Eindhoven, The Netherlands — NXP Semiconductors has unveiled a family of highly integrated system-on-chip (SoC) products that enable high-performance solutions for mainstream HD DVRs and set-top box (STB) platforms in global satellite, cable and IPTV networks.
Claiming the industry’s first fully integrated 45-nm system-on-chip (SoC) platform integrating multi-channel broadcast receivers for set-top-boxes, the NXP PNX847x/8x/9x devices deliver advanced broadcast decoding, media processing and graphics rendering technologies to provide an optimized system that significantly reduces manufacturer bill-of-materials costs and power consumption, said NXP. It also ensures advanced picture quality for an improved home entertainment experience.
The NXP STB SoC family includes a number of models designed for different operator network categories, including the PNX849x for satellite set-top boxes, the PNX848x for cable and the PNX847x for telco and over-the-top on-line VOD solutions.
Using an innovative power management architecture specifically designed to maximize energy efficiency, the PNX847x/8x/9x SoC family eases STB compliance with the latest Energy Star and EC Code of Conduct regulations. With a dedicated on-chip microcontroller resource to coordinate power management for the entire system, the NXP PNX847x/8x/9x family delivers the flexibility to enable opportunistic use-case based power optimization as well as ultra-low-power stand-by operation to implement less than 1-watt STB complete system level standby power modes, according to the company.
The NXP PNX847x/8x/9x also features an advanced Imagination Technologies POWERVR 3D graphics processing unit (GPU) to render advanced programming navigation user interfaces, games and other 3D content. The POWERVR GPU provides an OpenGL 2.0 compliant 3D HW platform that is supported by an extensive set of tools, software and 3D content developers.
The SoC family is based on a 1250 DMIPS ARM Cortex-A9 superscalar CPU architecture to deliver advanced system level performance for secure, multi-room DVR video streaming on home networks and for fast execution of Java-based STB middleware engines. Combined with hardware and DSP-based content decoding resources, the ARM Cortex-A9 CPU’s internet software technology is said to deliver industry leading performance for user interface environments based on Adobe Flash and Web browser technologies.
NXP’s advanced SoC integration enables a complete system hardware design to be realized in some configurations with the addition of only DRAM and flash memory ICs. For more complex STB system implementations, NXP combines the SoC in a chip-set with a tuner, modem DAA line-side device and card-reader interface ICs, to deliver a low system bill of materials.
Availability: Sample quantities will be available in Q4 2009. A family of fully engineered set-top box reference hardware system and software development kits will be provided for product evaluation and system integration.