When it comes to mobile
audio/video chips, superior
processing comes at the cost of higher power. Of course, lower power
means less processing muscle. The
SVENm (Scalable Video ENgine) from
On Demand Microelectronics, though, may change that paradigm ().
Using as little as 80 mW for SD decode and 300 mW for encode, this chip can handle today's compute-intensive video standards, like H.264, MPEG-4, and VC-1. The SVENm targets mobile applications that require video formats up to D1 (720-by-576 PAL or 720-by-480 NTSC) resolution. It also excels where most processors fail by delivering the ability to
handle future video standards via software programmability.
The individual functional blocks are
programmable using the C programming language and integrated development tools. The SVENm's processor
architecture was built based on the
essence of an in-depth analysis of
video processing algorithms, yielding
an optimized processor architecture.
The architecture exploits parallelism to process videos, resulting in
increased efficiency.
This feature set makes the SVENm optimal for use in smart phones and portable
media devices, allowing you to design
your next-generation MP3 music player
with drop-in video capability.
Other features include
simultaneous video encoding and dual-stream
decoding, audio processing, and high-performance image processing
like scaling, deinterlacing, and color space
conversion.
To ensure compatibility, SVENm can
be connected with
other systems using
one of the many
available multimedia interfaces,
including MMC,
SDIO, and compact
flash, complementing a wide range of
multimedia products. Its multilevel power
management uses application-specific
operating modes that enable power-down
options to further minimize power consumption and preserve battery life.
The SVENm chip will be available in
production quantities in the second
quarter for about $9.50.
On Demand Microelectronics
www.ondemand.co.at
