price starts at $40 for EMMA3SL/SD and $50 for EMMA3SL/HD. Volume production is scheduled to be available in Q3 of this year.

More info about EMMA3SL/HD and EMMA3SL/SD image processing SoCs can be found at NEC Electronics website.