[opendtv] Micronas dual-channel PCI Express v1.0a card
- From: "Albert Manfredi" <bert22306@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:21:56 -0500
http://www.micronas.com
0533 - 12/21/05
First demonstration to the public at CES 2006
Micronas brings High Definition to PC-TV with MicViper, the world's
first dual-channel ATSC design for PCI Express
The MicViperTMreference design offers PC OEMs and system
integrators a complete production-ready solution for PC home
theater applications
Freiburg, Germany, December 21, 2005 - Micronas (SWX
Swiss Exchange: MASN), a leading supplier of innovative
application-specific IC system solutions for consumer electronics,
today announced the launch of MicViperTM, the world's first
dual-channel reference design for advanced PCI Express®
PC-TV solutions which is compliant to the ATSC digital TV
standard. Micronas will showcase MicViper for the first time at
the International Consumer Electronics Show to be held in Las
Vegas from January 5 to 8, 2006.
MicViper forms the heart of a PC home theater system. With
dual tuners, it enables users to watch and record
simultaneously, or record two programs at once without
facing scheduling conflicts. MicViper enhances the PC viewing
experience by enabling time-shifting features such as instant
replay and pause TV. In addition to high-definition ATSC
signals, MicViper can receive conventional analog TV, allowing
viewers to tune in to both analog and digital broadcasts in
North America and South Korea.
The two signal paths in MicViper are fully independent. This
feature allows any combination of analog or high-definition
broadcasts, such as two analog, one analog and one
high-definition or recording two high-definition broadcasts
while watching a pre-recorded analog or high-definition
program. As the number of home networks grows, the need
to stream multiple live and recorded television programs over
the network will increase. MicViper makes these usage
scenarios possible by providing the high quality and dual
channels required.
The MicViper reference design is a complete production-ready
solution. In addition to schematics and Bill of Materials (BOM),
MicViper comes with Microsoft AVStream class drivers and is
compatible with Windows XP Media Center or third-party
applications from Cyberlink and Intervideo. OEMs and system
integrators can easily create PC-TV solutions of all types
based on MicViper and its supporting software.
The PCI Express capability of the MicViper is provided by
Micronas' nGene® dual-channel multimedia controller:
http://www.micronas.com/products/by_function/apb_7202a_ngene/product_information/index.html.
Only PCI Express can offer the bandwidth necessary for
streaming multiple video channels without degrading video
quality. "nGene is certified by the PCI-SIG, the industry
standard body for PCI Express technology, to be PCI Express
1.0a compliant", says Kai Scheffer, director media home at
Micronas. "This certification is essential to PC OEMs and
system integrators as it ensures that MicViper is compatible
with a wide variety of PC motherboards offering PCI
Express x1 slots."
Features alone are not enough to sell PC-TV in the living
room. Viewers expect clear pictures and solid receiver
performance, and they want the flexibility to place the
Media PC anywhere without worrying about antenna
placement. With this in mind, Micronas enhanced the
digital reception capability of MicViper with two of Xceive's
XC3028 silicon tuners. "The XC3028 exceeds the
specifications commonly found in double-conversion 'can'
tuners, while offering a very small footprint and high
dynamic range," said Alvin Wong, vice president of
marketing at Xceive. "The combination of Xceive's silicon
TV tuner with Micronas backend chipset significantly
raises the performance bar for high-definition TV
systems."
The XC3028 delivers robust signals which are further
processed by the Micronas DRX-H ATSC channel
demodulator:
http://www.micronas.com/products/by_function/drx_3942h/product_information/index.html,
an advanced demodulator for digital TV broadcasts.
The DRX-H is based on Micronas' proprietary primeD®
technology, which provides a superior solution to
satisfy the increasing market demand for higher quality
high-definition reception performance.
As opposed to merely filtering echoes out, Micronas'
primeD technology combines multiple echoes to create
a single, stronger signal, resulting in enhanced overall
reception quality. PCI Express designs employing DRX-H
are able to cope with notoriously difficult terrestrial
reception situations and provide measurable
improvements to the overall viewing experience of
consumers.
MicViper and its associated software give OEMs and
system integrators the tools they need to build
living-room quality ATSC-capable PC-TVs and PVRs for
the North American and Korean markets. The
MicViper reference design kit is available now.
The first demonstration of the MicViper reference
design will take place at CES 2006 at the Micronas
booth in the Las Vegas Convention Center in hall
SO4, booth 35346.
MicViper is a trademark, nGene and primeD are
registered trademarks of Micronas GmbH. Xceive,
QuickTune, XC2028 and XC3028 are trademarks
or registered trademarks of Xceive Corporation.
Windows and Windows Media Technology are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
PCI Express is a registered trademark of PCI-SIG.
Other products and companies are trademarked
by their respective owners.
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