Digital ICs/DSP: Media Processor Trims System Cost For Flexible Video Appliances

April 12, 2004

Zeroing in on multiformat consumer video applications, the BSP-15-D1 video and system processor is claimed to deliver the most video performance at its price point, which is $19 in volume. It delivers a video-over-IP solution based on the Windows Media 9 series at main profile. It can deliver D1 (720 by 480) resolution decoding at 30 frames/s for most popular media formats. Fully C/C++ programmable, it supports playback in DivX, RealVideo9, H.264, and VP4/5/6 formats. For digital video-recorder applications, the chip's low-bit-rate compression algorithms extend recording time to two hours on a CD-ROM or over 13 hours on a DVD. Software tools developed for previous BSP-15 family members can be used to develop applications for the D1. Chips are immediately available.

Equator Technologies Inc.www.equator.com (408) 369-545

About the Author

Dave Bursky

Technologist

Dave Bursky, the founder of New Ideas in Communications, a publication website featuring the blog column Chipnastics – the Art and Science of Chip Design. He is also president of PRN Engineering, a technical writing and market consulting company. Prior to these organizations, he spent about a dozen years as a contributing editor to Chip Design magazine. Concurrent with Chip Design, he was also the technical editorial manager at Maxim Integrated Products, and prior to Maxim, Dave spent over 35 years working as an engineer for the U.S. Army Electronics Command and an editor with Electronic Design Magazine.