Video on cell phones and personal digital assistants is going to happen, and Toshiba's codec and decoder chips will help make it possible. The TC35274XB decoder for receive-only applications and the TC35273XB audiovisual LSI codec chips enable third-generation video applications. Never before has it been so easy to design-in video capability.
The codec consists of three signal-processing units. One is for MPEG-4 video. The second supports multiple audio codec formats. The third handles audio and video multiplexing/demultiplexing, as well as 12 Mbits of DRAM. Each of these units consists of a 16-bit MIPS-like Toshiba proprietary RISC processor and dedicated hardware accelerators. Processor firmware is downloaded from a host controller into the embedded DRAM before starting operation. Firmware for MPEG-4 and the various audio formats is available from the company. The chip's programmability immunizes it to future changes in the MPEG-4 standard.
Both 0.25-µm CMOS chips dissipate very little power. The codec consumes 240 mW and the decoder consumes 50 mW at 2.5- and 3.3-V supplies. Also, the decoder comes in a 97-pin CSP, and the codec is packaged in a 141-pin CSP. Samples of the decoder are now available for $35 each. Full production will begin in the second quarter. Codec samples will be available in the second quarter, with full production in the third quarter.
Toshiba America Electronic Components Inc., 9775 Toledo Way, Irvine, CA 92618; (949) 455-2000, (800) 879-4962, ext. 263; fax (949) 859-3963; www.toshiba.com.