Global Designer: DVD-recorder processor targets European digital-broadcast reception

LSI Logic recently unveiled a single-chip DVD-recorder-processor platform, which, it claims, reduces system costs to support digital-broadcast reception in Europe and other parts of the world. The company also claims that the device will enable consumer-electronics vendors to design set-top-box/DVD recorders and set-top-box/hard-disk-drive/DVD recorders. According to technology-research company In-Stat, there are approximately 9.5 million digital-television subscribers in England, Germany, France, Italy, and Scandinavia. "This brings the benefits of a combined set-top-box/DVD-recorder platform to the home and is gaining momentum in Europe," says Vijendra Kuroodi, LSI senior product manager for DVD-recorder products.

The new offerings include the DMN-8623 and DMN-8673 single-chip processors, which the company based on its proprietary DoMiNo architecture, comprising hardware and programmable software. Both of these processors integrate set-top-box-receiving and DVD-recording functions on one chip. "A single-chip approach eliminates a lot of redundancies for consumers and designers," says Kuroodi. Chief among these redundancies are memory systems, MPEG decoders, host processors, and graphics engines, all of which significantly reduce the bill-of-materials costs.

The DMN-8623 targets use in single-drive DVD recorders and can record and play back a digital-TV channel or video stream. The device has a single optical drive with a DVD-recorder-drive interface that enables digital downstream access. The DMN-8673 focuses on hard-disk-drive/DVD-recorder systems that can encode or decode two digital- or analog-TV streams, which users can record onto a hard drive or DVD in a manner similar to using TiVo.

"The DMN-8673 can connect to a hard-disk drive and enables you to time-shift live content more than an optical disk can, as well as make backup recordings, which you can view later," says Kuroodi. "It can simultaneously process two video inputs by encoding video on a hard disk and then decoding it onto the display." The DMN-8623 and DMN-8673 are available for sampling and cost $25 and $30, respectively (high volumes).

LSI Logic, www.lsilogic.com.