News and New Products

Single chip performs DVD decoding

Gary Legg -- EDN, 6/6/1996

A single-chip MPEG-2 decoder for digital video disks (DVDs), Hyundai's HDM8111P Pravo, processes DVD program streams for playback on consumer-electronics devices and PCs. A typical DVD player requires a separate MPEG-2 video/audio decoder; an AC-3 decoder, and formatter chips; plus an ASIC to perform other DVD functions, such as subpicture decoding and graphics overlays. The Pravo chip provides all of these capabilities.

The Pravo chip accepts a DVD compressed data stream and demultiplexes it into separate audio, video, and other bit streams, such as subpicture. It then decompresses the audio and video bit streams, performs synchronization of audio and video, and produces a digital-video output for application to an NTSC or a PAL encoder. Before video output, the chip mixes subpicture information, background color, and graphics with full-motion video. It provides pan/scan and vertical and horizontal filtering for displaying 16-to-9-format video on 4-to-3 aspect-ratio screens in letter-boxed or cropped fashion.

The chip works with various external host processors, gluelessly interfacing with both Intel and Motorola bus types. Samples cost $190 and will be available in July; productions quantities cost $45 or less and should debut in the fourth quarter. An evaluation board, also available in July, will sell for $2995.

—by Gary Legg

Hyundai Electronics America, Milpitas, CA.(408) 232-8000.