NEC Electronics Corporation today announced eight new MPEG encoder chips, which enable OEMs to build multimedia PCs to receive and record world-wide digital and analogue television broadcasts.
The latest personal computers require many video functions, including Internet search for videos and video recording, and a growing number of them now include a TV tuner. NEC Electronics is a pioneer in this arena and has a long history of helping to bring television broadcasts to PCs.
The devices include complex encoding circuitry and card interface circuitry for the digital TV broadcasts of various countries in order to support formats in Japan (ISDB), North America (ATSC), and Europe (DVB).
The chips also include a high-quality worldwide video decoder supporting NTSC, PAL, and SECAM formats, as well as an audio decoder for sound multiplex signals in major countries. A proven, high-performance MPEG2 encoder is integrated to convert digital video and audio data into MPEG data.
An encryption engine is integrated to protect sources of MPEG digital data such as ISDB, ATSC, and DVB broadcasts, as well as data generated by MPEG2 encoders, providing a secure system to prevent illegal duplication of protected contents.
The host interface is PCI Express 1.1, allowing double the data transfer rates of PCI interface. Eight direct access channels also provide plenty of headroom for high-bitrate requirements for digital and analog TV data transfer.
Volume production is scheduled to begin in August 2007.
