Toshiba debuts new MPEG-4 decoder
The device, designated the TC35274XB, integrates an MPEG-4 decoder with 4MB of embedded DRAM to deliver a single-chip, low-power solution. The new MPEG-4 decoder will enable designers to create advanced wireless communication products that can receive and decode streaming media. Toshiba's also recently introduced a software MPEG-4 decoder that was recently demonstrated at several technical conferences.
Toshiba's expertise in embedded DRAM technology enabled a considerable reduction in power dissipation due to the lower capacitance on-chip connections, without any degradation in the chip's performance. By incorporating 4Mb of embedded DRAM, Toshiba reduced power dissipation of the device to 50-milliwatts (mW), which is significantly lower than similar solutions using off-chip memory.
From the application perspective, this could provide a battery-powered mobile videophone incorporating Toshiba's MPEG-4 chip with more than double the battery life of the same phone using an off-chip memory solution.
"This new device is poised to revolutionize the mobile products marketplace by enabling the next generation of multimedia-equipped wireless devices such as cellular phones, PDAs, and real-time remote security/surveillance solutions," says Andrew Burt, director, wireless market development, for Toshiba America.
The TC35274XB performs 15 frames per second of MPEG-4 video decoding with QCIF (176 x 144 pixels) at 30-megahertz (MHz) clock frequency. The video core consists of a 16-bit RISC processor and dedicated hardware accelerators that allow programmability while delivering high performance and low-power dissipation.
The firmware program for the RISC processor is downloaded into the embedded DRAM before beginning any operation. Additional applications, such as H.263, are performed by using the appropriate firmware.
IMT-2000 handsets and mobile terminals will support transmission of high-quality motion pictures and improved sound quality. MPEG-4's video compression technology is specifically designed for wireless video transmission and is expected to become a key element of IMT-2000 services.
Sample pricing for the TC35274XB MPEG-4 decoder is $35. Samples will be released in first quarter of 2001, with mass production slated for second quarter of 2001.
Edited by Tom Butts